Issue 167 | Whisky Magazine 69
Bottle price guide: £11-25 (US$17-40) £26-70 (US$40-110) £71-120 (US$110-190) £121-180 (US$190-280) £181 plus (US$280 plus)
... Cognac tipped over a
well-lit Christmas pudding
Becky Paskin
Highland Park
10 Years Old Viking Scars
EDRINGTON
ABV: 40%
Style: Single Malt
Region: Highland
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: Worldwide
Rob
- 9 8. 4
Becky
Nose: This is my
partner’s fresh baked
banana bread in liquid
form: spices, toasted
pecans, dark chocolate
and vanilla cream. Hints
of black banana and
demerara sugar.
Palate: Follows the
nose, with plenty of fruit
sweetness, crystallised
ginger, toasted and
salted pecans. Soft
oat cream and hints of
lemon peel.
Finish: Takes a little
time, but is full of
creamy, oaky layers
bound with a pleasing
sweetness to it.
Comments: A very
morish Spring dram with
lots of layers to add to
the drinking pleasure.
Nose: A fruit-rich
Christmas cake with
healthy layers of
marzipan and royal
icing. The baking
cupboard has been left
open: candied ginger,
Brazil nuts and dried
apple thins tumble out.
Palate: Light and sweet.
The caramelised brown
sugar crust of a crème
brûlée, cooked and
dried green apples,
bread and butter
pudding. Cinnamon and
more candied ginger
tickle the tongue.
Finish: Apple purée and
a slightly singed fruit
cake too.
Comments: Fruity, spicy
and begs to be poured
again. Really enjoyable.
Highland Park
18 Years Old Viking Pride
EDRINGTON
ABV: 43%
Style: Single Malt
Region: Highland
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: Worldwide
Rob
- 6 7. 9
Becky
Nose: A soft and gentle
starter this one, fresh
baking aromas, ginger-
laden dough, vanilla
sugar and butter. Layers
of buttered pastry,
strawberry jam and
fresh ginger.
Palate: Starts to be less
gentle and moves to a
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dates with walnuts.
Barbeque roasted red
chilli. A little meaty
edge, roast pork.
Finish: Full on and rich,
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with a zip of candied
lemon peel at the end.
Comments: Save this
one for when the year
turns colder, will warm
the cockles for sure.
Nose: Another shy
one. After time there’s
orange zest, soft
madeira cake, and fruity
Cognac as well.
Palate: Orange
drizzle cake and
more intensely fruity
Cognac. Caramelised
brown sugar, nuts,
sultanas and raisins.
Tingly baking spices
of cinnamon, nutmeg
and clove. Lotus Biscoff
biscuits too.
Finish: A glass of Cognac
tipped over a well-lit
Christmas pudding.
Comments: One to sit
back and savour.
Highland Park
12 Years Old Viking Honour
EDRINGTON
ABV: 40%
Style: Single Malt
Region: Highland
Price per bottle:
Bottling: Distillery
Availability: Worldwide
Rob
- 6 7. 8
Becky
Nose: A little shy to
begin with but then
the fruit ramps up
with baked apples and
custard, sweet potato
mash and then warm
caramel wafers and
milky coffee.
Palate: That sweetness
from the caramel wafers
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darkens to cinder toffee,
dark chocolate and
chilli. There’s a little
cracked black pepper
spice too.
Finish: Long and lush
with a mix of cracked
black pepper spice and
sweet wafer notes.
Comments: A very easy
and pleasant whisky,
one for the summer
days with a little ice.
Nose: It takes a little
while to open up. Then
grated nutmeg, orange
zest, a morsel of sticky
toffee pudding. Water
releases more orchard
fruit notes.
Palate: Sweet and
thick with plenty of
vanilla and caramel,
oak spices, a touch of
orange and burnt toffee.
Finish: Barbecued toffee
apples. If that’s a thing.
Comments: Certainly an
easy drinker.
SCOTLAND SCOTLAND
SCOTLAND
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