Hello again, friends and family. It’s been a really long time - you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to actually write a cohesive review about whiskey during a pandemic. And while I have found my self in the midst of madness and ever-changing normality like everyone else, it occurs to me that I still have a responsibility to you, my dear reader, to write and review these wonderful flavors and fragrances for your consideration. This time around, I want to give a special shoutout to a rambunctious group of misfit heroes, the copious curators of all things coinable, captors of corrupt and correspondents of the courageous, Thank you, The Collectors, for the verifiably badass Norlan glasses (one in the picture). I love you most sincerely.
Highland Park 12: Viking Honour
Islands, Scotland
$54.99
43% / 96 Proof
Nose - The nose is a lovely nasal conflagration of musty, briney earth and grass, with delicate notes of honey and charcoal smoke, leading to squeaky beeswax tinged with citrus.
Pallete - Sweet honey syrup and honeysuckle liquid, fresh from the flower itself that melts into a medley of creamy malt and fluttering notes of tropical candy chews.
Finish - Enjoyable and smooth, the finish coats your soul in a warm but delicate embrace, like merino wool base layers on a crisp fall evening - not enough to keep the cold out entirely, but more than enough to feel warm, especially if you’ve got a warm drink by your side.
Thoughts - Viking Honour has been a favorite of mine for quite some time and is a truly classic scotch that is approachable by whiskey nerds and newbs alike. It comes to the forefront with an intriguing mixture of flavors and aromas; painting a gradient of bold, briney seas juxtaposed to light, buzzy dandelions and lilies along the coast. It’s a high-end profile and a mid-range price and absolutely worth the cash you pump out for it. The HP12 is going to impress everyone you know, from friends who are just looking to try something unique and persuasive to your whiskey-nosing buddy who will undoubtedly give you props for having a bottle of the shelf. You truly can’t go wrong with the HP12, and that’s part of the reason I keep it stocked with the likes of Ardbeg 10, Wild Turkey 101, Angel’s Envy, and High West’s ‘Campfire’.
10/10, would buy again.
Fun fact: The image at the top of this article is the first Whiskey Wednesday photo I did an actual Photoshop edit on - that is, altered some pixels outside of CameraRAW. Can you spot the change? It has nothing to do with the different image below, by the way. I just couldn’t make up my mind on where I liked the Norlan Glass more.
