Highland Park Freya spent 15 years in first fill bourbon casks. After Highland Park Thor and Highland Park Loki, it’s the third release in The Valhalla Collection which unites whiskies named after Norse Gods.
This whisky was originally made for blending purposes. The barley was malted with mainland peat and then matured nearby Glasgow in bourbon casks. It’s technically not even Orkney whisky this way, but the result turned out too nice to be blended.
Highland Park 15 yo ‘Freya’
(51,2%, OB 2014)
Highland Park 15 yo ‘Freya’Nose: quite honeyed for a HP, with juicy pear, melon, pink grapefruit and a soft tropical touch of papaya. A lot of vanilla. Soft heathery notes and a little mint. There’s something more pungent (ashy / peaty) in the background. A subtle coastal note too.
Mouth: quite fruity again. Apple, lemon pie, going towards biscuity notes. Some fresh oaky notes with accompanying spices (ginger, pepper). Some uncommon flavours as well: cardamom, something plastic-like, pine sap, lemongrass… Strangely bitter-sour in places, but there’s still a tropical edge (coconut) at the same time.
Finish: long, still ‘green’ and zesty, even slightly perfumy, with very soft peat smoke.
I rather liked this one, but mostly because it’s different, even though this also makes your eyebrows raise at times. Thor is still my favourite. Between € 170 and € 270 depending on how greedy your retailer is when it comes to overhyped releases. Thanks Jack.
Score: 87/100