Highland Park's founder, Magnus Eunson, was a direct Viking descendant. A butcher and church officer by day, and a smuggler by night, he set up his illicit still at a little bothy at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall – still the site of Highland Park today. Although they say that the distillery was founded in 1798, in truth, that’s just the year that the authorities finally caught up with Magnus – whisky was certainly being produced there before that! With the exception of the smuggling operation, very little has changed in those intervening years. They stay true to the exacting standards of whisky making Magnus introduced, and share his bold and uncompromising approach. In fact, you could say this is a whisky crafted in the old way by a new generation of Vikings.
The intense balance of the flavours found in 'Viking Pride' 18 Year Old owes everything to Highland Park's five traditional keystones of production, honoured for over 220 years. Slow-burning, aromatic peat from Hobbister Moor; hand turned floor maltings, Sherry seasoned European oak casks, cool maturation in our temperate island climate and a long and unhurried harmonisation process. Like their founder, Magnus Eunson, they share their Viking ancestors’ commitment to skilled craftsmanship as well as their proud, independent spirit.
'Viking Pride' 18 Year Old has the colour of clear, bright, burnished gold. The flavours and aromas include cherries, dark chocolate, toffee, marzipan, heather honey and aromatic peat smoke.
Try this whisky with meaty fish like tuna steaks or swordfish cooked with Indian spices (think cardamom and ginger – surprisingly good!), cold meats with ginger chutney, and citrus fruit puddings.
