Highland Park 12YO Orkneyinga Legacy review

I have to call this one a legend right away. This is the regular Highland Park 12 year old single malt whisky on steroids. Orkneyinga Legacy is a rarity you can usually get straight from the distillery. Yes, no retail possibility for this beauty.

2018 spring being the exception when Highland Park arranged a batch for online sales. That’s where I got my bottle for our Highland Park tasting.

The regular 12 year old HP is already a good whisky, bottled at 40% alcohol by volume level. Highland Park 12YO Orkneyinga Legacy has been bottled at 46% ABV! Otherwise they are the same.

You can check out Orkneyinga’s product and background info from Highland Park’s website.

This whisky shouts I Am Legend

Being a HP fan, and already a big fan of the regular 12 year old expression of their range. It comes no surprise that I really loved this one.

I Am Legend has written all over this dram. Offering rich aromas and taste with typical HP12YO style. Only exception being that this time the palate is even stronger.

Matured in:

Ex-Sherry and Ex-Bourbon casks

Colour: Golden amber

ABV: 46%

Nose: Full and sweet, nuts and sherry with the typical floral HP touch of honey and citrus notes, combined with the floral touch.

Taste: Sherry notes are quite big. Sweet and acid, slightly dry. Water adds more sweetness and makes the dram much better. Notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and licorice.

Finish: Dry and full, sweet powerful sherry notes are there but acid nutty notes dominate. Candy cane notes rise in the aftertaste. Water adds some nice licorice notes.

Balance: In good balance, steady whisky with full and nicely round presence. Great upgrade from the regular Highland Park 12 year old.