In Norse mythology, Valhalla was the great hall where Odin entertained all those who had passed on who he deemed worthy. If such a place really did exist, it would certainly have a spirits selection worthy of a god, and a full lineup of Highland Park single malt Scotch whiskies, the second-most collected single malt in the world, and maybe the afterlife as well.
Highland Park’s collection of rare and limited releases has brought numerous awards and honors to the Orkney Island distillery with a Viking soul. Critical response to one-time releases like Full Volume, Valkyrie, Valknut and Twisted Tattoo have quickly made many of Highland Park’s bottlings collectors’ items. In 2016, 1-in-51 bottles sold at auction were Highland Park, and today that figure is closer to 1-in-9.
While many of Highland Park’s rare releases are relics of the past and no longer available for order, there are still treasures in inventory that could be the jewels of your single malt selection.
While each market’s inventory is unique, here are a few collection-worthy Highland Park limited editions that should be available for order from your Breakthru Beverage Sales Consultant.
Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old
Twisted Tattoo is a marriage of whisky matured in oak casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja wine —153 casks in total —with whisky matured in 70 first-fill bourbon casks. The result is a 16 year old rich and full-bodied single malt whisky with a distinctively different character.
The packaging was developed in collaboration with Danish tattoo artist, Colin Dale, whose design is inspired by the free-flowing Nordic knotwork found on Viking wood carvings and reflects the Norse legend of the Midgard serpent, which grew so large it twisted round the Earth to grasp its tail in its mouth.
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Highland Park Full Volume
Full Volume was created using 100 percent ex-bourbon casks rather than Highland Park’s traditional sherry-seasoned ones. In 1999, a combination of 481 casks —200 liter barrels and 250 liter hogsheads —were filled at strengths of between 63.6 percent and 63.7 percent ABV. The resulting whisky delivers flavors of creamy vanilla and sweet citrus fruits from the bourbon casks, balanced by Highland Park’s signature smokiness.
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Highland Park Valknut
Valknut was created using a higher proportion of the distillery’s local peated malt and it was predominantly matured in sherry seasoned oak casks, giving the whisky a smoky, sweet flavor. To date, Valknut is the peatiest whisky Highland Park has ever released in the U.S. Valknut is the second of Highland Park’s Viking Legend series, which celebrates the rich Nordic ancestry of its home on the rugged Orkney Islands. Valknut was awarded Double Gold at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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Highland Park Dark 17 and Highland Park Light 17
Celebrating the contrasting seasons on Orkney and their influence on Highland Park’s resting whisky, Highland Park’s Dark 17 and Highland Park Light 17 were back-to-back releases in 2017 and 2018 that quickly garnered rave reviews from critics. Both The Light and The Dark received a double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018
Highland Park The Dark 17 Year Old: Rich, robust and refined, this 17 year old Scotch whisky is matured exclusively in first-fill European oak sherry casks. Bottled at 52.9 percent ABV, the single malt is packed with notes of dark fruits, toasted nuts and spices, with just a gentle wisp of Orkney peat. Highland Park Dark was named Sherried-Cask Whisky of the Year by the Robb Report in 2018.
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Highland Park The Light 17 Year Old: Bright, lively and intense, this 17 year old whisky is aged exclusively in refilled American oak casks which impart delicious notes of pear, nutmeg and vanilla into the single malt. It is bottled at 52.9 percent ABV for the best flavor and mouthfeel. It is also highly collectable, just 4,500 bottles were made available in the U.S.
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