Highland Park Freya – 15yo – 51.2%

Marketing Blurb: Freya represents the continuation of Highland Park’s Valhalla Collection; a range of four unique whiskies taking inspiration from the legendary Nordic gods of old.  Bottled at 51.2% ABV this limited edition whisky comes housed in the same unique and award winning wooden frame of Thor and Loki, echoing the fearsome contours of a traditional Viking long ship.

Freya will be available from 7th February at a RRP of £140.

Let’s crack on with my review…

Colour: Bright, clear and clean gold.

Nose: Similar to the colour, there’s a bright and clean nose, but it’s not totally what you’d expect, maybe not the instantly recognisable Highland Park you’re used to. It’s sweet, it’s got vanilla, cream and barley with a touch of hessian and the fantastic background of light floral peat smoke that Highland Park is famous for.

Palate: Smooth and velvety with a fairly thick mouthfeel that begins to build with spices and subtle, yet ever present smoke on your tongue along with the sweet creamy vanilla that you found on the nose, along with a wee floral heathery note.

Finish: It’s silky and nicely warming on your chest. The finish is long and reveals an oaky note that’s fairly new in nature. It continues to be sweet with no particular bitter ending, which is nice, and leaves puffs of smoke around for a while.

Water: Water reveals a few more green notes on the nose (apples and a bit of cut grass) and maybe a leathery hint. The spices are reduced a little which makes it all the more easy drinking, maybe too easy, so be careful, not a great deal is needed, and it slightly kills the finish.

Thoughts: As ever, the presentation of my sample was mysterious and fun, well done Highland Park and your PR people. As to the whisky itself… Freya is a goddess, and as such the marketing would make you think this is maybe ladylike. I can’t really comment totally on that, but it is quite light and a bit of a departure from the previous whiskies in the series, so maybe you could call it ladylike. Whatever, it’s tasty stuff that’s for sure, although is it really worth the money for a 15yo, maybe, maybe not, but I’m sure that Highland Park’s popularity will mean it’ll sell quickly all the same. Should I give this a mark? High 80’s for sure, let’s say 89, maybe more. Certainly you could spend a lot of time with this whisky and not be disappointed.

Thanks to Highland Park for the sample.

Available from The Green Welly Stop for £125.

Any comments? Find me on Twitter (@steveprentice).