Highland Park Valknut

Score: 71

Highland Park Valknut arrived at the table with plenty of interest. On paper it looked like the one that should shine: Orkney-grown Tartan barley, a touch more smoke, sherry‑seasoned American oak, and all the dramatic Viking mythology Highland Park loves to wrap around its limited releases. Expectations were naturally high, and that probably set the stage for what followed. In the glass, Valknut showed promise but never quite delivered the lift its branding suggested. The nose leaned earthy and rustic, with heather smoke, cereal, and a slightly raw edge that several tasters found distracting rather than intriguing. The palate was friendlier, toffee, nuts, light spice, a coastal saltiness, but again felt young, with the peat dialed back and the sherry influence too polite to pull everything together. It wasn’t flawed; it was simply lighter, leaner, and less cohesive than the trilogy’s narrative implied. So, when the scores settled and Valknut landed third out of three, it wasn’t a shock. It’s a whisky with interesting moments but not enough momentum, especially beside stronger, more complete expressions. In the end, it played the role of the trilogy’s middle child: decent, occasionally charming, but ultimately overshadowed — and at your tasting, that underwhelming finish was exactly how it came across. *Club Notes* "Bouncing around figs, honey with peaty overtones. Finish meh". "Disappointed :( just not making any statement on me".