First-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak, some refill casks
Tasting notes
Nose
Charred cinnamon and mellow heather-peat smoke, with honey, vanilla and orchard fruit.
Palate
Vanilla sponge cake, lemon zest, pineapple and heather honey, with oak spice and ginger.
Finish
Long and rich, with gentle aromatic peat smoke.
About this whisky
Highland Park 15 Year Old Viking Heart is the older, richer sibling of the famous Highland Park 12. Three extra years in sherry-seasoned oak bring deeper vanilla, honey and spice, all lifted by fresh citrus and wrapped in Highland Park’s gentle, aromatic heather smoke. Bottled at 44% ABV in a striking embossed ceramic bottle, it looks as good on the shelf as it tastes in the glass.
Made on Orkney, off the far north coast of Scotland, it is a beautifully balanced 15 year old and a standout gift for anyone who loves Scotch.
Bottle at a Glance
Distillery: Highland Park, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
Region: Islands (Orkney)
Age: 15 years
Casks: Mainly first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak, plus first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak and some refill casks
Strength: 44% ABV
Size: 70cl
Colour: Natural, from the casks
Bottle: Embossed ceramic, made with Wade Ceramics
Style: Rich, fruity, spicy and gently smoky
What Makes Viking Heart Special?
Fifteen years in sherry-seasoned oak
Highland Park’s whisky maker Gordon Motion chose mainly first-fill European oak casks seasoned with sherry, which give warm spice and dried fruit, alongside first-fill American oak sherry-seasoned casks for sweet vanilla. A small share of refill casks lets the distillery’s own spirit shine through. Highland Park describes its specially built sherry casks as the key to the whisky’s richness.
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Bottled at 44% ABV
Most core-range single malts are bottled at 40%. Viking Heart is bottled at a slightly higher 44%, which keeps more of the natural oils and flavour compounds that give the whisky its body and mouthfeel.
A ceramic bottle inspired by history
Instead of glass, Viking Heart comes in a heavily embossed ceramic bottle made in partnership with UK potters Wade Ceramics. The design was inspired by the earthenware jars that whisky was once stored in at the distillery a century or two ago. It makes a beautiful keepsake long after the whisky is gone.
Gentle Orkney smoke
Part of Highland Park’s barley is dried over peat cut from Hobbister Moor on Orkney. Because the islands have so few trees, the peat is made mostly of heather, so the smoke is soft, floral and aromatic rather than medicinal like many Islay whiskies.
Highland Park 15 Viking Heart Tasting Notes
Colour
Light golden, clear and bright, coloured naturally by the casks.
Nose
Charred cinnamon and mellow smoke from Orkney heather peat, with honey, vanilla and orchard fruit.
Palate
Vanilla sponge cake, lemon zest, pineapple and heather honey, with oak spice and a touch of ginger.
Finish
Long and rich, with gentle aromatic peat smoke.
Think of a slice of lemon drizzle cake with honey, enjoyed beside a heather fire. It’s richer than the 12 year old, but still bright and beautifully balanced.
How to Enjoy It
Neat
Pour a measure into a nosing glass and let it rest for a few minutes. A 15 year old rewards patience as the honey and citrus open up.
With a few drops of water
At 44% ABV, a little water softens the spice and brings out the vanilla, pineapple and floral smoke.
Food pairing
Try it with smoked salmon, roast duck, aged Gouda, lemon tart or dark chocolate with orange.
The Viking Range
Highland Park celebrates Orkney’s Norse heritage across its core range. Orkney was ruled by Norway for centuries and only became part of Scotland in 1468, and each whisky’s name nods to that Viking past:
Viking Scars (10 Year Old): the youngest, lively and spicy.
Viking Honour (12 Year Old): the classic, with honey, fruitcake and gentle smoke.
Viking Heart (15 Year Old): this bottle, richer and rounder, in a ceramic bottle.
Viking Pride (18 Year Old): the oldest of the core range, deep and complex.
The Story of Highland Park
A smuggler’s beginnings
Highland Park’s story begins in 1798 with Magnus Eunson, a local butcher, church officer and secret whisky smuggler, who was caught distilling illegally on the site. The distillery took out its official licence in 1826.
Island whisky from the far north
Despite its name, Highland Park is not in the Highlands. It stands on the edge of Kirkwall, Orkney’s main town, on land once called “High Park”, and is often described as Scotland’s northernmost single malt distillery.
Still malting by hand
Highland Park is one of the few distilleries that still turns some of its own barley on traditional malting floors. Since 1979 it has been owned by Edrington, which also owns The Macallan.
Who Will Love This Bottle?
Highland Park 12 fans ready to step up to something older and richer.
Sherry cask lovers who enjoy a gentle wisp of smoke.
Gift buyers after a 15 year old in a bottle that looks special.
Collectors of Highland Park’s Viking range.
Similar Whiskies You Might Enjoy
If you like the mix of sherry-seasoned oak and gentle smoke here, these single malts take a similar approach:
