Highland Park 12 years Danefæ Single Cask Series 64.8%

Highland Park 12 years Danefæ Single Cask Series 64.8%

This historic bottle of Highland Park 12 years Danefæ carries the memory of Danish craftsmanship. Jutland Law from 1241 describes that all found underground treasures of gold and silver must be delivered to the king. Today, they would typically be handed over to the National Museum for a pittance.

However, this treasure can be yours, and Highland Park has outdone itself to that extent, as this is bottled at an unprecedented 64.8% – the undisputed strongest Highland Park 12 year release from 2020. Despite its high percentage, it is delicately balanced in the hands of the Scottish masters, and treasure hunters can expect a strong and persistent impression of spices, fruit and herbs. This is premium whiskey that recalls the Scandinavian heyday.

Smell: Very pleasant smell and lovely sweetness with notes of the fruity, but with surprising notes of butterscotch – maybe even Orkney caramel fudge.
Taste: Warming and pleasant in the mouth, which leaves a full flavor experience with a lovely sense of smoke, tropical fruits such as pineapple and with a beautiful hint of coconut.
Aftertaste: Long with fruity notes and a sensation of roasted nuts that mix with sweetness with a hint of honey and a hint of smoke.

Whiskey data:
Refill butt puncheon
Barrel No. #648
Distilled in 2006
Bottled in 2019
Age: 12 years
Strength: 64.8 %
Quantity: 604 bottles

About the distillery:

The Highland Park distillery, located on the northernmost part of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, proudly bears its heritage and connection to the history and culture of the Vikings. These islands, formerly inhabited by Vikings, have left their deep mark on Highland Park's identity and products.

The story begins with the Viking settlement of the Orkney Islands, which later led to a transfer to Scotland as a pledge for a dowry. This history and the influence of the Vikings is still present in the area, and Highland Park dedicates a number of their whiskeys to the traveling Viking pioneers.

The distillery is unique in several ways. It uses peat from the island in whiskey production, which gives their whiskeys a distinctive aroma and taste, thanks to the island's harsh nature and wind conditions. They also benefit from the Gulf Stream, which ensures a slow and controlled maturation of their whiskies.

Highland Park's history can be traced back to Magnus Eunson, a churchman and smuggler who distilled spirits illegally on the site where the distillery now stands. This is linked to the influence of the Vikings, as Eunson is also said to have had Viking blood in him. Captured in 1798 and forced to pay taxes, he is considered the founder of the distillery.

Today, Highland Park is part of Erdrington, an international whiskey company, and they are known for their high quality single malt whiskies. Their whiskeys vary in age and flavor profile and include series that draw inspiration from Viking history and mythology.

The Highland Park distillery is not only a producer of whisky, but also a guardian of Viking heritage. They make use of its unique location and rich history to produce some of the world's most acclaimed whiskies. They celebrate not only their own history, but also the history woven into the DNA of the Orkney Islands. A story that continues to shape their unique and valuable whiskies.