Valkyrie is the first in Highland Park's Viking Legend series in partnership with Danish designer Jim Lyngvild who can trace his lineage back to Viking times. It's made with approximately 50% fully peated stock.

Matured in oak casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja wine – 153 casks in total – with whisky matured in 70 first-fill bourbon casks. The result a rich and full-bodied single malt whisky with a distinctively different character.

Less than 20 casks laid down in 1989 and earlier years. Naturally golden in colour with hints of glowing amber. First-fill bourbon casks to deliver sweet notes of vanilla and honey with hints of sharp citrus; first-fill sherry seasoned casks to add rich layers of sweet fruit and warm spices.

This is a wonderfully rich and complex single malt. Opening with rich and spicy aromas of crème brulee, heather honey and crumbled cinnamon, intensely fruity notes follow - fresh pineapple dressed with a scattering of sun-kissed lemon zest. There’s a hint of freshly-baked sponge cake too, warm from the oven, and you’ll find cinnamon again, but toasted shards this time. Citrus and vanilla notes linger in the aromatic waves of peat smoke.

"The greatest all-rounder in the world of malt whisky". Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion

This is a rich and full flavoured whisky with absolutely no rough edges. There's some smoke but it's well integrated and doesn't jump out.