The Dark Origins was my favourite of the NAS releases under £100. Of the releases I've had, the 25 was fantastic, the 18 excellent until the price went crazy, the 15 is pretty good and the old 12 amazing value. I managed to get hold of two bottles of the HP Cask Strength release from 2020 and it's a far more delicious whisky, albeit at a higher price point. And I'm a massive HP fan (I've done my pilgrimage to the distillery from London).Īs for the HP 12, it's changed too, probably due to demand increasing significantly in the last 10 years. I'm no traditionalist when it comes to branding so I don't disagree with the desire to present HP as something unique in a crowded market but I don't especially like what they've done. Since the whole Viking rebranding happened, I also feel it's gone a bit "naff". A platonic ideal of whisky (for me) that doesn’t yet exist, but it’s something to aim for! I like this and would buy it, gift it and recommend it, example: Caol Ila 12, Machir Bay, Laga 16, Talisker 10, Aberlour A’bunadh.ĥ: Perfection. Happy to drink this and might buy a bottle if the price was right, example: Glenmorangie Original, Glenfiddich 12, Laphroaig 10.Ĥ: Yum. If this was the only whisky on offer, I would choose something else. Good only for mixing, example: I don’t have one as I never touch this stuff.Ģ: Lacklustre. That whisky was almost painful to drink.ġ: Rack spirit. My rating scale is simple, reflecting my limited experience, and the ‘example’ whisky for each level will be subject to change as I try new things and revisit old favourites.Ġ: This drink is broken, example: the early sample bottle I once had from a guy who was trying to mature whisky in the cellar of his home with worn out casks obtained from an un-named Islay distiller.
#VIKING HONOR FULL#
Not sure I would pay full retail for it though – at £35 you could have yourself a bottle of Laphroaig (admittedly, a completely different drink) or pick up something else that has been discounted from an even higher price. It’s a bit of a no-brainer at the discounted price of £25. It would be a good one for sharing and chewing the fat with non-whisky aficionado friends.
It’s sufficiently complex that there are notes to discover if you focus, yet not so complex that you’re missing out on a lot if your attention wanders. Overall, this is a tasty, easy drinking whisky. At a higher strength this could be really appealing with better mouthfeel and a stronger finish, but since the NAS releases seem to have mixed reviews and the 18-year-old apparently costs near to £100, I won’t be experimenting with a stronger HP any time soon…I can believe that 18-year-old is probably delicious though. Well, I flip-flopped between enjoying the sweet, floral qualities and finding it a bit insipid and uninteresting. Perhaps they are right, but it doesn’t do the brand image any favours in my opinion. Perhaps the marketing people think the frequent discounting and this questionable packaging design is going to help them capture more market share at the competitive bottom end.
Certainly, the packaging was considerably less naff in those days (naff in the common usage, rather than the original Polari usage!) and several members of my family commented on it negatively without being asked for their opinion. I seem to remember that it was more expensive back then and I wouldn’t mind betting the ABV was higher too. Verdict: This is one of the few entry / supermarket level brands I never drank during my first dalliance with whisky in my 20s. Spicy as noted above giving way to soft, chewy, floral toffee. Less complex than the scent suggests but very well put together.įinish: Medium / short. Cinnamon, ginger and cloves spicy finish with the tiniest wisp of smoke. Palate: Clear honey and golden syrup, that floral quality is there and really prominent.
Nose: Muscovado sugar, palma violets, aniseed, floral heather, green apple, fermenting fruits, maybe a touch of cardamon. Thin legs, which is to be expected at this ABV Edit - a comment below says apparently there is no added colour, which to me makes the word choice on the bottle rather odd but I am happy to be corrected! The bottle says “natural colour” on the ingredients list – I am going with added caramel and at 40% it is almost certainly chill filtered too.Īppearance: Yup, a strong orangey hue that suggests caramel. Recommendations for Visitors to Edinburgh by whisky-lowlanderĪ newbie review of a whisky that is often recommended for newbies! I seem to have deleted my photo by mistake so a stock shot will have to suffice. The review can be positive or negative but must be written by you. Please write a review on Scotchit and Submit below. R/Whisky r/WorldWhisky r/Bourbon r/Whiskyporn Whisky Network Guide Reviews of Whiskys:
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