Freya ( named after the Norse Goddess of Love) was released quite a few months ago, but I only managed to taste it the other day. I quite liked Thor and Loki who preceded her in this line of Hp’s Valhalla Collection. Freya comes in the same wooden “long ship” case, and nicely shaped bottle , but is quite different in flavour profile from her two older “siblings”. Used to sell for 140 quid, but I think It’s all gone now, sold quite nicely.
Highland Park Freya, 15yo , 51.2% , £140 (now sold out)
Nose: Fresh and citrusy. Lemon curd. Green apple peel(Granny Smith sort of) creamy vanilla and good malty DNA going on . Hint of the slightest hint of peat. White pepper too. Quite different than the previous two warriors,but very good so far.
Palate: Starts off with creamy vanilla on top of green fruit, old school sweets, and quite a bit of sweet and spicy wood. Oak, apples and more of that sweet n’ spicy wood. It’s a nice interplay and the flavours come and go in waves. The peat is more pronounced here but not overpowering.
Finish : Sweet oak. Peaty dark chocolate and fruit.
It’s a lovely dram no doubt, very very different than LOKI and THOR but not in a bad way. Fresh, and very enticing with the zestiness and peat in the background. Solid stuff,If you’re going to drink it rather than put it as decoration on the shelf.
I was a bit dissapointed with this one. Tastes too young and green (yes, i ignored the bottle colour.:). The peatiness in the background is nice though….
I quite liked it, yet not enough to pay that price…
so far i think Loki is nicest. and waiting for #Odin