Highland Park Dragon Legend A Richer, Smokier Expression

Highland Park Scotch whisky is known for being slightly peaty in nature, though the flavor of that peat is different than the peat character typically found in many Islay style expressions. The distillery may be looking to go after some of those who like the Islay smoke flavor profile, however, with the debut of the new non-age statement Dragon Legend.

Highland Park Dragon Legend, according to those behind it, is said to be “richer and smokier tasting” than their 10- and 12-year-old core expressions. This is owed in large part to a higher percentage of locally peated malt stock being used in the mash bill. It is still characteristically Highland Park, though, with flavors such as vanilla and warm spices showing through due to maturation in both European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks.

Plans call for Dragon Legend, bottled at 43.1% ABV and priced around £40 (about $55 USD), to be available in the United Kingdom starting in September. There was no immediate word if the whisky would be pushed to other international markets, such as the United States.

This whisky follows in the new branding style of Highland Park, which was first unveiled back in April. The name of it is drawn from old Norse legends, in which the Viking warrior Sigurd slew a dragon named Fafnir. Licking the dragon’s blood from his thumb, Sigurd was granted gifts of prophecy and wisdom and went on to become one of the greatest heroes of the ancient Nordic sagas. Dragon Legend is seen by the distillery as being “as bold and unconventional as Sigurd himself.”

Very official limited tasting notes for Dragon Legend suggest a single malt that’s “deep gold, clear and bright” in color, with flavors of “lemon peel, honey, vanilla, warm spices, freshly cut wood and aromatic peat smoke.”