Skip to main content

How to Step Aboard a Viking Ship and Drink Scotch Whisky This Summer

Highland Park
Highland Park

Want to be a Viking? Great.

Highland Park single-malt Scotch whisky from Orkney, Scotland, is helping us channel our inner Norse seafarer by partnering with the Draken, a genuine recreation of a Norwegian Viking ship that is sailing from Maine to South Carolina on a four-month, whisky-fueled cruise.

Take that, Carnival. *Viking wail*

Recommended Videos

Bring your horned helmet (although there’s no evidence Vikings actually wore them) and join the Draken Harald Hårfagre Expedition America East Coast Tour 2018, which set sail on July 9.

“The Draken ship and its journey exemplify the spirit of the modern­day Viking and everything that Highland Park stands for: determination, adventure, quality craftsmanship, and rich history,” says Martin Markvardsen, Highland Park senior global brand ambassador.

Fun fact: Highland Park’s founder, Magnus Eunson (not enough dudes are named Magnus anymore), was a direct descendant of the Vikings who settled on Orkney over 1,000 years ago.

The founders of the Draken began the creation of what would become “the largest modern-built Viking ship in the world” in 2010, relying on their expert knowledge of Viking history, Norse sagas, and traditional boat-building. Come 2012, construction was completed; the ship came measured 115 feet long with a 26-­foot beam, 79-­foot mast, and 160 square meters of silk sails. In 2016, the Draken off for its inaugural trans-Atlantic crossing from Norway to the U.S., the same journey taken by OG Vikings discovering the New World over 1,000 years ago.

The Draken’s 2018 Highland Park tour will see the massive Viking ship visit 14 East Coast harbors over the span of four months. Each port will hold an arrival ceremony where attendees can board the Draken and explore the deck, talking with the captain and crew as they share their experiences on this revived legendary sea vessel. Take a load off for the screening of the new Draken documentary and meander the “Viking Village” (there’s food and, most importantly, Highland Park whisky).

Now. if only I could find my old buffalo horn cup …

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Dewar’s Launches New Scotch Finished in Mezcal Casks
dewars ilegal smooth mezcal barrel aged scotch

Dewar's has long touted the fact that its whisky is "double aged." This means that, after initial maturation, the whisky is blended and then goes back into barrels again for about six months to allow the flavors to marry. But recently the storied brand has been trying out some additional maturation processes. Last fall, Dewar's launched a cask-finished expression of its whisky called Caribbean Smooth, an eight-year-old blend that was finished in rum barrels (which are at the ready in large supplies, considering the brand is owned by Bacardi). Next month, a new cask-finished blend will hit shelves called Ilegal Smooth.

This time, the eight-year-old blend is finished in Ilegal Mezcal casks (Bacardi owns a minority stake in Ilegal). While you might assume this would bring a great deal of smoke to the palate, it's really only a wisp that curls around other flavors like caramel, butterscotch, and bright citrus. Overall, this is a nice sipping whisky that would also work quite well in a simple drink like a highball.

Read more
Here’s to the New Year: 20-Year-Old Whiskies to Drink in 2022
Whiskey in a glass

2020 is barely a month old, so it's a good time to consider some 20-year-old whiskies to drink in this first year of the new decade. Of course, many of these happen to be single malt Scotch, and for good reason. In general, you can age a whiskey for much longer in the temperate climate of Scotland than you could in Kentucky, with its extreme seasonal temperature swings, and still have it come out tasting good. This is because hot summers and cold winters force the liquid to interact with the barrel more, resulting in a whiskey that may become overly oaky and tannic over time. For this reason, most Kentucky bourbon is released below the 10-year mark, while the benchmark age for single malt is usually 10 to 12 years. There are some exceptions, of course, and these can be quite good if appropriate attention is paid to the barrels as they age. Here are ten whiskeys aged for two decades to try now -- provided you can find and afford them. (As a general note, the age statement refers to the youngest whiskey in the bottle, so there may be older liquid included as well).
Deanston 20 Year Old Oloroso

Deanston is a sometimes overlooked Highlands distillery that has an excellent range of single malts, including some organic expressions and this limited release 20YO. The whisky was matured in Oloroso sherry casks for two decades, and bottled at cask strength without color added or chill-filtration. There are notes of dried fruit and vanilla on the palate, followed by a hint of baking spice and prune.
BenRiach 20

Read more
Redwood Empire Whiskey is launching Haystack Needle Single Barrel Program
Redwood Empire is set to launch a new single barrel program
Whiskey

California-based Redwood Empire is well-known for its unique, limited-edition whiskeys. Recently, the popular brand announced the launch of its new single-barrel program. The launch includes two whiskeys crafted from hand-picked barrels: Haystack Needle Bourbon and Haystack Needle Rye.
The whiskeys

The single-barrel program consists of 100% grain-to-glass whiskeys. Each barrel included is different, and for the launch, the brand selected a bourbon and a rye whiskey. Only a limited number of barrels are produced every day to create these whiskeys. This allows the distillers to have a close relationship with the whiskeys and better understand the aromas and flavors they'll find when they bottle them.

Read more