Highland Park Harald
70cl / 40%
£69.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region:
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
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Third release in Highland Park’s warrior-series travel line, honouring King Harald, matured in a high proportion of European oak sherry casks and bottled at 40%.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Region | Highland Park, Orkney, Scotland |
| Category | Single malt Scotch whisky |
| Series / Position | Warrior Series, Harald (between Einar and Sigurd in many listings) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | No age statement / Released for European travel retail c. 2013 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV, 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Combination of sherry-seasoned European oak and American oak casks, with a higher European-oak influence than the lower-tier Warriors |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer (standard coloured HP presentation likely) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (core travel line, not numbered) |
| Intended channel | European travel retail; later specialist retail once travel stocks recycled |
| Packaging | Tall HP bottle with the Warrior-series Orkney/Norse design, carton |
| Notes on discrepancies | Some sites call it the third of six, others say first – but all agree it is a travel-retail Warrior bottling named for King Harald and bottled at 40%. |
Historical Context
Around 2013 Highland Park launched the Warrior Series for travel retail: a ladder of six NAS whiskies named after figures from Orkney’s Norse history, each with increasing amounts of European oak and a corresponding price rise. Harald commemorates King Harald Fairhair, credited with establishing Norse rule over Orkney – a story Highland Park has used across several special releases. In liquid terms, Harald sits above the entry Warrior bottlings because it uses more European oak sherry casks, giving more spice, dried fruit and structure at the same 40% strength.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
Documented variants
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Highland Park Harald, Warrior Series, 40%, 70cl, European travel retail.
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Same whisky listed later in non-travel European shops at the same strength and format.
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No age-stated or higher-strength official variant under the exact name Harald.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 70cl | European travel retail, 2013 launch | Warrior design, King Harald story | Core / original |
| 40% | 70cl | EU/UK specialist (de-travelled stock) | Same bottle, often at a discount | Condition-led |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Bottle should show “Harald” and clearly be part of the Warrior Series.
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40% and 70cl must be printed.
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Carton with the Norse/Orkney design adds value; list separately if missing.
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Beware of confusion with other HP limiteds named after Norse figures (e.g. Harald Viking Tribute from other series); always quote 40%, 70cl, Warrior Series.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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NAS single malt, legally fine for travel retail.
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Combination of sherry-seasoned casks is a production note, not a separate category.
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ABV fixed at 40% for the main run.
Liquid Profile (from distillery description)
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Nose: Heady ginger and sandalwood, sponge cake sweetness, and sherry-led dried fruit.
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Palate: Balanced and complex for 40%; sweet malt, baked cake, vanilla, dried fruit, ginger, and the gentle Highland Park heathery smoke underneath.
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Finish: Medium, warming, with nutmeg, spice and lingering sweet oak.
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With water: At 40% water is optional, but a few drops will emphasise the cake/vanilla side.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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When current in travel retail, Harald sat in the middle of the Warrior pricing ladder, typically a little above the entry bottlings but below the most European-oak-heavy ones.
-
UK/EU specialist prices in 2025 for surviving bottles tend to land in the £95–£120 zone depending on condition and availability.
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Auction prices can dip below retail if multiple Warriors hit the same sale, often £70–£95.
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Stratification: boxed travel-retail bottles at retail band; bottle-only or scuffed boxes nearer auction band.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/UK specialist (de-travelled) | 70cl, 40%, boxed | 95–120 | Typical current ask |
| UK whisky auction | 70cl, 40%, bottle-only | 70–95 | Depends on how many Warriors are in the sale |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Highland Park leans heavily on its Orkney/Norse story, and the Warrior Series was the travel-retail expression of that strategy. Harald is the “more European oak = more Orkney gravitas” midpoint in the line, still at 40%, but with enough sherry-seasoned casks to taste clearly different from the entry Warriors.
Sourcing
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Target: boxed, clean 70cl, 40% Warrior-series bottles with Harald clearly visible.
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Avoid: unboxed if you want to ask £110+; mixed-up listings where “Harald” could mean another HP expression.
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Buy £70–£85 in auction or trade, list £100–£120 retail.
