Orkney Single Malt 2nd Fill Red Wine Barrique 'Full Cask' No 133
⏳ Drinking Window
As a premium distilled spirit, this single cask bottling is stable and will not age further in the bottle; it can be preserved indefinitely if kept upright in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years to experience its full aromatic complexity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted venison with a dark berry reduction, mature blue cheeses such as Stilton, and high-quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the windswept Orkney Islands off the far northern coast of Scotland, Highland Park is a distillery steeped in Viking lore and maritime history, founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Viking pioneers. This exceptional 'Full Cask' No 133 expression represents a rare single cask release that has been matured in a second-fill red wine barrique. The unique terroir of Orkney is defined by its cool, constant winds and Hobbister Moor peat, which is composed almost entirely of decomposed heather rather than wood, imparting a sweet, floral, and aromatic smoke rather than the medicinal phenols found in Islay malts. The second-fill red wine barrique maturation allows the distillery's signature heather-honey and gentle peat smoke to beautifully intertwine with delicate notes of dark cherries, summer berries, and toasted oak, creating a complex and harmonious dram.
🍾 About the Producer
Perched on the windswept Orkney archipelago off Scotland's northern coast, Highland Park was founded in 1798 by illicit distiller Magnus Eunson before securing official licensing in 1826. Owned by Edrington and directed by Master Whisky Maker Marc Watson, the distillery remains one of the few in Scotland to maintain traditional floor maltings for a portion of its barley. Terroir here is inextricably linked to the island's environment: Orkney's tree-deficient landscape yields heather-rich peat harvested from nearby Hobbister Moor, imparting an aromatic, floral smoke fundamentally distinct from the medicinal iodine of Islay. Distillation occurs in copper pot stills, followed by patient maturation predominantly in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks within maritime dunnage warehouses. Celebrated benchmark expressions include the flagship 12, 18, and 21 Year Old releases, as well as ultra-aged rarities such as the Orcadian Vintage Series and landmark 40- and 50-year-old single malts.