Orkney Single Malt 2nd Fill Red Wine Barrique 'Full Cask' No 135
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release. It will remain in peak condition indefinitely when stored upright in a cool, dark place, though it is best consumed within 1 to 2 years after opening to experience its full aromatic complexity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses such as Stilton, dark chocolate desserts with a high cacao percentage, or slow-roasted game meats like venison.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands at the northernmost edges of Scotland, Highland Park is a distillery steeped in Viking lore and legendary distilling heritage. Established in 1798 by Magnus Eunson—a direct descendant of Viking pioneers who worked as a church officer by day and an illicit distiller by night—Highland Park is renowned for its unique Orcadian peat, which is rich in heather and entirely devoid of trees. This 'Full Cask' No 135 release showcases a single malt matured in a second-fill red wine barrique. The second-fill nature of the cask allows the distillery's signature heather-honey sweetness and gentle, aromatic peat smoke to harmonize beautifully with subtle red berry, plum, and soft oak spice notes derived from the wine-seasoned wood, rather than being overpowered by heavy wood tannins.
🍾 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.