Orkney Single Malt 40YO 45.7%
⏳ Drinking Window
Bottled at its absolute peak of maturity, this ultra-aged spirit does not require further bottle aging and is ready to be savored immediately. Once opened, it can be enjoyed over several years when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich dark chocolate desserts, mature blue cheeses such as Stilton, or slow-roasted venison.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland, is steeped in Viking heritage and smuggling lore. Founded by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Viking settlers who famously hid illicit spirits beneath his church pulpit, the distillery remains one of the northernmost in the world. This rare 40-year-old single malt is a testament to Orkney's unique microclimate and traditional methods. The distillery still uses hand-turned floor maltings and infuses its barley with aromatic peat cut from the nearby Hobbister Moor. This heather-rich peat gives Highland Park its signature sweet, floral smokiness, distinct from the medicinal peat of Islay. Maturing slowly over four decades in a combination of refill casks and sherry-seasoned European oak, the whisky develops an incredibly complex profile of dark chocolate, dried orange peel, aromatic peat smoke, and warm spices, shaped by the cool, salty sea breezes of the Atlantic.
🍾 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.