Orkney Single Malt August Release 21YO (((Bottled 2019)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a fully matured 21-year-old single malt scotch, this spirit is bottled at its peak and does not age further in glass. It can be preserved unopened for decades, and once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 years to preserve its complex aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses such as Stilton, high-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), and slow-roasted game meats like venison or smoked duck breast.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the windswept Orkney Islands, is steeped in Viking heritage and smuggling lore, famously founded by the legendary Magnus Eunson. This exceptional 21-Year-Old August Release, bottled in 2019, represents the pinnacle of Orcadian distilling craftsmanship. The distillery's unique terroir is defined by the absolute lack of trees on the islands, meaning the local peat is packed with decomposed heather. When burned to dry the malted barley, it imparts an incredibly distinct, aromatic, and floral peat smoke. Matured in a combination of sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks alongside ex-bourbon casks, this single malt delivers a complex profile of sweet wild heather honey, rich dried fruits, warm winter spices, and a whisper of salty sea spray from its coastal maturation.
🍾 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.