Orkney Single Malt Batch 1
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled single malt whisky, this spirit does not mature further in the bottle. It is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release and will remain stable for decades if stored upright, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses like Stilton, high-quality dark chocolate, and slow-roasted game meats or smoked duck.
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled in the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland, Highland Park is one of the northernmost distilleries in the world, steeped in rich Viking history and folklore. Founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a smuggler and church officer who famously hid his illicit spirit beneath his pulpit, the distillery embodies the rugged, maritime character of its home. The defining feature of this Orkney Single Malt is its unique peat, harvested from the Hobbister Moor. Because the island's fierce winds prevent trees from growing, the peat is composed almost entirely of decomposed heather, infusing the malt with a distinctive, aromatic floral sweetness and gentle, heathery smoke. Traditional floor maltings and maturation in hand-selected sherry-seasoned oak casks yield a complex spirit balancing coastal brine, rich dried fruits, warm spices, and a whisper of sweet peat smoke.
🍾 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.