Orkney Single Malt (((Bottled 2009)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to enjoy upon release. Once opened, it is best consumed within 1 to 3 years to preserve its complex aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked Scottish salmon, mature blue cheeses, and high-quality dark chocolate.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland, is steeped in Viking history and legendary distilling lore. Founded by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Norse pioneers who operated an illicit still at High Park, the distillery remains one of the northernmost in the world. This Orkney Single Malt, bottled in 2009, showcases the unique island terroir. Unlike Islay whiskies, Highland Park relies on hand-cut peat from the nearby Hobbister Moor, which is packed with decomposed heather. This peat imparts a distinctive, aromatic, floral smoke rather than a medicinal character. Combined with slow, cool maritime maturation in hand-selected sherry-seasoned oak casks, the spirit develops a harmonious balance of sweet heather honey, rich dried fruits, and gentle, warm 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.