Orkney Single Malt Full Hogshead Cask 616 RLA 138.5 60.3%
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof single malt whisky, this is ready to enjoy immediately upon bottling and will remain stable indefinitely. Once opened, it is best consumed within 1 to 3 years to preserve its complex aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Aged blue cheeses like Stilton, rich dark chocolate desserts, and smoked meats such as duck breast or wild venison.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, nestled on the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland, is steeped in Viking history and legendary smuggling lore. Founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Viking settlers who famously hid illicit spirits under his church pulpit, the distillery is renowned for its traditional methods, including hand-turned floor maltings. This specific single cask release, drawn from a full hogshead (Cask 616) at a robust cask strength of 60.3% ABV, showcases the raw, concentrated power of Orkney's unique terroir. Unlike mainland peat, Orkney peat is composed primarily of decomposed heather, imparting a distinctive, aromatic floral smoke rather than medicinal brine. The hogshead maturation allows for a balanced wood influence, marrying the distillery's signature heather-honey sweetness and gentle peat smoke with rich oak spice, vanilla, and dried fruit notes.
🍾 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.