Orkney Single Malt Hjarta 12YO
⏳ wine.drinking_window
As a high-proof distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle. It is ready to drink upon release and, if stored upright in a cool, dark place, will maintain its exceptional character and complexity indefinitely over several decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Rich blue cheeses like Stilton, artisanal dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage, and slow-roasted venison or smoked game meats.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Highland Park, located on the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland, is steeped in Viking history and folklore. 'Hjarta'—meaning 'heart' in Old Norse—is a tribute to this Nordic heritage. Crafted at one of the world's most northerly distilleries, this robust 12-year-old single malt is shaped by Orkney's unique elements. The distillery uses hand-cut peat from Hobbister Moor, packed with decomposing heather, which imparts a distinctively sweet, floral smokiness rather than the medicinal peat found in Islay malts. Matured in Spanish oak sherry casks and bottled at cask strength, Hjarta showcases a deep golden hue and a complex profile of rich dried fruits, warm winter spices, and a whisper of salty sea spray from the surrounding Atlantic winds.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1798 by Magnus Eunson in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, Highland Park is one of the northernmost Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. Today owned by the Edrington Group, the distillery maintains an uncompromising commitment to heritage, utilizing traditional hand-turned floor maltings and aromatic, heather-rich peat sourced from nearby Hobbister Moor. Highland Park is globally renowned for aging its single malts in bespoke sherry-seasoned oak casks, yielding a signature flavor profile characterized by a harmonious balance of gentle peat smoke and rich, honeyed sweetness. This meticulous craftsmanship is showcased in highly acclaimed expressions ranging from their flagship 12 and 18-year-olds to rare, collectible releases aged up to 50 years.