Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 12
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt is bottled at its peak maturity and does not age further in glass. It is ready to enjoy immediately upon release and will keep indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it is best consumed within 1 to 2 years to preserve its delicate aromatic complexity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses (such as Stilton), smoked wild salmon, and high-quality dark chocolate.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the windswept Orkney Islands, is steeped in Viking heritage and legendary smuggling lore. Founded by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Viking settlers who famously hid his illicit spirit under the church pulpit, the distillery remains deeply tied to its rugged northern terroir. The Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 12 represents a single-cask expression matured in a traditional hogshead. Orkney's unique peat, hand-cut from Hobbister Moor, is packed with decomposed heather rather than wood, imparting a signature sweet, floral, and aromatic peat smoke. Combined with the cool, maritime climate that ensures a slow, even maturation, this single malt delivers a complex profile of heather honey, soft peat, maritime brine, and dried fruit.
🍾 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.