Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 16
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not age further in the bottle. It is ready to be enjoyed upon release and, if kept sealed in a cool, dark place, will maintain its exceptional quality indefinitely.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses such as Stilton, high-quality dark chocolate with sea salt, and smoked game meats like venison.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands of Scotland, Highland Park is steeped in Viking history and legendary distilling heritage dating back to 1798. This 'Full Cask' No 16 expression represents a single hogshead selection, showcasing the distillery's hallmark style. Orkney's unique peat, sourced from Hobbister Moor, is rich in heather and devoid of wood, giving the spirit a distinctively sweet, floral, and gentle smoky character rather than the medicinal peat of the Islay malts. Maturation in a single hogshead cask allows the spirit to slowly interact with the oak, developing deep layers of honeyed malt, warm spices, dried fruits, and a coastal salinity born from the damp, maritime climate of the northern islands.
🍾 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.