Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 2
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled single malt Scotch whisky, this bottle does not mature further after bottling and is ready to enjoy immediately upon release. Unopened, it will keep indefinitely; once opened, it is best consumed within 1 to 2 years to preserve its delicate aromatic profile.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked Scottish salmon, mature blue cheeses such as Stilton, and rich dark chocolate desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands of Scotland, Highland Park is steeped in Viking history and legendary smuggling lore, famously founded by the colorful church officer and illicit distiller Magnus Eunson in 1798. The 'Full Cask' No 2 Hogshead release showcases the distillery's unique island terroir. Because Orkney's fierce winds prevent trees from growing, the local peat used to kiln the malted barley is composed almost entirely of decomposed heather. This imparts a distinctive, aromatic, and floral peat smoke rather than the heavy, medicinal brine found in Islay whiskies. Maturation in a traditional hogshead cask allows for a balanced wood-to-spirit interaction, resulting in a complex dram that layers heather honey, gentle peat smoke, dried fruits, and warm baking spices.
🍾 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.