Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 4
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle. It is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release and will maintain its exceptional quality for several decades if stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses, artisanal dark chocolate, and smoked salmon or cured meats.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands, Highland Park is steeped in Viking history and distilling lore, famously founded in 1798 by the smuggler Magnus Eunson. This 2008 vintage single malt, matured in a single hogshead cask (No. 4) and bottled at its natural 'Full Cask' strength, showcases the unique maritime terroir of Scotland's northernmost distillery. Because Orkney is largely treeless, the local peat used to dry the malted barley is packed with decomposed heather, infusing the spirit with a signature aromatic, floral smokiness. Maturation in a traditional oak hogshead allows the coastal air to gently breathe into the spirit, weaving together notes of heather honey, light peat smoke, sea salt, and warm wood 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.