Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 4
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt is bottled at its peak maturity and does not age further in glass; it can be enjoyed immediately upon release or kept for decades if stored upright and away from direct light.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon, mature blue cheese, dark chocolate truffles
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, situated on the windswept Orkney Islands, is steeped in Viking history and rugged maritime terroir. The Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 4 represents a classic expression of this northernmost distillery's craft, matured in a traditional hogshead cask. This cask size allows for an intimate interaction between the spirit and the oak, beautifully integrating Highland Park's signature aromatic peat—sourced from the heather-rich Hobbister Moor—with delicate vanilla, spice, and coastal brine. The island's cool, temperate climate ensures a slow, even maturation, preserving the distillate's character while imparting a refined complexity that pays homage to Orkney's ancient Norse heritage.
🍾 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.