Orkney Single Malt Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 40
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy upon release, this spirit will remain stable and at peak quality indefinitely when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon, mature blue cheese, dark chocolate truffles
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the windswept Orkney Islands, this single cask expression showcases the unique maritime terroir of Scotland's far north. The absence of trees on the islands means the peat from nearby Hobbister Moor is composed almost entirely of decomposed heather, imparting a distinctively sweet, floral, and aromatic smoke rather than the medicinal brine found in Islay malts. Matured in a single hogshead cask (No 40), this release offers an intimate look at the distillery's spirit, where the smaller cask size coaxes out rich notes of heather honey, soft vanilla, citrus peel, and a whisper of coastal peat. The expression pays homage to Orkney's deep-seated Viking heritage, capturing the rugged, mystical essence of the islands in a single, unrepeatable bottling.
🍾 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.