Orkney Single Malt Refill Barrel 'Full Cask' No 204
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled single malt Scotch whisky, this spirit does not mature further in the bottle. It is bottled at its peak of maturation and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release, remaining stable for decades if stored properly.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon or gravlax, mature blue cheeses like Stilton, and high-quality dark chocolate.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, located in Kirkwall, Orkney, is one of the northernmost Scotch whisky distilleries in the world, steeped in Norse mythology and island folklore. Founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a butcher and smuggler who descended from Viking settlers, the distillery relies on the unique terroir of the Orkney Islands. The fierce island winds prevent trees from growing, leaving the local Hobbister Moor peat rich in heather. When burned to dry the malted barley, this peat imparts a distinct, aromatic, sweet floral smokiness rather than the heavy, medicinal notes found in Islay whiskies. This specific single cask release, 'Full Cask' No 204, was aged in a refill barrel. Refill casks allow the distillery's characterful, honeyed, and gently smoky spirit to shine through without being overpowered by active oak wood, resulting in a beautifully balanced dram that showcases the raw, coastal, and heather-honey character of Orkney.
🍾 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.