Orkney Single Malt Refill Bourbon Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 581
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-proof single malt Scotch whisky, this bottle is ready to drink upon release and will not mature further in glass. Unopened, it can be preserved indefinitely; once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 years to experience its vibrant aromatic spectrum at its peak.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked Scottish salmon, mature Stilton or blue cheese, and dark chocolate truffles.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands, Highland Park is legendary for its Viking heritage and its founding myth involving Magnus Eunson, an 18th-century smuggler who hid his illicit spirits beneath the local church pulpit. This single cask expression, matured in a refill bourbon hogshead (Cask No 581), showcases the distillery's signature style in its purest form. Unlike heavy sherry-matured expressions, the refill bourbon cask allows the natural character of the Orcadian spirit to take center stage. The terroir of Orkney is defined by its unique heather-rich peat, which imparts a gentle, aromatic, and floral smoke rather than the medicinal peat found in Islay. Combined with the cool, maritime climate that ensures a slow and steady maturation, this single malt delivers a complex profile of heather honey, soft vanilla, citrus zest, and a delicate coastal salinity.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1798 in Kirkwall on the remote archipelago of Orkney, Highland Park stands as one of Scotland's most historic and northernmost single malt distilleries. Owned by the Edrington Group, the distillery fiercely guards traditional whisky-making practices, still conducting its own hand-turned floor maltings and cutting dense, heather-rich peat from nearby Hobbister Moor. Maturation takes place predominantly in premium sherry-seasoned oak casks within Orkney's cool, windswept maritime climate. This unique convergence of terroir and technique yields Highland Park's internationally revered signature style, distinguished by gentle aromatic peat smoke, luscious heather-honey sweetness, and rich, complex spice.