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
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.