Orkney Single Malt Refill Sherry Butt 'Full Cask' No 99
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to enjoy immediately upon release, remaining stable for decades if stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon, mature blue cheeses like Stilton, and rich game dishes or dark chocolate desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the wind-swept Orkney Islands, Highland Park is steeped in Viking lore and legendary distilling history dating back to 1798, when Magnus Eunson, a smuggler and descendant of Norse settlers, first ran an illicit still. This single malt, matured in a Refill Sherry Butt (Cask No 99), represents a harmonious marriage of Orkney's unique terroir and traditional craftsmanship. The distillery's signature character is defined by the hand-cut local peat from Hobbister Moor, which is packed with ancient heather, imparting a gentle, sweet floral smokiness rather than the medicinal peat of the Islay region. Aging in a refill sherry butt allows the spirit's natural orchard fruit, heather-honey, and coastal brine notes to shine elegantly, framed by soft spices and dried fruit undertones without being overwhelmed by heavy oak tannins.
🍾 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.