Orkney Single Malt Single Cask No 4386 16YO (((Bottled 2005)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not age further in the bottle and can be preserved indefinitely. It is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release and will remain in peak condition for decades if stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich blue cheeses like Stilton, artisanal dark chocolate with sea salt, and seared venison or smoked game meats.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the wind-swept Orkney Islands, is steeped in Viking heritage and legendary smuggling lore, famously founded by the illicit distiller Magnus Eunson. This rare Single Cask No. 4386, aged for 16 years and bottled in 2005, represents the pinnacle of Orcadian craftsmanship. The distillery's signature character comes from the hand-cut peat of Hobbister Moor, infused with heather, which imparts a gentle, floral smokiness distinct from Islay's medicinal peat. Matured in a single hand-selected oak cask, this expression absorbs the cool, salty maritime air of the North Sea, yielding a complex profile of rich dried fruits, warm spices, and a whisper of coastal brine.
🍾 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.