Orkney Single Malt Viking Pride 18YO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a fully matured single malt Scotch whisky, it is bottled at its peak of complexity and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release. Once bottled, it does not mature further and will maintain its exceptional quality for decades if kept upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rich roasted game meats, mature blue cheeses, and artisanal dark chocolate desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 by the legendary smuggler and priest Magnus Eunson, stands as one of Scotland's most remote and historic distilleries on the windswept Orkney Islands. The Viking Pride 18-Year-Old pays homage to the Norse ancestry that deeply shapes Orkney's culture. This single malt is crafted using traditional hand-turned floor maltings and unique, woodless peat cut from the ancient Hobbister Moor, which is packed with decomposing heather. This specific peat gives the spirit its signature gentle, sweet heathery smoke. Matured predominantly in hand-selected sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, the whisky develops a sophisticated harmony of rich dried fruits, warm winter spices, dark chocolate, and soft peat smoke.
🍾 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.