Orkney Single Malt Vintage Collection
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release. Once opened, it will retain its peak complexity for 1 to 2 years if stored properly away from direct light and heat.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Mature blue cheeses such as Stilton, high-quality dark chocolate, and rich smoked meats or charcuterie.
✨ Technical Specifications
Highland Park, established in 1798 on the windswept Orkney Islands, is steeped in Viking heritage and legendary smuggling lore. Founded by Magnus Eunson, a direct descendant of Viking settlers who famously hid his illicit spirits under the church pulpit, the distillery deeply embraces its Norse roots. The unique character of this single malt is shaped by Orkney's maritime climate and Hobbister Moor peat, which is packed with decomposing heather rather than trees, imparting a distinctively sweet, floral, and aromatic smokiness. Utilizing traditional floor maltings and slow distillation, the spirit is predominantly matured in hand-selected Oloroso sherry-seasoned oak casks, resulting in a complex, harmonious balance of sweet dried fruits, warm spices, and gentle 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.