Orkney Single Malt Whitlaw Refill Hogshead 'Full Cask' No 120
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled single malt Scotch whisky, this bottle does not mature further in glass and will remain stable indefinitely if stored upright and away from direct light. Once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 years to experience its full aromatic complexity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked Scottish salmon, mature artisanal blue cheeses, and rich dark chocolate desserts.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the windswept Orkney Islands, this single malt represents the rugged, Viking-influenced heritage of Scotland's northernmost distilleries. Released under the 'Whitlaw' pseudonym—a name frequently used by independent bottlers to denote malt distilled at the legendary Highland Park distillery—this expression captures the unique terroir of Orkney. The island's peat, sourced from Hobbister Moor, is composed almost entirely of decomposed heather, imparting a distinctive sweet, floral, and gentle heathery smoke rather than the medicinal, briny notes typical of Islay. Maturation in a refill hogshead allows the spirit's natural character to take center stage, balancing orchard fruits, soft honey, and light peat smoke without the heavy influence of active oak. It is a testament to traditional floor malting and the slow, cool maturation favored by the maritime climate.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1798 in Kirkwall on the remote archipelago of Orkney, Highland Park stands as one of Scotland's most historic and northernmost single malt distilleries. Owned by the Edrington Group, the distillery fiercely guards traditional whisky-making practices, still conducting its own hand-turned floor maltings and cutting dense, heather-rich peat from nearby Hobbister Moor. Maturation takes place predominantly in premium sherry-seasoned oak casks within Orkney's cool, windswept maritime climate. This unique convergence of terroir and technique yields Highland Park's internationally revered signature style, distinguished by gentle aromatic peat smoke, luscious heather-honey sweetness, and rich, complex spice.