Highland Park

A fruity and vibrant dram with a touch of heathery peat smoke.

Situated on the Orkney Islands to the west of Kirkwall, Highland Park is the most northerly distillery in the World. It was founded by Magnus Eunson in the late 18th century, one of many Orcadian smugglers and illicit Whisky producers who rebelled against the heavy excise duties imposed to finance the war with Napoleon. It is said that he used his position as Church Officer to conceal Whisky beneath the church pulpit. The distillery was licensed in 1826 by Robert Borwick, whose son-in-law, the local Exciseman John Robertson, is generally credited with routing out the smugglers. Highland Park is one of the few distilleries to use hard water. Also unusual is the use of traditional floor maltings for germinating the barley, which is then dried over a fire of local aromatic heather peat. This is the source of the heathery smokiness that is characteristic of the Highland Park Whisky.

Created by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, Highland Park Viking Heart 15 Year Old was aged in mostly first-fill European Sherry seasoned oak casks and a smaller portion of American Sherry seasoned oak casks. The first impart warm and dry spicy notes while the latter leave behind notes of vanilla and crème brûlée behind. Then, a few refill casks are added to the mix just to soften and smoothen the flavors a bit. Bottled at 88 proof, this is a vibrant and fruity Whisky with a touch of heathery peat smoke shining through. Oh, and it comes in a special ceramic decanter, just like in the good old days of yore (a.k.a. a couple of centuries ago).