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Distillery profile

Highland Park Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Highland Park

About the distillery

Highland Park is located on Orkney in northern Scotland and has been known since 1798 for a whisky that combines the island’s character with a very clear cask profile. Here, you find a style in which the subtle smoke from Orkney heathered peat is lifted by sherry-seasoned oak casks and a distinct sense of balance. It is a distillery that is inseparably connected to its place, and with a flavor that is both soft, spiced, and aromatic.

History

Highland Park was founded in 1798, when Magnus “Mansie” Eunson received his first license to produce whisky. His story is unusual: he was a church verger and, at the same time, a part-time smuggler, and in the years before the license he hid bottles under the pulpit. That kind of independent and slightly headstrong start is the sort the distillery still draws on today. Over the more than 200 years since then, Highland Park has maintained a clear rootedness in Orkney and in the island’s nature and community. The distillery describes how it deliberately holds on to craft traditions that, in many places on the mainland, have faded into the background—while also being reinterpreted. Highland Park 12 was launched in the 1970s as the first expression in the core range, and since then it has become a staple in local pubs on Orkney. Later, both very old bottlings and special releases have been added, including Highland Park 56, where Gordon Motion in 2008 selected special casks from 1968 onward for further maturation.

Ingredients and production

Highland Park’s identity is built on Orkney’s heathered peat, which is sourced from Hobbister Moor and helps give the whisky its distinctive, aromatic smoke. The distillery emphasizes that the local heather has, over thousands of years, left its mark on the character of the peat, and that it is precisely this smoke you can taste in every bottle. The journal also mentions the hand-turning of floor maltings, indicating that malt work is still an active part of the craft. The concrete hallmark of the production, however, is especially the way the whisky is assembled through different cask types. Across the releases, Highland Park works with first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, refill casks, bourbon casks, and in certain special editions more unusual casks such as virgin Swedish oak and French oak wine casks. For several bottlings, the cask work is described as harmonization, where different casks either add sweetness, spice, warmth, or balance to the whole.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is clearly guided by the type of cask and by how the various casks are used in the blend. Highland Park places great emphasis on sherry-seasoned oak casks, and the 30-, 40-, and 56-year expressions show how far you can push the style when the cask selection is very precise. The 40-year expression was first matured in five refill sherry-seasoned hogsheads and then received seven months in first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks. Highland Park 56 was gathered and re-racked in 2008 into first-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks, and ended up as a whisky from a single first-fill American Oak Puncheon. The distillery also notes that the tempered climate on Orkney means you lose less to the angel’s share than on the mainland, which is a clear advantage for the rarest and longest-matured releases.

Whiskies

The core range is built around The Classics with Highland Park 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30, and 40. The first three are most clearly described and serve as the entry point to the house, each with its own balance between sweetness, spice, fruit, and the classic Orkney smoke. In addition, the range includes several limited and special editions, where the distillery explores particular cask and flavor angles. This includes Sherry Skies, Cask Strength Heather, Swallows’ Return, and the exclusive Travel Retail releases Light of Orkney, Land of Orkney, and Sea of Orkney. On the very rare side stands Highland Park 56 as the oldest and rarest whisky the distillery has made.

Whisky Type / series Alcohol Age Cask and style Flavor profile Status
Highland Park 12 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 40 % 12 years First-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak casks, First-fill, sherry-seasoned American oak casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Fresh, clean and floral with heathered honey and a hint of citrus.; Taste: Sweet and spiced with burnt orange, jasmine and fruitcake.; Finish: Long with peppery spice, woody notes, orange zest and subtle smoke. Current; Core range
Highland Park 15 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 44 % 15 years First-fill, sherry-seasoned American oak casks, First-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Fresh, floral and spicy with warm vanilla and citrus.; Taste: Vanilla, pineapple and zesty citrus.; Finish: Mellow with delicate vanilla, toasty spice and gentle smoke. Current; Core range
Highland Park 18 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 43 % 18 years First-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak casks, Sherry-seasoned American oak casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Rich, fruity and caramelised sweetness.; Taste: Orange zest, dark chocolate and aromatic smoke.; Finish: Lingering, sweet and spicy with slightly nutty notes. Current; Core range
Highland Park 21 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 21 years Current; Core range
Highland Park 25 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 25 years Current; Core range
Highland Park 30 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 45.4 % 30 years Three sherry-seasoned European oak hogsheads, One sherry-seasoned American oak hogshead, Two refill hogsheads and One refill butt; smoked/peated Nose: Jasmine and lemon-scented geraniums.; Taste: Amaretto poached peaches, caramelised lemons, crushed coriander seeds, coconut and pink grapefruit.; Finish: Subtle smoke from Orkney heathered peat. Current; Core range
Highland Park 40 Single Malt Scotch Whisky; The Classics 44.1 % 40 years Five refill sherry seasoned hogsheads; finish: First matured in these casks, then transferred to first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks for seven months; smoked/peated Nose: Ripe black cherries, dark chocolate and crushed oregano.; Taste: Sweet dried apricots, stem ginger, cloves, eucalyptus and mint leaves.; Finish: Spicy and complex with lingering cloves, mint and fragrant smoke. Current; Core range
Highland Park 56 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 47.1 % 56 years First-fill American Oak Puncheon; finish: Made entirely from one cask after being married and re-racked in first-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks; smoked/peated Highland Park 56 is the oldest and rarest whisky the distillery has created.; Nose: Jasmine, lilac, sweet raisins, cloudy honey and delicate peat smoke.; Taste: Citrus, orange peel, spices and lapsang souchong tea.; Finish: Exceptionally subtle with woody spice, honeyed oak and fragrant heathered peat smoke. Current
Highland Park 14 Land of Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Travel Exclusives 42.3 % 14 years First-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Sweet and smoky with vanilla crème brûlée.; Taste: Baked apples and nutmeg.; Finish: Lingering subtle smoke from Orkney heathered peat. Current
Highland Park 16 Sea of Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Travel Exclusives 44.5 % 16 years First-fill sherry-seasoned European oak casks, Refill casks and Sherry-seasoned American oak casks; smoked/peated Nose: Zesty warmth, vanilla and nutmeg.; Taste: Sweet nutty balance with brown sugar.; Finish: Sweet, nutty and softly smoky. Current
Highland Park 11 Light of Orkney Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Travel Exclusives 40 % 11 years Sherry-seasoned European oak casks, Sherry-seasoned American oak casks, Bourbon casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Rich and indulgent with Scottish tablet, ginger and cinnamon.; Taste: Ginger, caramel and floral smoke.; Finish: Mellow, fruity glow. Current
Highland Park Sherry Skies Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48.8 % 19 years Sherry-seasoned European oak quarter casks and American oak bourbon casks; smoked/peated Nose: Toasted oak and fragrant vanilla.; Taste: Sweet, caramelised fruit, spice and citrus peel.; Finish: Anise, cinnamon and lingering heathered peat smoke. Current
Highland Park Swallows' Return Inner Circle Exclusive Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46.5 % 16 years Sherry-seasoned American oak casks, Sherry-seasoned European oak casks and Refill casks; smoked/peated Nose: Crème brûlée, toasted coconut and apricot.; Taste: Sweet vanilla, dry spice and cocoa powder.; Finish: Gentle peat smoke. Current

Whisky style and flavor profile

Highland Park ranges in flavor from fresh citrus, Seville oranges, and heather honey to darker notes of black cherries, dark chocolate, and dried apricots. There is also a distinct spiced line throughout the series with cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and toasted spice, while the characteristic smoke always sits in the background as floral, aromatic, or subtle smoke. At the same time, casks such as sherry-seasoned oak, bourbon casks, and various refill casks give the whiskies a base of vanilla, caramel, oak, and nutty sweetness, so the distillery’s style is both sweet, spiced, and lightly smoked.

Visit the distillery

Highland Park has an experiences page for Orkney experiences and also invites special events for Inner Circle members. This shows that the distillery works with visitor experiences and can be booked for experiences on the island. However, the public page in the material does not describe opening hours, duration, or a full visitor infrastructure, so the specific visit promise is formulated as access to bookable experiences in Orkney.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Highland Park describes its philosophy as doing things in its own way, with respect for craft traditions and with a very clear rootedness in Orkney. The distillery emphasizes creativity, resourcefulness, and a less conventional island life as part of its identity. At the same time, great emphasis is placed on cask quality, on the local heathered peat, and on a whisky where smoke is never allowed to overpower the complexity, but instead be a subtle part of the whole.

Sustainability

Peat for the whisky is described as sustainably sourced from Hobbister Moor.

Prizes and accolades

  • Double Gold (2024, Won, Highland Park 12)

  • Gold (2024, Won, Highland Park 12)

  • Gold (2021, Won, Highland Park 12)

  • Double Gold (2024, Won, Highland Park 15)

  • Gold (2024, Won, Highland Park 15)

  • Double Gold (2023, Won, Highland Park 15)

  • Gold (2022, Won, Highland Park 15)

  • Platinum (2024, Won, Highland Park 18)

  • Gold (2024, Won, Highland Park 18)

  • Gold (2023, Won, Highland Park 18)

  • Double Gold (2022, Won, Highland Park 18)

  • World’s Best New Release (2009, Won, Highland Park 40)

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