Highland Park

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > H

HIGHLAND PARK

12 years old

40%
The Northern most Scotch Distillery
Orkney Islands
James Grant & Company,
(Highland park Distillery)

In 1826 'the southernmost division of the lands of Rosebank (above Kirkwall), comprising the High Park and the Mid Park' were sold to distillery owner Robert Borwick and from then on became known as Highland Park.

Rugged and windswept, Orkney is a cluster of beautiful islands off the northernmost tip of Scotland. From its stern, strong elements comes one of the most distinctive and warming single malt whiskies in the world - Highland Park.

Highland Park 12 year Old has a rich amber glow and a distinctinctive taste of smokiness and heather honey with just a hint of peat. Its finish is long and delicious.

'The greatest all-rounder in the world of malt whisky'. Michael Jackson, The Malt Whisky Companian

HIGHLAND PARK

8 years old

43%
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 20.1.86
Bottled 9.94
Cask No. 93
460 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

8 years old

43%
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 20.1.86
Bottled 9.94
Cask No. 92
380 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

9 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 20.1.86
Bottled 1.95
Cask No. 91
440 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

6 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 12.88
Bottled 6.95
Cask No. 1210
480 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

6 years old

43%
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 12.88
Cask No. 1209
Bottled 6.95
475 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

21 years old

40%
VINTAGE 1977 RESERVE
BICENTENARY 1798- 1998
Distilled: 1977
Bottled: 1998
Celebrating 200 Golden Years
James Grant & Co.
(Highland Park Distillery)
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

1998 is Highland Park's Bicentenary year. A Milestone, even in that most ancient of places The Orkney Islands. To commemorate the historic event, Highland Park have commissioned an exclusive bottling, Highland Park 1977 Vintage Reserve.

Two centuries of tradition are distilled into this singular and complex malt, matured in oak casks for 21 years.

HIGHLAND PARK

14 years old

46 %
THE UNFILTERED COLLECTION
ISLAND SINGLE MALT
Distilled on: 16 th June 1988
Bottled 17 th June 2002
Cask No. 713
401 Genummerde flessen
No Chillfiltration
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

Uitgebracht, samen in Rack met Auchentoshan 9 years old, Mortlach 12 years old, Clynelish 9 years old en Caol Ila 12 years old.

HIGHLAND PARK

8 years old

43 %
DE YOUNGS
Selected Single Malts
Wines & Whiskies, G.A. de Jong, Delft

VINTAGE ORKNEY MALT

Geen leeftijd vermelding

40 %
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

HIGHLAND PARK

13 years old

56,3%
Date Distilled Apr 80
Date Bottled Jan 94
Single Malt Scotch Whisky No. code L 4.22
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh

Gelagerd in een Bourbon vat. Bleekgoud van kleur. De neus start pikant en heeft geen spoortje turf, wat je in deze whisky wel zou verwachten. Dat komt wel, met wat water toegevoegd, en de turf versterkt dan in hoge mate de fruitigheid.

In de smaak komt de turf wel boven met een komplexe kombinatie van citroen, limoen, zoetheid en specerijen.

HIGHLAND PARK

10 years old

46 %
Distilled 11/11/92
Bottled 12/03/02
Matured in a refill - sherrycask
Cask No. 20574
210 Genummerde flessen
Non Chill-filtered
Usquebach Society, Nederland

HIGHLAND PARK

16 years old

57,8 %
SINGLE CASK SCOTCH WHISKY
Date Distilled Oct 82
Date Bottled Sept 99
Society Cask No. code 4.66
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Opal Fruits in a Peat reek'

From the better known of Orkney's two distilleries, this dram of light gold has the characteristics of sweetness married to a touch of peaty smoke. The first nose is of Rice Crispy Treats and strawberry Opal Fruits, bur with quite a whiff of peat-reek. Water does not change this markedly. The taste has lemon pepper (straight), but with water becomes more earthy, reminiscent of linoleum and hessian sacks. Deliciously complex.

HIGHLAND PARK

8 years old

43 %
from the Islands of Orkney
Gradi 43o - Idrati CL.
75 - Anidri 32.25
E Importato Dalla G.F.
Ferraretto E C. Milano
Licenza Utif 129 James Grant & Co,
(Highland Park Distillery) Ltd
Kirkwall, Orkney

HIGHLAND PARK

18 years old

43 %
Gradi 43o - Idrati CL.
75 - Anidri 32.25
E Importato Dalla G.F.
Ferraretto E C. Milano
Licenza Utif 129James Grant & Company
(Highland Park Distillery) Ltd
Kirkwall, Orkney

HIGHLAND PARK

7 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 14.12.88
Cask No. 1212
Bottled 11.95
485 bottles
Van Wees, Amersfoort

HIGHLAND PARK

10 years old

43 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 31/10/89
Cask No. 3213
Bottled 10/5/2000
The Ultimate Whisky Company, N.L.

HIGHLAND PARK

36 years old

41,40%
PEERLESS
A Unique Whisky of Distinction
Fons et Origo
Distilled 05.1966
Bottled 07.2002
Cask No. 4640
184 bottles
Duncan Taylor & Co.

HIGHLAND PARK

11 years old

57,7 %
VINTAGE 1990
CASK STRENGHT
Matured in a sherry butt
Distilled on 21.9.90
Bottled 20.5.2002
Cask No. 15448
596 Genummerde flessen
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co,Ltd, Edinburgh

Standing stones, neolithic settlements, a Viking cathedral, Norse sagas - all attest to Orkney's flourishing ancient cultures.

HIGHLAND PARK

19 years old

55,3 %
SINGLE CASK
From the Northernmost
Scotch Whisky Distillery
in the World
Specially Selected and Bottled
in Scotland for
MAXXIUM NETHERLANDS
Cask number 2793
was filled at an original
alcohol strenght of 55,3 %,
on the 13th of November 1986
and placed in warehouse 19
at Highland Park distillery
Sherry Wood Matured
Bottled 2005
1120 Numbered Bottles
International Whisky Festival,
Leiden 2005
Highland Park Distillery,
Kirkwall, Orkney
35 cl bottle

Tasting Notes:

Russell Anderson, Distillery Manager, describes the single cask bottling as this:

Colour: Rich, dark ornage glow

Nose: A sweet sherry note is thus first thing to notice

Then comes the Maple syrup interlaced with spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, finishing

with a feeling of being in the great outdoors

Palate: Intensely sweet and warming with candied orange peel leading to a gentle smokey

mouth feel.

Finish: Soft, delicate finish with hints of raspberry

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 15 years

40 %
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
ORKNEY ISLANDS
The Northernmost Scotch Whisky
Distillery in the World
James Grant & Company
(Highland Park Distillery)
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 40 years

40.7 %
Region Island
CASK STRENGHT RARE
AULD SCOTCH WHISKY
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Date distilled 12.1966
Cask no. 11009
Date bottled 12.2006
Numbered Bottles
294 Bottles
No Chillfiltering or Colourings of any kind
Duncan Taylor, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 25 years

53,5 %
Orkney Islands
Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall,
Orkney
(Older bottling)

The Orkney imagination is haunted by the cadenses and echoes of time. Through stories, poems and ballads passed down through the ages, the islanders of Orkney have never

ceased to celebrate in word and song the vision by which they live.

The heyday of Orkney’s rich culture was the Norse settlement, a thousand years ago, when

the power of the Orkney Earls matched that of the King of Scotland. Their deeds and stories

are all immortalised in The Orkneyinga Saga – record of a Golden Age

Passion, vision and faith illuminated the medieval age, when Orkney was a brilliant star in

the Viking firmament. Word and deed went hand in hand, borne out by the likes of Orcadian

hero and poet Earl Rognvald who chronicled his epic pilgrimages to the east

Even if you cannot undertake the pilgrimage to Orkney, you can sample Highland Park 25

Year Old. This shining dark red, golden spirit is now yours to savour

Its unique, rugged individual character is perfectly in tune with that of the proud islanders

who crafted it, and the rich tapestry of tone that resound throughout its bouquet, palate

and finish will bring out the poet in you in true Orcadian fashion

Pour a dram; clear and bright in the glass – a ray of deep golden sunset over the rounded

hills of Hoy. Warm the glass in your hand, breathe in; the very rich, mature oak bouquet,

with an almost ethery peatiness, will transport you to the surrounding seas and to the peat

beds at Marwick

Next, add a little water; Highland Park 25 Year Old is cask strength and a little water will

allow its generous body to exhale: then the rich, full, medium – sweet palate will elicit a

burst of flavour

The finish – rich, long and amazingly sweet for its age – is one you will not forget. However

Just as stories re – live through reminicense, so too do memory and taste buds benefit from

refreshing. So pour another dram, and once again evoke the poetry of a Golden Age

HIGHLAND PARK

1 9 6 8
Aged 40 years

40,9 %
PEERLESS SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Cask Strenght Single Island Malt
DUNCAN TAYLOR
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Distilled 28.03.68
Cask No. 3464
Bottled 11.11.08
175 Numbered Bottles
Duncan Taylor and Co, Ltd,
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 12 years

55 %
SAINT MAGNUS OF ORKNEY
BOTTLING
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Distilled in Kirkwall
LIMITED EDITION
EDITION TWO
1 of 11.994 Bottles
Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall, Orkney

The Highland Park archive is home to many venerable bottles; one in particular,

dating from around 1870, fits perfectly as an inspiration for celebrating the life

the life of Saint Magnus. We worked with Stölzle Flaconnage, Highland Park’s

specialist glassware supplier, to ignore 150 years of technological advances in

order to create a bottle complete with flaws and defects consistent with those

of the original.

In 1870 the bottle would have been hand – gathered, mouth – blown into a woo-

den mould and kept wet to prevent combustion. The raw materials would have

been sand and limestone along with naturally occurring sodium sulphate. Con-

taminants broadly determined the colour of the glass and little effort would have

been made to control capacity or functionality so long as it did not break.

This bottle matches the original in almost all regards, other than that it is made

in a factory, does’n leak and conforms to all applicable legislation. The modern

moulds echo the flaws in the hand – made one from two centuries ago; advanced

techniques were used to generate bubbles and colour consistency in the glass.

The artisans of 1870 would have be most impressed with our efforts made in

search of imperfection.

The image of saint magnus on the original label of the 1870 archive bottle was

inspired by an ancient stained glass window. The impact of the label is shown

to maximum effect by the development of a simple, open fronted, etched wooden

box.

Highland Park Saint Magnus Edition Two forms part of a series of three. It is a

perfectly – balanced, natural strength botling of hand – selected casks of 12

year old single malt; to appreciate it fully, take your time and add a little fresh

distilled water – a couple of drops at a time. This will release the subtle aromas

and reveal the complexity of a single malt that has been made wihin a mile of

St. Magnus Cathedral since 1798.

Whisky has been made in the traditional manner at Highland Park for more than

210 years. Released in 2010 this bottling is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated

craftsmen who built St. Magnus Cathedral.

HIGHLAND PARK

LEIF ERIKSSON RELEASE

40 %

Wholly Matured in American Oak Casks

Limited Edition

Exclusive to Global Travel Retail

Distilled in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

Highland Park Distillery.

Highland park is distilled in Orkney, a group of Scottish islands with a distinctive

Viking influence. Norseman sailed in magnificent handmade oak longships to

colonise orkney in the eight century, they were remarkable explorers and the

most fearless and pionering off all was Leif Eriksson.

Thought to have been born in Iceland circa AD 970, Eriksson earned the nick-

name “Leif the Lucky” embarking upon his legendary journey at the dawn of

the 11 th century crossing the perilous North Atlantic, to establish settlements

in Labrador and Newfoundland.

This Highland Park single malt is wholly matured in American Oak casks, in

recognition of leif Eriksson’s achievements as the first European to set foot

on North American soil.

The whisky has a wonderful balance of honey sweetness, citrus fruit and spicy

smoke.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance; Yellow Gold

Nose: Spicy, ornage blossom, honey – tinged sweetness with vanilla and dried

oak.. Mango and melon notes with a wisp of smoke.

Palate: Soft vanilla and sweet barley wisps with a hint of grape.

Finish: Muscavado sweetness balanced by wisps of Orcadian peat smoke

HIGHLAND PARK

1 9 9 4

40 %
Distilled 1994
Distilled in Kirkwall
Bottled in 2010
Created exclusively for Global
Retail
Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall,
Orkney Islands.

Highland Park takes its name from the High Park area on the outskirts of

Kirkwall Orkney, where in 1798 Magnus Eunson began distilling illegal

whisky. A local smuggler, Magnus would hide this forbidden spirit under

the pulpit of the church.

At Highland Park we insist on an uncompromising approach to whisky –

making. We ‘r one of only a handful of distilleries that slowly malts its bar-

ley on the stone floor, physically turning it by hand for a more balanced

flavor. Next, we smoke it over local aromatic peat, hand – cut from

Hobbister Moor to bring a unique fragrant heather character to the whisky.

Then it’s placed into oak casks – not just your usual bourbon casks though

sherry oak casks from Spain, that cost ten times as much, but bring a

priceless natural colour and flavor to our whisky. Then comes the hardest

part leaving it to quietly mature in the consistently cool Orcadian air.

And even when it’s ready, we’re not. We have chosen and combined our

best casks from 1994, then we have left them to settle and harmonise,

for just that little bit longer to deliver our complex whisky. The result is a

delicious single malt with caramel and almond notes teasing sweetness

with hints of cinnamon and aromatic peat flavours delivering a warming

smokey finish. This special Vintage is the kinf of Dram you long for when

you’ve worked as hard as us.

Enjoy the perfect glass of Highland Park:

First, hold your glass to the light to enjoy the dark Amber hue, then tilt

and rotate it to see the beads of whisky appear on the inside of the glass.

The smaller they are the higher the alcohol strength, and the slower they

fall, the better the spirit quality. Next: add a drop of water and take three

long sniffs. The first just gets your nose used to the alcohol, but in the se-

cond , you’il discover caramel and almond sweetness, and in the third

fruit - maybe ripening figs or cherries. Now taste the whisky by chewing

it in your mouth for 4 or 5 seconds then swallow. The top of your tongue

will start to tingle, and after a few seconds your mouth will go dry, leaving

a warming smokey feeling and a flavor that keeps on going.

HIGHLAND PARK

1 9 8 9
21 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Orkney Single Malt
Distilled: 04/12/89
Matured in a Sherry Butt
Cask no: 11895
Bottled: 08/03/11
771 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltering
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company, NL

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 16 years

52.1 %
T H O R
WHISKY OF THE GODS
1 of 23,000 Bottles
Highland Park Distillery,
Kirkwall, Orkney

Mighty Thor remains one of the most legendary of all the Norse gods. Son of Odin, the

ruler of Asgard, Thor was avidly worshipped by Viking warriors as the defender of mankind

and gods alike.

Wielding a powerful hammer named Mjölnir, it is said that Thor could carve valleys out of

mountains and that his enemies would quake in terror at the thunderous sound the wea-

pon created.

Thor’s impulsiveness has been chronicled in conquests gone by, none more so than his

numerous encounters with Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent and son of the treacherous

Loki.

Legend has it that Thor’s handiwork can be witnessed on the Island of Orkney, home to

the Highland Park distillery, at the roughly hewn cliffs of Yesnaby on the far western shore.

Here, brooding sea battles endlessly against chiseled rock for surpremacy, resulting in

echoes of Thor’s divine strength across the land.

Like its namesake this whisky has a natural strength, drawing influence from the environ-

ment unique to Orkney, to create a truly elemental spirit. Distilled where sea turns to

ocean, Highland Park is a meeting point of nature’s forces, resulting in single malt which

exudes balance, complexity and character.

Thor, unquestionable a whisky of the gods.

HIGHLAND PARK 2 0 0 1

57.7 %

GORDON & MACPHAIL

CASK STRENGHT SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

From Highland Park Distillery

Region: Orkney

Distilled 16/10/2001

Cask No. 299 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Bottled 13/09/12

Natural Colour Non Chill Filtered

Especially Selected, Matured by

Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

HIGHLAND PARK

NEW MAKE SPIRIT DRINK

50 %

Distilled February 2010

Bottled March 2010

Volume 35 cl

Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall,

Orkney Islands

Gekregen van Ewald Lap

Highland Park’s new make spirit is distinctively aromatic, full bodied and floral.

Orkney peat – thousands of years old and based on hardy heather – imparts

wonderful honey sweetness.

The shape of the stills, conpled with our stillman’s expertise, emphasisis the

delicious fruity flavor.

The judicious addition of water assists in the revelation of the spirit’s complexity,

peat, pear drops and freshly cut grass are unmediately obvious.

These flavours develop until the arrival of a lingering aftertaste which gently dries

the mouth.

HIGHLAND PARK I
1 9 8 6
20 years old

40 %
PREMIERS CHOICE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
SIR WINSTON CHURCHIL 1874 - 1965
Distilled in the year 1986
Bottled in the year 2006
Numbered Bottles
Imported by Independent
Wine & Spirit (Thailand) Co, Ltd. Bangkok

HIGHLAND PARK
VINTAGE 1 9 9 9
14 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Distilled: 15/10/99
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 800167
Bottled: 29/08/14
262 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky Company NL.
.
HIGHLAND PARK
Estd 1798
Aged 10 years

46 %
AMBASSADOR's CHOICE
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
"We guarantee this whisky to be
distilled solely from the finest
home grown barley
Distilled in Kirkwall
Highland Park Distillery,
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

HIGHLAND PARK

Aged 30 years

1 9 8 9

51.1 %

Connoisseurs Choice

Cask Strenght

Batch 19/003

Refill Sherry Butt

Bottled 2.03.2019

489 Bottles

Non – chill – filtered

Natural colour

Carefully Matured in our own

Casks with spirit entrusted to

us from Highland Park Distillery

Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

Estd. 1895

Toffee and coffee bean aromas

balanced by a citrus edge. Pepper

flavours give way to orange zest,

dark chocolate and warming spices.

Long and fruity finish with lingering

charred oak.

HIGHLAND PARK

DRAKKAR

40 %

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

DISTILLED IN KIRKWALL,

ORKNEY ISLANDS

Distilled and Bottled by

Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall,

Orkney Islands.

Highland Park always celebrates its distinctive Viking influence.

Norsemen sailed in magnificent oak longships to colonise the islands in the eight

century, the most of them all was the Drakkar, the dragon – headed longship.

The Northern Highlands
Orkney
HIGHLAND PARK

Kirkwall, Orkney. Licentiehouder: James Grant & Co, Ltd. Eigendom van The Highland Distilleries Co. Pic.
Aan het eind van de 18e eeuw was het Orcadian distillateurs niet toegestaan om hun whisky te verkopen buiten de eilanden, maar smokkelpraktijken zorgden ervoor dat de whisky werd verkocht tot in de Lowlands.
In 1805 arriveerden de ambtenaren van de accijnzen op Orkney en de burgemeester van Kirkwall, ook eigenaar van een distilleerderij, Thomas Traill speelde op zeker en vroeg en kreeg een licentie om een brouwerij en distilleerderij te beginnen in de Millstreet te Kirkwall. Hij werkte samen met Magnus Eunson die ook een distilleerderij bezat.
Het is waarschijnlijk dat Highland Park op de plaats staat van de distilleerderij van Traill en Eunson.
In 1825 begon Robert Borwick Highland Park, de gebouwen waren het eigendom van een ambtenaar van accinzen, John Robertson.
Reden voor de vestiging van de distilleerderij hier, was de aanwezigheid van de waterbron te Cattie Maggie.
Highland Park bleef vijf en dertig in het bezit van de familie Borwick.
Toen James Borwick Highland Park erfde in 1869 vond hij het beter de distilleerderij te verkopen, vanwege zijn ambt als dominee.
In 1888 werd James Grant, wiens vader directeur was geweest van The Glenlivet, manager van Highland Park en in 1895 eigenaar.
De familie Grant bleef eigenaar van Highland Park tot 1937 toen Highland Bis^ tillers de distilleerderij overnam.

Highland Park heeft vier met stoom verhitte ketels en 20 % van de gemoute gerst komt van eigen moutvloeren.
Het water komt van Cattie Maggie's Spring.
De Mash tun is 11.4 ton.
De twaalf Wash backs zijn elk 29.000 liter.
De twee Wash stills hebben elk een inhoud van 20.000 liter, de twee Spirit stills elk 18.000 liter en worden indirect verhit met stoom.
De turf wordt gestoken te Hobbister Moor.
De mout, met 20 ppm phenol, is zwaar turfgerookt en wordt vervolgens gemengd met malt gedroogd boven niet geturfrookte malt, die wordt aangevoerd vanaf het vaste land.
De distilleerderij kat is (1998) Barley.
Tot 1996 had Highland Park twee huis katten, de tweede werd Malt genoemd.

Voorjaar 1999 kregen de Edrington Group en Highland Distillers verschil van mening over het niet of vel aanhouden van de beursnotering.
September 1999 wordt bekend dat Edrington en William Grant & Sons samen Highland Distillers overnemen.
De naam van de nieuwe onderneming luidt: The 1887 Company, wat slaat op het stichtingsjaar van Highland Distillers.
Edrington verkrijgt 70 %-, William Grant & Sons 30 % van de aandelen/
Augustus 2003.
Er is een kat aankomen lopen en die ging niet meer weg. Highland Park is de enige distil-leerderij met nu drie katten: Barley, Malt en Phenols.

1997

Highland Park 18 jaar oud en

25 jaar oud worden uitgebracht

2005

Highland Park 30 jaar oud wordt uitgebracht
Highland Park 16 jaar oud wordt uitgebracht
Highland park Ambassador's Cask

1984 wordt uitgebracht voor
de Duty Free markt
2006

De tweede editie van Ambassador's Cask

10 jaar oud van 1966
wordt uitgebracht
De verpakking wordt vernieuwd
2008

Highland park 40 jaar oud

wordt uitgebracht in Juni

Since the days of the heroic Norse Sagas, Orkney has inspired the spirit of the storyteller.
As, since 1798 has Highland Park with hais lovingly crafted mellowness

Forever I flush the winters of men with wassails of corn. From 'John Barleycorn' by George
Brown

In a culture whose traditions have been shaped by long nights gathered round the flickering
flames whisky and the embroidered tale go naturally hand in hand

None more so than Highland Park 25 Year Old whose deep golden draught will awaken the
fire and the poetry in you

The Highland Park archive is home to many venerable bottles; one in particular,
dating from around 1870, fits perfectly as an inspiration for celebrating the life
the life of Saint Magnus. We worked with Stölzle Flaconnage, Highland Park's
specialist glassware supplier, to ignore 150 years of technological advances in
order to create a bottle complete with flaws and defects consistent with those
of the original.

In 1870 the bottle would have been hand - gathered, mouth - blown into a woo-
den mould and kept wet to prevent combustion. The raw materials would have
been sand and limestone along with naturally occurring sodium sulphate. Con-
taminants broadly determined the colour of the glass and little effort would have
been made to control capacity or functionality so long as it did not break.

This bottle matches the original in almost all regards, other than that it is made
in a factory, does'n leak and conforms to all applicable legislation. The modern
moulds echo the flaws in the hand - made one from two centuries ago; advanced
techniques were used to generate bubbles and colour consistency in the glass.
The artisans of 1870 would have be most impressed with our efforts made in
search of imperfection.

The image of saint magnus on the original label of the 1870 archive bottle was
inspired by an ancient stained glass window. The impact of the label is shown
to maximum effect by the development of a simple, open fronted, etched wooden
box.

Highland Park Saint Magnus Edition Two forms part of a series of three. It is a
perfectly - balanced, natural strength botling of hand - selected casks of 12
year old single malt; to appreciate it fully, take your time and add a little fresh
distilled water - a couple of drops at a time. This will release the subtle aromas
and reveal the complexity of a single malt that has been made wihin a mile of
St. Magnus Cathedral since 1798.

Whisky has been made in the traditional manner at Highland Park for more than
210 years. Released in 2010 this bottling is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated
craftsmen who built St. Magnus Cathedral.

Highland Park takes its name from the High Park area on the outskirts of
Kirkwall Orkney, where in 1798 Magnus Eunson began distilling illegal
whisky. A local smuggler, Magnus would hide this forbidden spirit under
the pulpit of the church.

At Highland Park we insist on an uncompromising approach to whisky -
making. We 'r one of only a handful of distilleries that slowly malts its bar-
ley on the stone floor, physically turning it by hand for a more balanced
flavor. Next, we smoke it over local aromatic peat, hand - cut from
Hobbister Moor to bring a unique fragrant heather character to the whisky.
Then it's placed into oak casks - not just your usual bourbon casks though
sherry oak casks from Spain, that cost ten times as much, but bring a
priceless natural colour and flavor to our whisky. Then comes the hardest
part leaving it to quietly mature in the consistently cool Orcadian air.

And even when it's ready, we're not. We have chosen and combined our
best casks from 1994, then we have left them to settle and harmonise,
for just that little bit longer to deliver our complex whisky. The result is a
delicious single malt with caramel and almond notes teasing sweetness
with hints of cinnamon and aromatic peat flavours delivering a warming
smokey finish. This special Vintage is the kinf of Dram you long for when
you've worked as hard as us.

Enjoy the perfect glass of Highland Park:

First, hold your glass to the light to enjoy the dark Amber hue, then tilt
and rotate it to see the beads of whisky appear on the inside of the glass.
The smaller they are the higher the alcohol strength, and the slower they
fall, the better the spirit quality. Next: add a drop of water and take three
long sniffs. The first just gets your nose used to the alcohol, but in the se-
cond , you'il discover caramel and almond sweetness, and in the third
fruit - maybe ripening figs or cherries. Now taste the whisky by chewing
it in your mouth for 4 or 5 seconds then swallow. The top of your tongue
will start to tingle, and after a few seconds your mouth will go dry, leaving
a warming smokey feeling and a flavor that keeps on going.

HIGHLAND PARK SAINT MAGNUS OF ORKNEY
Saint Magnus is one of six canonized Norsemen born in the 11th and 12th centuries

when the Orkney Islands belonged to Norway. Among them were warriors and scholars:

Saint Magnus was in between these two extremes. He is decribed in
Orkneyinga Saga as 'a man of extraordinary distinction, tall with a fine, intelligent
look about him. He was a man of strict virtue, successful in war, wise, eloquent,
generous and magnanimous, open - handed with money and sound with advice,
and altogether the most populair of men'.

Born in 1075 and named Magnus Erlendsson, he demonstrated his saintly virtues
at the age of 18. King Magnus Barelegs took him on an expedition to the Hebrides
and beyond. Approaching Wales they encountered the fleet of Hugh the Stout and
Hugh the proud, sons of the King of Ireland, in the Menai Strait; both parties pre-
pared for battle with the exception of Saint Magnus who refused to fight as he had
no quarrel with anyone there. He stated 'God will shield me' and although he did't
take cover, he was't wounded having chanted psalms throughout the fighting.

Of course Saint magnus was not always so meek and mild; as a ruler of Orkney
in troubled times it would have been impossible for him to survive, without occa-
sional severity. However in comparison to his contemporaries, Sain Magnus was
a man of peace, contemplation and scholarly learning; spiritual intensity is more
a feature of Magnus' Saga than violence and cruelty. It is a life story of Christian
devotion and forgiveness, qualities that are not usually associated with the Vikings,
and includes the healing of the sick, crippled, blind and insane. Saint Magnus was
murdered by his treacherous cousin Haakon and was canonized only 20 years
later.

The influence of Saint Magnus spread far and wide; more than 20 churches have
been dedicated to him and he was the inspiration for the novel Magnus by George
Mackay Brown and, in turn The Martyrdom of St. Magnus by Sir Peter Maxwell
Davies. The forname became populair in Orkney, notably in the case of Magnus
Eunson, a man forever associated with the founding of Highland Park distillery
in 1798.

Our Five Keystones of Production:
Hand turned malt
Aromatic peat
Coll maturation
Sherry oak casks
Cask harmoninsation

Highland Park launches Dark Origins
July, 2014
Highland Park has launched a core expression inspired by founder and distiller Magnus Eunson.
Dark Origins, a non-chill filtered single malt with 46.8% abv, will be available in Harrods from in 1- 14 July and launched internationally throughout autumn.

Highland Park uses twice as many first fill sherry casks in Dark Origins than the classic Highland Park 12 year old, resulting in "a naturally darker, richer flavour with sherried spice, a chocolate twist and the signature sweet smoke."
At an rrp of £64.95, Dark Origins will be available from specialist whisky retailers at the Highland Park distillery following the UK launch at Harrods this month.
Gerry Tosh, global marketing manager, said: "Cask management is so crucial to our work at Highland Park. We have strived to raise the bar, working tirelessly in sourcing the right wood and then working and finessing the balances to ensure we create single malt that is rich, warm and enticing in flavour.

"Dark Origins sits in the heart of our core range complimenting them perfectly-distinct in itself, but always and forever a classic Highland Park."

HIGHLAND PARK have completed their Valhalla collection of bottlings with the release of Odin, named in honour of the Allfather of Norse mythology.
The four whiskies, wrought in the names of the denizens of Valhalla, have been created in celebration of the Orkney distillery's Norse heritage.
Odin will now join Loki, Thor and Freya on the shelves of those Highland Park fans lucky enough to be able to attain the collection.
Odin, designed to encapsulate the wisdom and power of the Allfather of the Norse gods, combines the potency of a cask-strength whisky - bottled at 55.8 per cent abv - with the balance of age - Odin is aged for 16 years- and is created from a combination of Spanish oak sherry casks and re-fill hogsheads.
Odin was a god that dedicated his time to the pursuit of knowledge. Indeed in one of the legends surrounding him, he gives one of his eyes to drink from the fountain on knowledge. A relentless seeker and giver of wisdom, the need to impart the gift of the knowledge and experience of a great dram is clear in this most interesting of whiskies.
Gerry Tosh, Global Marketing Manager for Highland Park, says: "Odin, like its namesake, is an intense, powerful and complex whisky. Bottled at 55.8 per cent ABV, it certainly lives up to the legend, a bold single malt higher in strength than Thor, Loki and Freya. In Odin, we have been able to add the final flourish to the Valhalla Collection, a stunning series of remarkable whiskies that offer affordability and exclusive collectability."
"Now that Odin has joined the ranks of the other gods in the Valhalla Collection, the first chapter in this series is complete. However, the Norse legends of old may still offer us future intrigues."
With only 17,000 bottles released globally, this limited edition whisky comes housed in the same distinctive award winning wooden frame of Thor, Loki and Freya echoing the fearsome contours of a traditional Viking long ship. The bottle itself reflects Odin's character - dark and imperfect and slightly battle worn.

Our tasting notes:
A wonderfully intense whisky, very much in the vein of Highland Park's previous bottlings, with a swirling battle of the elements; salt (the sea), peat (the earth) and smoke (fire) all battling for supremacy but it's the wonderfully light notes of fruit - lemon zest and plums - and honey in the finish that will leave the drinker wanting more.
Nose: In the bottle, it's all brine with wisps of subtle smoke but once poured the previously hinted at notes of fruit and honey really shine through.
Palate: Warm and spicy, hints of cinnamon and charred fruit.
Finish: Long and honeyed, drawing out the fruit to be replaced with brine and subtle smoke.
One for fans of whiskies with big flavours, a great all rounder and at 55.8 per cent abv you might want to be careful as it's far too easy to drink.

Highland Park gets its name from High park, the elevated area on which the distillery sits.

A WHOLE NEW HIGHLAND PARK EXPERIENCE

Highland Park has been part of the Orkney community since our founder, Magnus Eunson, set up his illicit whisky-making enterprise in a little stone bothy at High Park in 1798. 221 years later, we’ll be joining the retail community in the heart of Kirkwall when we open our brand new visitor experience shop in Albert Street, in May.

Our new shop is on the former site of Gorns, a family-owned menswear store that was in business for over 100 years. This additional space will provide a fantastic extension to our award-winning distillery visitor experience and allow us to welcome even more of the visitors who flock to Orkney each year.

As well as a retail space for merchandise and an extensive range of Highland Park whiskies – some of which will be exclusive to the shop and distillery – our new shop will include a private room where we’ll be running training programmes for local bars, restaurants and hotels as well as a gallery featuring a changing exhibition of work by local artists. In keeping with our ambition to support sustainability on Orkney, we’re also developing a new range of merchandise created from reusable materials and we’ve placed a total ban on plastic bags!

We’re delighted that our new venture will help us support our local community too. We’ve seven new members of staff joining us ahead of the opening day and are looking forward to welcoming them to our friendly tribe!

Peat is made up from semi-decomposed vegetation laid down over thousands of years. That vegetation differs across Scotland depending on climatic condition all these millennia ago. When the peat is dried and then burned, the phenols (smoky aromas) released will have different aromas generated by this vegetation. Mainland peat is smokier because of there being more lignin from trees; Islay’s peat appears to have more marine vegetation and contains more creosol (picked up as tar); while Orcadian peat is composed entirely of sphagnum moss and heather. The result, once again, is a different aromatic spectrum, lightly smoky, but significantly more fragrant… heathery even.

The peat is burned in the distillery’s own kiln and the resulting heavily smoky malt makes up 20% of the barley used for each mash. The remainder, unpeated, comes from the mainland.

The other signature of Highland Park comes later in the process with maturation. The regime has been 100% Sherry casks since 2004, with a mix of European and American oak (as well as refill) being used. These add a layer of richness to the lightly smoky, fragrant and fruity character.

Also produced here:

Calchou

The origins of distilleries are often, as they should be, obscured by the clouds of half-truth and myth. Such is the case with Highland Park. Was it founded by famed priest turned smuggler Magnus Eunson, or by farmer David Robertson in 1798? The distillery’s ornate wrought ironwork gate certainly attests to the 1798 story.

Was it always called Highland Park or originally was it known as Rosebank, then Kirkwall and only becoming Highland Park later?

Whatever the slight mystery over its origins, it is accepted that it wasn’t until the late 19th century that Kirkwall’s then only distillery found its feet properly in the 1870s under the ownership of first William Stuart [who owned Miltonduff] and from 1885 with his business partner James Grant (previously the manager of The Glenlivet) who took full control in 1895. It was Grant who expanded the distillery twice and built up a strong relationship with Robertson & Baxter (R&B).

Highland Distillers (who had shares in R&B) took full control in 1937 and Highland Park is now part of the Edrington Group.

It first appeared as single malt in the late 1970s, as an 8-year-old, but the packaging was revamped in the 1980s (and repeatedly ever since) when the 12- and 18-year-old expressions were introduced. It soon built up a strong, even cult, following with the range expanding continually. As well as a core range with age statements, various series have been released themed around Orcadian history and Norse gods.

CAPACITY (MLPA) i

2.5

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

52-96hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

69.5%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

6.4

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam coils

MALT SUPPLIER i

Simpsons

MASH TUN TYPE i

Semi Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Less than 3ppm

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

70%

SINGLE MALT PERCENTAGE i

33%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

9,000

SPIRIT STILL SIZE (L) i

12,000

STILLS i

WAREHOUSING i

28,000 butt equivalent capacity

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

14,500

WASH STILL SIZE (L) i

18,000

WASHBACK CHARGE (L) i

29,000

WASHBACK SIZE (L) i

36,000

WASHBACK TYPE i

Wood

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Crantit

YEAST TYPE i

Kerry M & MX

The Edrington Group

1999 - present

Highland Distillers

1937 - 1999

James Grant

1895 - 1937

Stuart & Grant

1878 - 1895

Stuart & Mackay

1869 - 1878

The Borwick Family

1826 - 1869

Richard MacKay

1825 - 1826

David Robertson

More then 200.000 visitors come to Orkney not the 140 cruise liners visits Orkney and the importance for the local economy is huge, but the question

has been raised whether it is subtainable.

20.000 people visit Highland Park and in 2019 a shop in the centre of Kirkwall is opened by Highland Park.

Highland park produces 2.500.000 litres of alcohol a year

HIGHLAND PARK HONOURS DANISH PHOTOGRAPHER

May 2019

Highland Park has released Søren Solkær: 26 Years of Photography, a limited edition single malt created to celebrate the distillery’s collaboration with the eponymous Danish photographer.

The 26-year-old is presented with a book of Solkær's whisky photography

Solkær, who has previously taken portraits of musicians and artists such as Dave Grohl, David Lynch, the White Stripes and the Arctic Monkeys, has been collaborating with Highland Park for the past three years in an attempt to capture the brand’s ‘viking soul’.

The whisky has been matured in both ex-Sherry American oak casks and first-fill ex-Bourbon casks for 26 years (to reflect Solkær’s 26-year career), and bottled at 40.5% abv.

Said to possess ‘a spicy nose with rich heathery peat smoke’, the whisky, priced at £499, is available globally.

Hold Still: Søren Solkær’s photography captures the distillery, the island and its inhabitants

Jason Craig, global brand director at Highland Park, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Søren on this very special project – he truly embodies a modern day viking soul through how he gets the best out of all his subject matters.

‘Whilst he is best known for his distinctive images of musicians and movie stars, he has worked with us to develop a collection of over 250 images capturing our people at the distillery, our location in Orkney and of course, our whisky.’

The whisky is packaged with a 230-page book featuring a selection of Solkær’s images of Highland Park and the island of Orkney.

The partnership between Solkær and Highland Park is the latest in a series of collaborations between the distillery and individuals it deems to possess ‘viking soul’, such as tattoo artist Colin Dale for Highland Park Twisted Tattoo and former F1 driver David Coulthard for the brand’s Saltire Edition expressions.

We’re excited to announce the launch of VALFATHER, the final whisky in a series of three special edition Viking Legend releases, inspired by the rich Viking heritage of our Orkney island home.

VALFATHER, named after Odin, the mightiest of the Norse gods, is the most peated whisky we have released to date. Matured entirely in refill casks, it delivers beautifully balanced layers of flavour and a character as complex as Odin himself. VALFATHER is bottled at 47% and will retail at a UK RRP of £60.

Following VALKYRIE, released in 2017, and VALKNUT, released in 2018, VALFATHER concludes our exciting trilogy which explores the journey to Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world. Follow the links below to find out more about the whisky and the inspiration behind its packaging design.

A WHISKY INSPIRED BY ODIN

VALFATHER is the most peated whisky we have released to date. Expertly created by Gordon Motion, our master whisky maker, its intense and complex character reflects the powerful influence of the great Norse god, Odin.

For each of the three Viking Legend releases – VALKYRIE, VALKNUT and VALFATHER, Gordon introduced higher quantities of our local peated malt than usual, which delivers a richer, smokier character.

Gordon matured VALKYRIE, the first in the series, predominantly in sherry seasoned European oak casks to reveal fresh citrus fruit and oriental spices while VALKNUT was matured in sherry seasoned American oak casks to deliver sweeter notes of vanilla and aniseed.

Matured entirely in our finest refill casks, VALFATHER delivers an intriguingly spicy and smoky flavour profile. Its naturally bright gold hues could be said to mirror the ceilings of Valhalla’s great hall – lined, according to legend, with golden shields. Aromas of crisp apple and sweet pear are followed by the sweet flavours of vanilla-laden crème brûlée with toasted cedar wood and warming paprika in the background to provide a distinctly smoky edge. VALFATHER finishes with a tantalisingly long breath of aromatic smoke, perfectly offset by notes of fresh fruit.

Bottled at 47% VALFATHER will retail at a UK RRP of £60.

THE CREATIVITY OF A MODERN-DAY VIKING

VALFATHER completes our Viking Legend series – an exciting and highly collectible trilogy that celebrates our rich Viking heritage through one of the best-known stories from Norse mythology.

Throughout the series, we’ve worked with Danish designer, Jim Lyngvild, to bring the story vividly to life. Of Nordic descent, Jim can trace his bloodline back through thirty-six generations to the 8th century and to Ragnvald Eysteinsson, the first Earl of the Orkney Islands. Often described as ‘the golden Viking’, such is the importance Jim places on his heritage that he lives as a Viking for two months of the year, in a castle he designed himself in the Danish village of Faaborg.

A writer and designer of international renown, Jim is happiest collaborating with people from different disciplines and working on projects that offer a rich and varied history. He’s most inspired when there’s a story attached to the project that allows him to combine ancient knowledge with modern know-how, as exemplified in his powerful illustrative work for VALKYRIE, VALKNUT and now, VALFATHER.

Norse legend tells us that Odin took on many guises to impose power and gain knowledge and as ‘Valfather’ or ‘the father of the slain’ he presided over Valhalla. Here, the bravest of the fallen Viking warriors – those marked out by the symbol of the Valknut and spirited away by the Valkyries – joined forces under Odin’s command to prepare for Ragnarök, the battle at the end of the world. Jim’s inspiration for his design for VALFATHER comes from an ancient Nordic source, the first of the four Stora Hammars stones in Gotland, Sweden.

HIGHLAND PARK VALFATHER IS ‘PEATIEST’ WHISKY

August 2019

Highland Park is closing its Viking Legend series of limited edition whiskies with Valfather, said to be the distillery’s peatiest whisky to date.

Peatiest whisky: Highland Park Valfather is made using heavily-peated malted barley

Highland Park Valfather is a no-age-statement single malt matured in refill casks, and bottled at 47% abv.

Named for Odin, widely regarded as the most powerful of the Norse gods, Valfather is said to have aromas of ‘crisp apple with sweet fragrant pear’ and notes of ‘creamy vanilla crème brûlée with toasted cedar wood and warming paprika’.

Valfather is the third and final expression in the Orkney distillery’s Viking Legend series, inspired by Ragnarök, the mythological series of events that led to the death of many Norse figures.

The series was launched in 2017 in collaboration with Danish designer Jim Lyndvold with the release of Valkyrie, and continued with Valknut earlier this year.

Gordon Motion, master whisky maker at Highland Park, said: ‘Valfather and the whiskies in the Viking Legend series uses more of our heavily peated malt, making the series more like cousins, rather than a brother or sister to the core range.

‘Overall, this whisky is the richest and smokiest in taste profile compared to the rest of the series and our classic whiskies.’

Highland Park Valfather is available globally for around £60 a bottle

FEATURES

WHISKY MAKERS REDISCOVER BERE BARLEY\

Bere barley has been grown in Scotland for at least 1,000 years, and probably much longer. Now this ancient crop is being revived – and whisky is playing its part. Richard Woodard reports.

Oldest inhabitant: Bere barley has been grown in Orkney for up to 4,000 years

The exposed fields of Orkney are hardly ideal arable farming country. Bleak and windswept, with an all-too-brief growing season, it’s little surprise that conventional barley varieties struggle to ripen here. Better to keep a few cattle, or sheep.

And yet barley is grown in Orkney; barley of a particular type. It’s a distinctive, tall, six-row crop with an annoying tendency to ‘lodge’ – the flattening effect seen when the stems bend over to the ground. But at least you can get it ripe.

This is bere barley, and it’s been in Orkney for at least a millennium, and probably for much longer. ‘Bere is probably the oldest cultivated barley, definitely in Britain and probably one of the oldest still in cultivation in Europe,’ says Peter Martin, director of the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

The name ‘bere’ – pronounced ‘bear’ – is close to the Anglo-Saxon for barley, and it is also sometimes referred to as ‘bigg/bygg/bygge’, from the Old Norse word for the crop.

‘Exactly how old is it? We don’t know,’ admits Martin. ‘It’s definitely been grown here for 1,000 years, but there may be evidence further back in the archaeological record. Barley has been grown in Orkney as far back as 4,000BC and the introduction of agriculture.’

In contrast to modern, scientifically bred barley varieties, bere is a ‘landrace’, meaning it has gradually evolved and adapted to local growing conditions as successive generations of farmers choose the seeds from the best plants for the following year’s crop, in a kind of human-assisted process of natural selection.

Distinctive character: Bere barley is a six-row, rather than two-row, barley variety

So bere grows rapidly during the long summer days of northern latitudes, ripening three weeks before modern varieties, despite being planted as late as May. This minimises the risk of crop failure caused by poor weather at either end of the growing season. Bere also tolerates a wide variety of poor-quality soils, from acidic and peat-rich to sandy and alkaline.

And yet, 20 years ago, it was all but extinct, rendered apparently obsolete by higher-yielding modern malting varieties such as Concerto and Odyssey. By the start of the 21st century, there was as little as 10 hectares of bere grown in Scotland, by a handful of farmers on Orkney, Shetland and in the Western Isles.

Revival came, initially, through baking. Barony Mill, a 19th-century Orkney watermill, began using beremeal (flour) to make bannocks, biscuits and bread. From 2002, the UHI started researching bere’s characteristics and end uses – including brewing and distillation.

But making whisky with bere barley is nothing new. It was used extensively in the past; for example, during the boom years of Campbeltown, as ‘gauger’ or exciseman Joseph Pacy discovered when he was posted there in 1834:

‘The peat-dried malt from which this whiskey was produced was made from grain designated in Scotland “Bere or Bigg”, a small kind of barley grown on the light sandy soil of that country. The tax on that description of malt was something like one-fifth less than that on malt made from [modern] barley, a kind of boon or protection to the grower of this lighter kind of grain.’
(The Reminiscences of a Gauger, Imperial Taxation, Past and Present Compared, pp.66-67)

Bere experts: Peter Martin (right) and John Wishart of the UHI have conducted extensive research

As demand soared and supplies ran short on Kintyre, distillers tried to pass off conventional barley from Ireland as bere in order to reap the tax benefits. Pacy investigated, the culprits were fined and forfeited their malt – and the gauger became deeply unpopular with the locals as a result.

Orkney distillery Highland Park’s barley books record purchases of bere back to the 1880s, and as late as the early 1920s – but there the whisky trail for bere goes cold for more than half a century.

When bere whisky resurfaces, it is as a curiosity: a one-off independent bottling by the late Michel Couvreur of bere barley grown on Westray, floor-malted at Highland Park and distilled at Edradour in 1986, which was released in the mid-1990s.

In 2004, Isle of Arran Distillers collaborated with the UHI on a whisky made with Orkney bere, bottling the result at eight and 10 years, while Springbank has worked with Kintyre-grown bere periodically, including a 2013 distillate scheduled for release in 2028 to mark the Campbeltown distillery’s bicentenary.

The biggest champion of bere whisky today, however, is Bruichladdich. Following the Islay’s distillery’s revival in 2001, bere’s status as an outlier barley variety ticking the boxes of heritage, provenance and terroir was hugely appealing. Bere was planted on Islay in 2005, but it never took; the project was abandoned in 2009, with the last years’ failed crops used for animal feed.

Since then, the distillery has sourced its bere, through Martin and the UHI, from a handful of Orkney farmers, resulting in a succession of releases, including most recently the Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2010 single malt launched in August.

Tall and heavy: As a ‘landrace’, bere barley has evolved to adapt to local growing conditions

But it hasn’t been easy. ‘It broke the mash tun the first time we worked with it,’ says Bruichladdich communications manager Christy McFarlane. ‘The husk is so hard. We’ve had to reduce the tonnage. And it gets stuck in the mill.’

It was a similar story on Arran, says Isle of Arran Distillers MD Euan Mitchell: ‘I do recall our distillery manager at the time, Gordon Mitchell, saying the bere malt was tricky to work with and clogged up the mash tun. His actual words were a bit coarser than that…’

Another drawn to the romance of bere was Alasdair Day, co-founder of Isle of Raasay distillery owner R&B Distillers. ‘The whole story resonated with me when we turned up on Raasay,’ he recalls. ‘I said: “We want to grow barley here.” The local crofter just fell off his chair laughing and said we couldn’t do that because it wouldn’t ripen.’

Day was vindicated – sort of. Bere was planted on Raasay in 2017, the year the distillery opened, and it did ripen. ‘It’s really hard to describe, but it just felt at home – like it was meant to grow there. It was really tall, with long straw and, as a six-row barley, really top-heavy.’

However, the crop went unharvested, thanks to a lack of the right infrastructure and machinery, and not helped by bere’s tendency to ‘lodge’ or flatten when battered by the Raasay elements.

‘It’s something I would go back to,’ says Day. ‘The holy grail is flavour, but as a young distillery you have to be aware of yield as well. If we had the infrastructure, I would certainly persevere.’

Bannock time: Barony Mill in Birsay, Orkney, was a pioneer of bere’s recent revival

Bere is expensive, both financially and in terms of lost spirit yield. The Arran bere malt was roughly twice the price of regular malt in the mid-2000s, and the spirit yield was 15% lower. That broadly reflects the experience at Bruichladdich – production director Allan Logan reckons bere’s tonnage per acre is about half that of conventional two-row barley.

‘The yield is also much less,’ adds McFarlane, ‘but we don’t really care, because it’s all about flavour.’

What flavour?

‘Full-on flavour. I’m quite certain that, in a blind taste test, people would be able to tell the difference, even after time in cask. There is this very unctuous, sweet, well-rounded quality to bere barley.’

Mitchell agrees. ‘The yield was quite low, but the resultant whisky was superb, particularly the cask strength version at 10 years old. Full of oils and a rich, gristy-malty flavour. It’s definitely a case of quirky flavours over high-yielding profitability.’

There are plans for Arran’s new Lagg distillery to work with bere in the future – Mitchell says it was the barley type used at the historic Lagg distillery – while Bruichladdich is continuing its commitment to bere, and to the Orkney farmers who grow it.

Bere has also returned to Islay, part of Bruichladdich’s extensive barley trials currently under way at Shore House Croft. So far, the signs have been far from encouraging, but it’s a long-term project.

Bere whisky: Bruichladdich is willing to pay more and sacrifice yield for the sake of flavour

But there’s much more to bere barley than whisky; more to it even than the bere beers brewed on Orkney, or Barony Mill’s bannocks and bread. Researchers are particularly interested in bere’s genetic diversity, which could help to future-proof cereal farming against issues related to climate change and food security.

‘There are some beres that seem to have a remarkable tolerance to growing on sandy soils with a deficiency of trace elements such as manganese, copper and zinc,’ explains Martin. ‘Beres on the Western Isles, but also in Orkney and Shetland, are able to grow on sandy soils without any additional applications of these trace elements. The modern variety just doesn’t grow – or it will grow, but not yield grain.’

In time, it is hoped that these unique traits could be bred into modern barley varieties, creating new bere hybrids with the ability to grow and ripen in a far wider variety of locations. Such a development, Martin says, could have global significance.

For whisky, the work of the International Barley Hub – due to open at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie in 2022 – will be pivotal. Even now, says Day, there are early signs of hybridisation occurring where bere is growing alongside modern malting barley variety Concerto. ‘The trick, I suppose,’ he adds, ‘will be to get bere’s earliness with shorter straw and better yields.’

If that can be accomplished, without sacrificing the distinctive flavour and texture that make bere so attractive to whisky makers, then we could soon see its plantings expand out of Orkney to Raasay, Islay and beyond; and the future of this historic – maybe prehistoric – barley will be brighter than ever.

HIGHLAND PARK REINTRODUCES 21 YEAR OLD MALT

Highland Park has reintroduced its 21 Year Old single malt to its core range for the first time since discontinuing the age statement 10 years ago.

Back again: Highland Park 21 Year Old has been reintroduced in batches with updated packaging

Highland Park 21 Year Old: August 2019 Release is the first edition from the Orkney distillery to be launched since the age statement was discontinued in 2009.

Launching globally from October, the whisky will be released in batches with information about the cask breakdown listed on each bottle.

The 2019 release has been matured in six first-fill Sherry seasoned European oak casks, four first-fill Sherry seasoned American oak casks and five refill casks, before being bottled at 46% abv.

It joins Highland Park’s 25-, 30- and 40-year-old whiskies as part of the distillery’s premium portfolio.

Gordon Motion, master whisky maker at Highland Park, said: ‘Each of the higher aged whiskies will be released in batches as our older stocks reach their peak.

‘The overall character of each whisky will remain the same, but as different casks will have been used the flavour profile will change slightly with each batch.’

‘We know our Highland Park fans are very passionate about our whiskies and eager to learn more about production and details on the casks we have used.

‘Through batching, we’ve added release dates to our labels to help distinguish between each bottling.’

Highland Park 21 Year Old is said to contain notes of ‘root ginger and sun-ripened orange peel’ on the nose and ‘creamy vanilla with a subtle breath of aromatic peat smoke’ on the palate.

It will be available for around £230 per 70cl or 75cl bottle – depending on region.

Highland Park has also launched a number of limited editions this year, including a malt commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Scottish Ballet

KEEPING OUR TRIBE SAFE

As a member of our Inner Circle we value you greatly as part of our wider global Tribe of Highland Park fans.

Our Tribe is our family. Given the evolving coronavirus situation, our priority, like yours, is to keep our Tribe safe.

Here’s what we’re doing in Orkney.

Highland Park Visitor Centre, Shop and tour booking – closed until further notice

As much as we’d love to welcome you to our wonderful home, we’d rather you stay safe and healthy in yours. From today, Monday 16th March, we have taken the decision to close our distillery to all visitors until further notice as we monitor the ongoing situation.

If you have already booked a tour in the coming weeks, we’ll be in contact directly to let you know about our closure and refund your booking charge. Tour bookings are currently unavailable.

Our Albert Street store in Kirkwall currently remains open.

The decision to close will also protect our employees, who continue to work as normal within our distillery.

We’re doing everything we can to look after our Tribe, whose well-being and health comes before everything else. We will continue to update our Tribe via email, our website and across our social media platforms on our plans and timings for re-opening.

Keep safe, look after your own tribe and your wider community.

1798

David Robertson founds the distillery.

The local smuggler and businessman

Magnus Eunson previously operated

here an ilicit production side

1818

Exiseman John Robertson who arrested

Magnus Eunson taakes production over

1826

Highland Park obtains a license and the

distillery is taken over by Robert Borwick

Borwick & Robertson's

output is 25.476 Ltrs of pure alcohol

1827

Output is 24.739 Ltrs of pure alcohol

1828

The name Highland Park is used

Output is 28.431 Ltrs

1829

Output is 40.428 Ltrs of pure alcohol

1830

Output is 32.922 Ltrs

1831

The firm Borwick & Robertson is dissolved

Followed by Robert Borwick & Co

1840

Robert Borwick's son George Borwick

takes over but the distillery deteriorates

1869

The youger brother James Borwick

inherits the distillery and attempts to

sell Highland Park as he does not con -

sider the distillation of spirits as com -

patible with his priesthood

1862

Eunson & Mitchell is owner for 1/3 part and

Georg Eunson is owner of 1/3 part, John Mitchell

also owns 1/3 part

Bere is used

1869

Highland park is closed

1875

New owners: Stuart & Mackay

1880

James Millne new partner

1888

The parnership of Milne and Stuart & Mackay is finished

Stuart & Grant takes over the distillery

1893

New distillery is build

1895

James Grant , of The Glenlivet dis-

tillery buys Highland Park

1898

Highland Park is expanded from two

to four stills

1937

Highland Distilleries buys Highland

Park

1979

Highland Distilleries invests in marke-

ting Highland Park as a single malt

which increases sales markedly

1986

A visitor centre is opened

1997

Highland Park 18 and 25 year old

are launched

1999

Highland Distillers are acquired by

Edrington Group and William Grant

& Sons

2000

Visit Scotland awards Highland Park

"Five Star Visitor Attraction".

2005

A 30 year old is released, Ambassador's

Cask 1984 and a 16 year for duty free

are released

2006

The second edition of Ambassador's Cask

10 year old 1996 is released

2007

The Rebus 20 year, a 21 year old duty

free

and a 38, and 39 year old are released

2008

A 40 year old, the 3th and 4th editions

of Ambassador's Casks released

2009

Two Vintages and Earl Magnus 15 year

old released

2010

a 50 year old, a 12 year Saint Magnus,

Orcadian Vintage 1970 and four Vintages

for duty free are released

2011

Vintage 1978, Leif Eriksson, and a

18 year

Earl Haakon are released

2012

Thor and a 21 year old released

2013

Loki and a new range for duty free,

The Warriors are released

2014

Freya and dark Origins are released

2015

Odin is released

2016

Hobbister, Ice Edition, Ingvar, King

Christian released

2017

Valkyrie, Dragon Legend, Voyage of

the Raven, Shiel, Full Volume, The

Dark and The Light are released

2018

For duty free Spirit of the Bear, Loyalty

of the Wolf and Wings of the Eagle and

The Valknut are released

2019

Twisted Tattoo, Valfather, Trskelion are

released.

2020

Capacity: 2.500.000 Ltrs

Output: 2.500.000 Ltrs

2021

A 15 years old and a 50 years old are released

25 % of its malting by themselves.

We’re delighted to announce that Cask Strength Release No. 2 launches today. Available from our online shop and, for Orkney locals, from both the Distillery and our Kirkwall Store, you can also find it in selected stockists around the world – check out our specialist stockists page, which we’ll update regularly. Given the speed at which Release No. 1 flew off the shelves, don’t delay if you’d like to get your hands on a bottle.

The thinking behind Cask Strength is to present our whisky in its purest form – straight from the cask, just as the name says – giving you the freedom to discover the taste and strength that best suits your palate. Each release carries the distinctive smoky sweet DNA of Highland Park but delivers its own unique cask-driven character too. Thanks to maturation predominantly in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks with a small quantity of ex-bourbons casks, Release No. 2 is packed with flavours of caramelised poached pears, salted praline, tangy liquorice and peppery peat smoke. Follow the link for a tasting session with Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker, and an exploration of the contrasting flavour profiles of Release No. 1 and No. 2.

We’ll be back in September with our regular newsletter and a big focus on flavour. Until then…

The journey to maturity can be a long process, so we’re raising a glass this Fathers’ Day to the people with the patience to see it through

We often say that creating exceptional whisky is a combination of art and science. Here, in Orkney, we believe it’s a combination of nature and nurture too.

We have nature to thank for the heather-rich peat that gives our whisky its uniquely aromatic and gentle smokiness, and for the curiously temperate climate that’s perfect for its long, slow maturation. But the skilled creation of our new make spirit and the care with which each cask is brought to the peak of perfection – well, we’ve the exceptional nurturing skills of our distillery team and Master Whisky Maker to thank for that.

With Fathers’ Day fast approaching, why not celebrate your own journey to maturity (and all the nature and nurture experiences along the way!) by raising a glass to the person who was always there for you? Father or grandfather, brother or uncle, mentor or motivator, we think a bottle of 18 Year Old or 21 Year Old is the perfect way to say thank you for their patience, perseverance and guidance over the years. Each of these whiskies has been matured to perfection (even if you’re still working on that yourself!) and we’ve a host of ideas for making a day of memories too.

We’ll be back next month with lots of recipes and ideas to celebrate the summer season. Until then…

Skål

The Highland Park Team

Bottle shots of Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3

Highland Park adds new whisky to its Cask Strength series

01 September, 2022

Single malt distillery Highland Park, based in Orkney, Scotland, has added a new whisky to its Cask Strength series, designed to challenge whisky drinking norms.

Launching as a permanent addition to the Highland Park range and created using the traditional ‘straight from the cask’ method, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 doesn’t use water added after maturation.

Highland Park master whisky maker, Gordon Motion, said: “With Cask Strength, you are at a great place to start exploring the taste that best suits your palate by adding water, ice or your preferred serve. It’s your whisky and should be enjoyed your way.

“For me, a Cask Strength whisky really celebrates that balance between old and new and I look forward to seeing how consumers enjoy the new whisky,” Motion added.

Cask Strength Release No.3 uses whisky made with a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt and has been matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a small quantity of refill casks.

The releases within the Cask Strength range share the same underlying character but with each batch featuring different flavours coming to the fore based on the cask make-up.

Release No.1 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned American oak casks of different ages, with Release No. 2 being matured predominantly in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and a small quantity of ex-bourbon casks.

The new release will become available globally from 1 September across specialist whisky retailers and from the Highland Park online shop, distillery, and Albert Street store in Orkney, at rrp £6

54 YEAR OLD

£39,000.00 RRP

ABV : 46.9% Volume : 700ml

The story of this exceptional single malt Scotch whisky begins 54 years ago in Orkney. Although Orkney has been home to the Highland Park Distillery for 225 years, Orkney’s own story is some 400 million years older and the detailed and complex strata found in the Cliffs of Yesnaby, dating right back to the Devonian period, are the inspiration for the design of this whisky’s stunning decanter and presentation case. And it’s to the outstanding skills of our Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, that this remarkable whisky owes its flavour and character.

Our distillery’s oldest and rarest release to date, 54 Year Old is intensely rich, sweet and complex. Intriguing aromas of exotic lychee and aromatic camphor, vintage oak and delicate peat, herald the exquisitely balanced flavours that follow. Warm spices – crushed cumin and coriander seeds – emerge and subside to reveal fragrant notes of summer rose and jasmine, with just a hint of honeyed kiwi fruit and pistachio biscotti. Sweet and spicy at the end, woody notes give way to a lingering whisper of sweet fenugreek and heathery peat smoke.

Back in 2008, Gordon selected 10 refill casks laid down 40 years earlier, in 1968. He discovered a beautiful light-coloured spirit, with the ethereal and fragrant character that belongs to only the oldest and finest whiskies. He tipped the 10 casks into first-fill sherry seasoned casks, selected specifically for the character he knew they would produce, and nurtured the maturing whisky carefully for a further 14 years until it reached the flavour and character he was looking for. Only 225 bottles have been released – representing every year of production in Highland Park’s 225-year history – each one steeped in the magic of the Orkney Islands.

Highland Park releases its oldest whisky to date

28 February, 2023

Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky, the oldest release from the company to date.

Only 225 bottles have been created, by Highland Park master whisky maker Gordon Motion, as it launches ahead of the distillery’s 225th Anniversary.

“This exceptionally rare 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky has been nurtured through careful maturation and harmonisation. Representing a quarter of Highland Park’s life, we felt it was a fitting way to mark our 225th anniversary; born and crafted in the heart of Orkney,” said Motion.

Originally laid down in 1968, four refill butts and six refill hogsheads were combined in February 2008 and refilled into first fill European sherry butts, where the whisky continued to mature. The final 14 years of maturation, since 2008, was in ex-sherry casks.

The Highland Park 54 Year Old consists of a bespoke embossed bottle containing the whisky, a presentation box crafted from Scottish oak wood, and an invitation for the buyer to attend a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Orkney.

Designed by craftsperson and designer, John Galvin, the box is sculpted to represent the cliffs of Yesnaby in Orkney. Each piece of wood was hand-blasted, and every box is unique with variations in colour. Revealing the glass inside, Michael Rudak, senior designer, Stoelzle Flaconnage, created the bottle housing the limited edition liquid.

The release is available in the UK from Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Whisky Shop at an rrp of £39,000

Hello willem

We’re delighted to announce that Cask Strength Release No. 4 – the latest in our award-winning Cask Strength series – is now available to buy directly from our Online Shop and will be available at our Kirkwall Store in Orkney towards the end of May, priced at £80.00 and with an ABV of 64.3%.

Our Cask Strength series gives Gordon Motion, our Master Whisky Maker, the opportunity to explore the influence of different cask types on the flavour and character of our whisky. For Cask Strength Release No. 4, Gordon introduced first-fill ex-port hogsheads for the first time, bringing intriguing hints of Turkish Delight and fragrant rose water to the aroma and flavour of this exceptional whisky. Combined with first-fill, sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, and ex-bourbon and refill casks, this creates a robust and intense expression of Highland Park, delivering the extraordinary depth, complexity and balance that’s become the trademark of our Cask Strength series.

Gordon explains the thinking behind the introduction of the ex-port casks:

“The Cask Strength series gives me the freedom to create something different, while still delivering the essential DNA of Highland Park flavour and character. Each release is unique, so I can use interesting casks that we only have in very small quantities – like these ex-port hogsheads. They give a wine-influenced character to the whisky – soft red fruits and floral sweetness – that you don’t get with sherry seasoned casks, which deliver dried fruit and spicy notes. Although I used just a small percentage – sherry seasoned European casks are still the predominant cask type here – their distinctive flavours really do come through and using them in a limited-edition release like the Cask Strength Release No. 4 is an ideal way to create that point of difference we want to explore in our Cask Strength series”.

Cask Strength Release No. 4 opens with enticing aromas of toasted coconut, driven by the ex-bourbon casks, along with crushed lemons and cedarwood; there’s a delightful hint of Turkish Delight in the aromatic peat smoke too, thanks to the influence of the ex-port casks. Intriguing flavours of zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge on the palate, expertly balanced by earthier suggestions of toasted oak and heather-rich peat, while the long finish reveals exotic sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice running through the final breath of floral peat smoke.

Due to the demand for previous releases from the Cask Strength series, we’re limiting purchases to two bottles per household – and if you’re buying online, please click here to see where we can ship to, and also our delivery and returns policy.

OUR ORKNEY HOME

BEAUTIFULLY REMOTE, GLORIOUSLY WINDSWEPT

WHERE THE NORTH SEA RISES TO MEET THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. WHERE RUGGED COASTS ARE LASHED SMOOTH BY SALT-LADEN SEA WINDS. WHERE HEATHER PEAT CARPETS MILE AFTER MILE OF WILD MOORLAND. THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR WHISKY. THIS IS ORKNEY.

A CLUSTER OF ISLANDS SCATTERED IN THE COLD NORTH SEA

TEN MILES FROM THE NORTHERNMOST REACHES OF THE SCOTTISH MAINLAND LIE THE 70 OR SO ISLANDS THAT MAKE UP ORKNEY, ONLY 20 OF WHICH ARE INHABITED. THESE ISLANDS MAY BE REMOTE AND THE WEATHER MIGHT BE WILD, BUT THE CLIMATE IS TEMPERATE AND THE PEOPLE ARE CREATIVE, SO IT’S THE PERFECT PLACE FOR MAKING WHISKY.

58.9847°N

HERE IN KIRKWALL, ON OUR MAINLAND, HIGHLAND PARK HAS BEEN DISTILLED SINCE 1798, ON THE SAME SITE WHERE OUR FOUNDER, MAGNUS EUNSON, SET UP HIS ORIGINAL ILLICIT STILL AT HIGH PARK. OUR DISTILLERY LIES ALMOST IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, ON A LATITUDE OF 58.9847°N – THAT’S ROUGHLY THE SAME AS ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. IN FACT, WE’RE CLOSER TO OSLO THAN WE ARE TO LONDON, BUT DIVIDED BY MILE UPON STORMY MILE OF WATER.

WILD IS THE WIND

OUR BEAUTIFUL YET ISOLATED CLUSTER OF ISLANDS IS POUNDED RELENTLESSLY BY WINDS THAT FREQUENTLY REACH SPEEDS OF OVER 100MPH IN THE WINTER. NO TREE CAN SURVIVE SUCH AN ONSLAUGHT. IT MEANS THAT OUR MOORLAND PEAT IS WOODLESS BUT RICH IN FRAGRANT HEATHER, WHICH GIVE RISE TO THE UNIQUE AROMATIC SMOKINESS OF OUR WHISKY. HERE IN ORKNEY, UNRELENTING WINDS MAKE FOR UNBELIEVABLE WHISKIES.

ONE SHOVEL AT A TIME

FOR OVER 220 YEARS, WE’VE SMOKED OUR BARLEY OVER 4,000-YEAR-OLD PEAT, HAND-CUT FROM HOBBISTER MOOR, JUST 7 MILES FROM OUR DISTILLERY. NO OTHER DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD USES PEAT LIKE OURS. OUR DENSE, HEATHER-RICH PEAT BURNS SLOWLY, AND WITH AN ASTONISHING INTENSITY, TO CREATE A COMPLEX FLORAL AROMA IN OUR KILNS – THE ORIGINS OF THE INTENSELY BALANCED, SMOKY SWEETNESS FOUND ONLY IN HIGHLAND PARK.

A WILD OUTPOST OF THE VIKING KINGDOM

EARLY IN THE 9TH CENTURY, WHEN VIKING LONGBOATS WERE LEAVING THE SHORES OF DENMARK AND NORWAY IN SEARCH OF NEW LANDS TO CONQUER, THEY CAME UPON ORKNEY. AND SO OUR ISLANDS WERE SWEPT UP INTO A VAST VIKING KINGDOM AND RULED BY A SUCCESSION OF VIKING EARLS FROM AROUND 800AD UNTIL 1468.

ONCE A VIKING, ALWAYS A VIKING?

THE VIKINGS ARRIVED AS INVADERS BUT SOON SETTLED AS FARMERS, TRADERS AND CRAFTSMEN, LEAVING THEIR MARK ON OUR ISLANDS’ CULTURE AND CHARACTER. NOT ONLY IS THE NORSE INFLUENCE EVIDENT IN BUILDINGS LIKE ORPHIR ROUND KIRK AND ST MAGNUS CATHEDRAL, BUT A SURVEY REVEALED THAT ONE IN THREE ORCADIANS TODAY HAVE VIKING DNA. OUR CORE RANGE OF WHISKIES – 10 YEAR OLD VIKING SCARS, 12 YEAR OLD VIKING HONOUR, 15 YEAR OLD VIKING HEART AND 18 YEAR OLD VIKING PRIDE – PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR HERITAGE.

The newest addition to our limited edition Cask Strength range, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.4 has been crafted through meticulous maturation in first-fill sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, including a small portion of ex-bourbon, refill and for the first time ex-port casks, adding a delicious hint of Turkish Delight to the aromatic peat smoke.

Delivering intriguing flavours of zesty pink grapefruit and flagrant rose water on the palate, expertly balanced with toasted oak and heather-rich peat smoke, our fourth release in the series is an intricate, and robust expression with an incredible depth of finish.

Highland Park 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky

Highland Park releases its oldest whisky to date

28 February, 2023

Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky, the oldest release from the company to date.

Only 225 bottles have been created, by Highland Park master whisky maker Gordon Motion, as it launches ahead of the distillery’s 225th Anniversary.

The release is available in the UK from Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Whisky Shop at an rrp of £39,000

Home Production & Process Want to Age Something a Long, Long Time? Here’s How

Production & Process

Want to Age Something a Long, Long Time? Here’s How

October 31, 2023

In February of 2023, Highland Park released its oldest-ever whisky, a 54-year-old single malt aged 40 years in refill casks, then finished in first-fill sherry casks for another 14 years. Each teardrop-shaped decanter cradled in a sculpted wooden presentation box has a price of $54,000, which includes an invitation to visit the distillery on Orkney.

Most craft distillers don’t have casks from the 1960s kicking around in the warehouse, and convincing somebody to spend the price of a brand-new Ford F-150 on a single bottle likely feels somewhere between aspirational and impossible. But even the humblest distillers often aspire to age at least something for a very long time — perhaps to surprise a kid with a cask of 21-year-old to celebrate their first legal drink, or toast to their own retirement with a 30-year-old whiskey they made themselves.

Successful extended aging isn’t just a matter of filling a cask, hammering in the bung, and hoping for the best. Here’s how Highland Park’s master whisky maker Gordon Motion stewarded a whisky older than he is through its final decades of maturation.

Don’t Be Afraid of Late Bloomers

“Anytime we fill casks, there’s no set destination,” said Motion. “Back in the late 60s when these casks were filled, we had no idea they would become a 54-year-old.” Motion says they would have been evaluated numerous times for their suitability for Highland Park’s younger expressions— and each time, they failed to make the cut. Rather than shoehorn them into a blend they didn’t belong in or write them off as failures, Highland Park stayed patient and let them mature on their own course.

It’s OK to Shift Gears

After about 40 years, the casks had developed the “ethereal, fragrant, delicate” notes of age, but they were still pale. So Motion transferred them to a variety of secondary casks — American oak, sherry, and European oak — to generate a little more color. “If they had been in first-fill sherry casks for those 40 years, they would have been extremely tannic and very bitter,” says Motion. “The fact that they were in refill casks that allowed them to age slowly was actually a benefit.”

Take it Slow

There’s a reason there are so many more very old Scotch whiskies than bourbons, and it’s not because Scottish people are just more patient. Cool temperatures are critical to helping casks go the distance without becoming overly tannic, woody, or just plain empty from evaporation. “You’re in a marathon, not a sprint,” says Motion. “These casks have had to mature at a snail’s pace to get them to survive for long enough.” The right cask type is another key inflection point. When planning for extended aging, old, near-neutral casks are key. “Give up on calling it bourbon. Put it in a refill cask, stick it in a cave somewhere, and keep it in cool, constant conditions as long as you can,” says Motion.

Careful with proofing and filtration

Ordinarily, Motion and his team dilute all whiskies to 20% ABV for sensory evaluation. But not for this release. “My mentor John Ramsay, who was master blender when I joined, used to say the old whiskies don’t swim very well,” says Motion. Instead, they assessed all samples at cask strength, and then left them at cask strength for bottling. Any water would “flatten it completely.” The whisky was only lightly filtered to remove barrel char — no chill filtration — before bottling.

It’s Gotta Taste Good

Many prestige bottlings are purchased by collectors as investments, which means they’re never actually opened or consumed. Still, flavor matters. Motion says he learned an important lesson in the late 1990s, when he and his team almost bottled a very old cask of whisky that looked and smelled great, only to taste it just before bottling to discover “it was so tannic it would have sucked your fillings out.” Even if not every bottle will get opened, some will — “and I want them to get that experience that I had making it,” says Motion.

Hello willem,

Whether you're a long standing Highland Park supporter or new to our Inner Circle community, you'll know we’re proud of where we come from, what we do, and where we’re going.

This year we’ve embraced an extended silent season. We have one every year for essential maintenance at the distillery - but this is a big one. From 1st April 2024, our gates are closed to the public to let engineers give our 226-year-old distillery an environmental upgrade which will reduce our carbon emissions by 20%. We will be in touch later in the year with progress updates.

Interested in visiting us? Find out more about our updated opening times and new experiences through the links below.

We look forward to welcoming you to our island and sharing what makes us so distinctive.

THE ‘PEEDIE’ TASTING EXPERIENCE

We’ll introduce you to Highland Park, our people, our whisky, and our island home. Enjoy a guided tasting of our classic whiskies.

Hello willem,

We’re delighted to share the latest release from our Single Cask Series with members of our Inner Circle. The Single Cask Series offers a remarkable flavour journey into the very heart of our whisky making, here in Orkney, and a limited number of bottles from Cask#1494 will be available from our Online Shop. Do be quick though, when they’re gone, they really will be gone and, due to anticipated demand, we’re limiting purchases to two bottles per household.

Our latest release is aged for 20 years and bottled from Cask #1494, a first-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak butt. Laid down on 17 March 2003 and tipped on 21 March 2023, this superbly aged cask yielded a small number of bottles of exceptional Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky. Bearing all the hallmarks of our Distillery’s uniquely complex balance of sweet and smoky flavours, this whisky opens with enticing aromas of dried strawberries and peat-smoked oranges, aromatic cloves and crumbled brown sugar. Deliciously rich notes of a fruit streusel dusted with cinnamon follow, infused with delicate heather peat smoke. Spicy and lightly smoky notes linger at the finish, with just a hint of freshly cut wood.

Gordon explains the thinking behind our Single Cask Series:

“There’s an intensely balanced smoky sweetness, driven by Orkney’s unique heathery peat, that runs like DNA through our whisky. But every single cask of Highland Park is also absolutely unique and reveals its own distinctive characteristics. Each year, I select a small number of our most exceptional casks to be bottled for our Single Cask Series, celebrating the spirit of individuality and the authentic craftsmanship that lies at the heart of our whisky making.”

Sincerely,

The Highland Park Team

Our 226 year-old distillery has officially closed until the end of the year for an exciting, environmental upgrade which will reduce our direct carbon emissions by 20%.

In the meantime, we still have plenty of stories to tell and whisky to share. We've taken this opportunity to create two new experiences for you to enjoy at our Highland Park Kirkwall Store, right in the heart of Kirkwall. Visit our website for more information about our distillery upgrades and our new experiences. Find out more below.