Scotland, Isle of Orkney. Distillery operational. Owner: The Edrington Group Ltd

Owned by the Edrington Group, Highland Park remained for a long time somewhat of a niche malt reserved for connoisseurs and well-informed enthusiasts, notably due to its kinship with Macallan. The distillery drew its quintessence from this relationship and the access it afforded to perfect mastery of sherry cask ageing and beautifully sculpted casks. The rest comes from the island's natural, cultural and geographic heritage. Established in 1798 on Orkney, a wind- and wave-swept island where Viking blood continues to run through the veins of its inhabitants, Highland Park produces a traditional malt, characterized by its lightly peated barley which is malted on site. Although the bottle shape evolved at the turn of the 1980s, the style remained the same until the late 1990s. Playing on a profound sherry register in which subtle notes of iodine and peat smoke highlight its almost mystical Celtic temperament, Highland Park has today come completely out of the shadows. It is one of the most legitimate distilleries in the collectibles world due to its history, the consistent quality of its malt and the breadth of the range.

The wind and wave-swept Highland Park distillery in the Orkney Islands is known for its deep style and consistent quality. This is an 18 year old whisky bottled in 2003 at 43% ABV, and an excellent nectar, especially at the end of or just after a delicious meal.
The nose reveals a floral and honeyed palette, with a handful of exotic fruits, in a refined and refreshing bouquet that almost has something of a sweet wine about it. On the palate, aromas of stewed fruit, Mirabelle plum and quince jelly are accompanied by a little smoke and wood. The finish reveals wonderful length, with a very creamy texture.
This is decidedly another triumph from this famous Scottish distillery.