Highland Park is a leading name in Scotch whisky circles, although it remains an enigmatic brand for some. Despite being one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, dating back to 1798, its location on the Orkney Isles puts it north of some people’s radar. The brand has also leant heavily into Orkney’s viking heritage in recent years, and has themed its livery accordingly. While its entry-level expressions sit comfortably amongst their peers, the aspect of Highland Park that teases so many whisky enthusiasts is that its high-end and special releases can often be up there with the very best that single malt has to offer.
Of course, if you’ve been in the game for a while, none of this is a surprise. Indeed, it was over 30 years ago that the great whisky writer, Michael Jackson, declared Highland Park to be the “greatest all-rounder”. And he was right – a good Highland Park will display a little bit of everything: Malt, heather-honey sweetness, citrus, spice, floral notes, and a wisp of smoke.
