Highland Park

Highland Park stands on the edge of Kirkwall in Orkney and was founded in 1798. It is owned by Edrington, which also owns Macallan, and it leans heavily on its Orkney and Norse heritage in its branding.

The distillery still turns part of its own malt on traditional floors and dries it over peat cut on Orkney. With few trees on the islands, the peat is formed largely from heather, which gives a fragrant, honeyed smoke rather than a medicinal one. Much of the whisky matures in sherry-seasoned oak casks, which adds dried fruit and spice.

The official range is built around ages: 10, 12, 15, 18 and 21 Year Old, plus older annual releases such as the 2023 25 Year Old. Alongside these come special editions such as Full Volume and single cask bottlings chosen for retailers and markets.

Highland Park is widely bottled by independents. Gordon & MacPhail has a long history with the distillery, including the MacPhail's Collection, and Signatory Vintage, Douglas Laing, Hunter Laing, Duncan Taylor and That Boutique-y Whisky Company also release casks. Some independent bottlings do not name the distillery and appear simply as Orkney single malt.