Highland Park Scotch Whisky
Highland Park Scotch whisky distillery is located on the southern edge of the town of Kirkwall on Orkney and is the most northerly distillery in Scotland.
Records show that an illicit still in the area in the 1790’s established by Magnus Eunson who was linked to illicit distilling and smuggling.
Robert Borwick, a Kirkwall merchant, decided in 1825 to set up a distillery in the same area that was by then known as Highland Park. The property belonged to John Robertson, the Excise Officer who had arrested Magnus Eunson some years earlier.
The land was served by two strong springs of crystal clear water fed by a pool at Cattie Maggie's at Greenvale. On 18 August 1826, he acquired the land rights together with the distillery, malt barn, and 'whole other buildings'.
Highland Park has always been a prized whisky. The Glasgow firm of wine and spirit merchants Robertson & Baxter, bought their first consignment of Highland Park whisky in 1879. Pleased with the result, they took nearly 14,500 gallons in 1881/2, and in the following year just over 19,000 gallons, this represented nearly fifty percent of total output at the time.
In 1895 ownership passed to James Grant who increased the stills from 2 to 4 in 1898.
In 1935 Highland Park was bought by Highland Distillers Co Ltd.
The distillery still cuts its own peat, which it uses in its traditional floor malting to dry the barley.
Highland Park Tasting Notes
Distillery Style
Nose : Smoky and malty with hints of heather and honey.
Palate : Medium bodied. Sweet, smoky, heather, honey,
spicy.
Finish : Long, spicy and peaty.
