Highland Park 21 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 2023 Release

The 2023 Release of Highland Park 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in hand selected casks for no less than 21 years.
For this release, a total of 36 ex-bourbon hogsheads, first-fill sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, and ex-Rioja casks, all laid down between 1998 and 2001, were hand-selected by Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion.

    Nose:    Tropical fruits, toasted almonds, freshly grated nutmeg and floral peat smoke.

    Taste:    A wild harmony of lemon zest and aromatic fenugreek, apples caramelised in honey and cinnamon, and a dusting of cedar-smoked sweet paprika.

    Finish:   Woody spices lingering at the finish, with just a hint of citrus oil in the heather-rich peat smoke.

Highland Park has been distilled since 1798, on the same site where their founder, Magnus Eunson, set up his original illicit still at High Park. 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. The 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, which means that their moorland peat is woodless but rich in fragrant heather, which give rise to the unique aromatic smokiness of their whisky. For over 220 years, they’ve smoked their barley over 4,000-year-old peat, hand-cut from Hobbister Moor, just 7 miles from the distillery.