Glenrothes
Speyside vintage-focused distillery.
Highland Park
Distillery & brand
A peat fire burns at the heart of Highland Park. An Orcadian peat fire to be precise. This is significant not just in retention of heritage, but in flavour terms.
Highland Park distillery
Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Peat is made up from semi-decomposed vegetation laid down over thousands of years. That vegetation differs across Scotland depending on climatic condition all these millennia ago. When the peat is dried and then burned, the phenols (smoky aromas) released will have different aromas generated by this vegetation. Mainland peat is smokier because of there being more lignin from trees; Islay’s peat appears to have more marine vegetation and contains more creosol (picked up as tar); while Orcadian peat is composed entirely of sphagnum moss and heather. The result, once again, is a different aromatic spectrum, lightly smoky, but significantly more fragrant… heathery even.
The peat is burned in the distillery’s own kiln and the resulting heavily smoky malt makes up 20% of the barley used for each mash. The remainder, unpeated, comes from the mainland.
The other signature of Highland Park comes later in the process with maturation. The regime has been 100% Sherry casks since 2004, with a mix of European and American oak (as well as refill) being used. These add a layer of richness to the lightly smoky, fragrant and fruity character.
Highland Park History
The origins of distilleries are often, as they should be, obscured by the clouds of half-truth and myth. Such is the case with Highland Park. Was it founded by famed priest turned smuggler Magnus Eunson, or by farmer David Robertson in 1798? The distillery’s ornate wrought ironwork gate certainly attests to the 1798 story.
Was it always called Highland Park or originally was it known as Rosebank, then Kirkwall and only becoming Highland Park later?
Whatever the slight mystery over its origins, it is accepted that it wasn’t until the late 19th century that Kirkwall’s then only distillery found its feet properly in the 1870s under the ownership of first William Stuart [who owned Miltonduff] and from 1885 with his business partner James Grant (previously the manager of The Glenlivet) who took full control in 1895. It was Grant who expanded the distillery twice and built up a strong relationship with Robertson & Baxter (R&B).
Highland Distillers (who had shares in R&B) took full control in 1937 and Highland Park is now part of the Edrington Group.
It first appeared as single malt in the late 1970s, as an eight-year-old, but the packaging was revamped in the 1980s (and repeatedly ever since) when the 12- and 18-year-old expressions were introduced. It soon built up a strong, even cult, following with the range expanding continually. As well as a core range with age statements, various series have been released themed around Orcadian history and Norse gods.
Timeline
- 1798 Highland Park Distillery is founded by David Robertson
- 1816 Excise officer John Robertson assumes control of production
- 1826 The distillery becomes one of the first to obtain a license to distil; Robert Borwick takes over
- 1840 Borwick's son, George, is handed the reins
- 1869 George's brother, James, takes over but attempts to sell the distillery
- 1876 Exports to Norway and India begin under Stuart & Mackay
- 1895 Glenlivet's James Grant purchases Highland Park, expanding it to four stills three years later
- 1937 Highland Distillers acquires Highland Park
- 1986 Highland Park visitors' centre opens
- 1999 Edrington and William Grant & Sons purchase Highland Distillers
- 2013 The Warriors range is introduced to duty free
Highland Park Facts
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- Capacity (mlpa) i
- 2.5
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- Condenser Type i
- Shell and tube
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- Fermentation Time i
- 52-96hrs
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- Filling Strength i
- 69.5%
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- Grist Weight (t) i
- 6.4
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- Heat Source i
- Steam coils
-
- Malt Supplier i
- Simpsons
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- Mash Tun Type i
- Semi Lauter
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- New-make Phenol Level i
- Less than 3ppm
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- New-make Strength i
- 70%
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- Single Malt Percentage i
- 33%
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- Spirit Still Charge (l) i
- 9,000
-
- Spirit Still Size (l) i
- 12,000
-
- Stills i
- 4
-
- Warehousing i
- 28,000 butt equivalent capacity
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- Wash Still Charge (l) i
- 14,500
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- Wash Still Size (l) i
- 18,000
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- Washback Charge (l) i
- 29,000
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- Washback Size (l) i
- 36,000
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- Washback Type i
- Wood
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- Washbacks i
- 12
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- Water Source i
- Crantit
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- Yeast Type i
- Kerry M & MX
Owners
Current owner
- Edrington 1999 - present
Previous owners
- Highland Distillers 1937 - 1999
- James Grant 1895 - 1937
- Stuart & Grant 1878 - 1895
- Stuart & Mackay 1869 - 1878
- The Borwick Family 1826 - 1869
- Richard MacKay 1825 - 1826
- David Robertson 1798 - 1825
Contact
- Address
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Highland Park Distillery
Holm Road
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1SU
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1856 873107
- Visitor Opening Hours
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- Monday
- 10am (Apr-Sept), 1pm (Oct-Mar) to 5pm
- Tuesday
- 10am (Apr-Sept), 1pm (Oct-Mar) to 5pm
- Wednesday
- 10am (Apr-Sept), 1pm (Oct-Mar) to 5pm
- Thursday
- 10am (Apr-Sept), 1pm (Oct-Mar) to 5pm
- Friday
- 10am (Apr-Sept), 1pm (Oct-Mar) to 5pm
- Saturday
- 10am to 5pm (May-Aug)
- Sunday
- 10am to 5pm (May-Aug)
Map
See also
-
Distillery & brand