Highland Park The Light 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

About Highland Park The Light 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Situated in the Orkney archipelago in Northern Scotland, Highland Park Distillery was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson. The name of the distillery is derived not from the region of Scotland known as The Highlands — the Orkney islands are not a part of The Highlands — but rather from the region known as High Park, where the distillery was founded.

Today, over two centuries after its founding, Highland Park Distillery remains one of the few Scottish distilleries that continues to hand-turn, malt, and peat its own barley. "You have to be careful here on the malting floor," says Eric Tait, Highland Park's Maltman. "You find it can get a wee bit slippery underneath. I have to turn the malt every eight hours to prevent the roots getting tangled and to get it all aerated properly. The airing also helps it to grow. The malt will be on the floor for seven days, and I'm running five floors at the moment."

After malting the barley, Highland Park Distillery smokes it using peat sourced from Hobbister Moor, a peat bog located approximately seven miles from the distillery. Hobbister Moor peat is sourced from floral heather bushes, which burn hotter and cleaner than the grassy peats of Islay. Also, the peat sourced from Hobbister Moor has greater derivatives of carbohydrates and a lower concentration of lignin than peat from Islay, giving Highland Park's peat a unique chemical fingerprint.

The peat sourced from Hobbister Moor is "absolutely fundamental in understanding the flavor of Highland Park Whisky," says Russell Anderson, the distillery manager. Together with Orkney's unique environment (the temperate, moist climate of the archipelago results in an even maturation process), the peat gives Highland Park Whisky its traditional malty flavors that are tempered by just a subtle touch of smoke.
 
Highland Park’s “The LIGHT” is the second release of their two-part series celebrating the Orkney climate and the distinctive influence it has on its whiskies. Deeply contrasting "The DARK," "The LIGHT" celebrates the spirit of renewal and the refreshing beauty of Orkney spring and summer months. Matured exclusively in American sherry oak casks it highlights the bright and fruity side of the legendary Highland Park spirit with flavors of creamy vanilla, baked pear, and nutmeg that meld luxuriously with rich aromatic smoke. Bottled in a beautifully embossed green glass vial, its serpent dragon design is inspired by the great Norse sagas, embracing both the high sun of the summer solstice and the low sun of the winter solstice. This stunningly vibrant single malt earned a Double Gold medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Pick up your bottle today!