Highland Park debuts limited edition 18YO whisky

Orkney-based Highland Park has unveiled a new 18-year-old single cask whisky, bottled exclusively for The Single Malt Shop.

The bespoke release, part of the brand’s Single Cask Series, has been bottled at cask strength to bring out its purest flavour. 

Master whisky maker for Highland Park, Gordon Motion, said that “those in our Single Cask Series are, quite simply, the most exceptional Highland Park casks available” and that the cask was chosen for its “interesting and exciting flavour profile to offer something special for [the brand’s] whisky fans”.

This edition has been drawn from an 18-year-old refill butt, which is said by Motion to harness notes of “sweet, toasted oak, vanilla fudge ice cream, roasted almonds and violets’’ as “floral peat smoke, cinnamon bark and spiciness” linger afterwards. 

He added: “Some of our most outstanding single cask bottlings come from refill casks, as they have often previously held whisky for only a short period of time, so have much to give in subsequent maturation’’.

Sitting at 57% ABV, only 513 bottles of the expression are available, which can be purchased at The Single Malt Shop for £379.43 (US$463.53). 

Of the exclusive release, Ed Forrest, managing director of The Single Malt Shop, stated: “We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Highland Park on this 18-year-old single cask release. We are very excited by the Highland Park brand now and it is a perfect entry point into whisky with a very well-rounded flavour profile. 

“This single cask bottling is a real delight with dark chocolate, honey and molasses to the fore, balanced by a light, lingering peaty finish.”

Earlier this month, Highland Park showcased another limited single cask bottle – its 18-year-old London Edition.