Highland Park 21 yo - 2022 Release

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The 2022 release of Highland Park 21 brings together three different cask types in a fruity, spicy single malt with restrained smoke. Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion selected 14 casks filled in 2000 or earlier: first-fill, sherry-seasoned European oak Hogsheads, former Bourbon Barrels and refill casks.

The Sherry Hogsheads contribute ginger and spice, while the Bourbon Barrels add sweet citrus notes and cedarwood. The refill casks, previously used to mature whisky, balance the wood influence of the first-fill casks. The whisky matured in the distillery’s warehouses in Kirkwall and was bottled at 46%. Its deep golden colour comes entirely from the casks. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, ripe mango and dark chocolate meet espresso and spicy coriander. Green leaves and fruity jam add to the aroma, alongside a delicate cedarwood note.
• Palate: The palate reveals pronounced gingerbread notes, dried fruit and juicy orange, accompanied by exotic spices and cedarwood. Dark chocolate and the spice of clove-studded oranges add to the flavour. Subtle peat and floral heather notes round it out.
• Finish: Sweet citrus notes and exotic spices linger in the long finish. A delicate veil of aromatic smoke accompanies the aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Highland Park is based in Kirkwall on Scotland’s Orkney Islands, and the distillery’s history dates back to 1798. Its production methods include traditional floor malting, with the malt turned by hand, and two kilns in which the malt is dried. Heather-rich peat from nearby Hobbister Moor shapes the aromatic smoky character of its whiskies.

The distillery operates four copper pot stills and uses traditional dunnage warehouses for maturation. Orkney’s comparatively mild climate, with small temperature fluctuations, supports slow maturation and limits evaporation losses. For this official bottling, Gordon Motion brings the different cask influences together by selecting and marrying the matured whiskies.

Facts: