Highland Park Distillery

Highland Park Distillery claims a history going back to 1798, by a farmer called David Robertson. There are also some questions around the history of it’s name, with rumours of it being Rosebank and later Kirkwall before being called Highland Park. Mostly irrelevant as its only in the 1870’s that this distillery actually got any recognition. Initially under William Stuart in the 1870s (of Miltonduff fame) and then James Grant (initially a partner in 1885, then taking full control in 1895). Highland Distillers took over in 1937 and now Highland Park is part of the Edrington Group.

First bottled in the 1970’s as a single malt product, initially as an 8 year old, and relaunched in the 1980’s with new packaging as a 12 and 18 year old expression. In modern times, it’s bottled as a range of products, all creating marketing connections to the Norse history of the Orkney Islands, with various waffly back stories.

The distillery currently holds the claim of being Scotland’s most northerly distillery. Although we’re not sure what that brings to the table.

Highland Park Distillery Facts

Circa 2.5 million LPA in annual capacity, a 4 still setup with 2 wash stills (18,000 litres) and 2 spirits stills (12,000 litres) and 12 wash backs believed to be 36,000 litres in capacity. Fermentation is believed to be between 52 and 96 hours, with malt from Simpsons peated to 3 ppms and yeast from Kerry M and MX.

The Range

There are 18 bottles in the current range (last edited March 2023) that cover the core age statements, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 25, 30, 40 50 and 54, as well as some NAS products, travel retail 1000ml and new make spirit. There are 13 “special editions” at present and a massive online archive of recent releases.