Highland Park is one of Scotland’s most iconic single malt Scotch whisky distilleries, famed for its balance of tradition, craftsmanship, and unique sense of place. Founded in 1798 in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, it is among the northernmost whisky distilleries in the world. Its remote location and Viking heritage strongly shape its brand identity, giving Highland Park a character distinct from other Scotch whiskies.

Production at Highland Park combines time-honored methods with the influence of the Orkney environment. The distillery is one of the few remaining in Scotland that still malts a portion of its own barley on traditional malting floors, which is then dried over locally cut peat from Hobbister Moor. Orkney peat is unlike mainland peat—it contains more heather and less wood, imparting a gentle, aromatic smoke rather than the heavy iodine-driven character found in Islay whiskies. This creates a signature style often described as a perfect balance between sweet honeyed malt and refined smoke.

Highland Park’s maturation also plays a key role in shaping its identity. The whisky is aged predominantly in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, which add depth, spice, and layers of dried fruit to the spirit. Expressions range from the widely accessible 12 Year Old—nicknamed “Viking Honour”—to older and rarer bottlings like the 18, 21, 25, and 30 Year Olds, each gaining complexity and richness with age. Limited editions often lean heavily into Orkney’s Norse history, with names and packaging celebrating Viking culture.

As a brand, Highland Park represents balance, heritage, and authenticity. It stands for the meeting of opposites—sweetness and smoke, tradition and innovation, rugged Orkney landscapes and refined craftsmanship. To drink Highland Park is to taste a whisky deeply connected to its place of origin, one that carries more than two centuries of history while still evolving for modern whisky lovers around the globe.