Highland Park: Why Orkney's Ancient Distillery Produces One of the World's Great Whiskies

Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, sits at the same latitude as Bergen in Norway and Juneau in Alaska. In winter, the sun barely clears the horizon. In summer, it barely sets. The wind blows almost constantly, carrying salt and peat from the surrounding moorland.

It is, in short, an extraordinary place to make whisky.

Highland Park was established in 1798 on the outskirts of Kirkwall, on a site that had been used for illicit distilling for decades before. The distillery's founder, Magnus Eunson, was a church officer by day and a smuggler by night — a combination that says everything about the spirit of early Scotch whisky production.

What Makes Highland Park Special

Highland Park is one of the few distilleries in Scotland that still malts a portion of its own barley on traditional floor maltings. The peat used to dry the malt is cut from the Hobbister Moor, just south of Kirkwall — a peat that is rich in heather and produces a distinctive aromatic smoke quite different from the maritime peat of Islay.

The distillery's warehouses are among the most atmospheric in Scotland, their stone walls thick enough to moderate the extremes of Orkney's climate. The whiskies mature slowly in this cool, damp environment, developing a complexity that is uniquely their own.

The Range

The Highland Park 12-year-old is the distillery's flagship expression and one of the world's most consistently excellent whiskies. Heather honey, vanilla, and a gentle peat smoke combine in a harmony that is both complex and approachable.

The 18-year-old is a step up in richness and complexity, with dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a more pronounced smokiness. The 25 and 30-year-old expressions are among the finest aged whiskies in Scotland.

The Viking series — Valhalla, Odin, Thor, and Loki — celebrates Orkney's Norse heritage with bold, characterful expressions.

Visiting Highland Park

The distillery is open year-round and offers a range of tours, from the standard distillery experience to exclusive private tastings in the historic warehouses. Kirkwall itself is worth a day or two — the magnificent St Magnus Cathedral, built by the Vikings in 1137, is one of Scotland's most impressive buildings.

Highland Park is the perfect reason to make the journey to Orkney. But once you're there, you'll find a hundred more.