Highland Park 16YO 'Wings of the Eagle' Whisky

This remarkable Highland Park 16 Year Old Wings of the Eagle is a bold yet beautifully balanced single malt. Rich amber in colour, it opens with sweet dried figs, apricots, warming nutmeg and buttery shortbread, followed by hints of chocolate-coated marzipan and aromatic heather peat smoke. On the palate, gentle smoke lingers beneath creamy vanilla and roasted nuts. The finish is long and satisfying, with almond butter, soft tobacco leaf and a touch of crunchy brown sugar.

• Distillery: Highland Park Distillery
• Type: Scotch Single Malt Whisky
  
• Region: Orkney Island, Scotland
  
• Alcohol: 44.5%
  
• Volume: 700ml
• Goes with: Neat or over ice; chocolate ginger biscuits, soft cheeses such as French Brie

Highland Park created 16 Year Old Wings of the Eagle to celebrate their wild and windswept islands. Orkney waters are stormy, the winters are long and few trees can survive there … but that just makes for a more harmonious whisky. Orkney winds can reach speeds of over 160 kilometres per hour in winter and this means that their moorland peat is treeless but rich in fragrant heather, which, when burned, produces the characteristic aromatic smokiness of their whisky. In this whisky’s case, when you pair that smokiness with maturation in hand-picked sherry seasoned European oak casks, you capture an intriguing depth of flavour.

Highland Park is Scotland’s northernmost whisky distillery, lying just to the North-east of fellow Orcadian, Scapa. Orkney is a rugged, beautiful island and the Highland Park distillery sits on a hillside near Kirkwall. Not far off, are sweeping plains of barley field and the rocky outcrops which protrude ominously from the ground. The sea beats the coast; her salty air and the island’s geology contribute to the rich character of Highland Park single malts. The distillery draws its water from the mineral rich springs to the east of the distillery as well as the Crantit Spring.

Highland Park was founded in 1798, by David Robertson on what was once the site of Magnus Eunson's cottage. Eunson was not only a beadle at the local church but also a notorious smuggler. Highland Park was officially licensed in 1826. After James Borwick inherited the distillery in 1869, the production at Highland Park was slowed; James was a priest and believed that whisky production contradicted with his religious status. Accordingly, in 1876 Stuart and Mackay moved in and dramatically helped sales through overseas exportation.

In 1895, James Grant of Glenlivet fame acquired the Highland Park distillery. Three years later he installed further stills, bringing the total to four. One of the few Scotch whisky distilleries to operate onsite floor maltings, Highland Park’s weekly malted barley production of 35 tonnes supplies twenty percent of its own malt requirements, the remainder is shipped in from Simpson’s and Edrington’s maltings respectively. £18 million was spent relaunching the brand; the range was repackaged and remarketed and the buildings were extensively renovated. Highland Park’s future is bright having recently overtaken Islay giant Lagavulin in terms of sales. 

• Gold - 2020 The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business) - Highlands & Islands 13-18YO
• Gold - 2019 International Spirits Challenge - Distillers' Single Malts between 13-20YO
• Gold - 2019 The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business) - Highlands & Islands 13-18YO
• Gold - 2018 The Travel Retail Masters (The Spirits Business)