Highland Park (whiskey distillery)

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Highland park
country Scotland
region Iceland
Geographical location 58 ° 57 '59.6 "  N , 2 ° 57' 14.3"  W Coordinates: 58 ° 57 '59.6 "  N , 2 ° 57' 14.3"  W.
Type Paint
status active
owner The Edrington Group
Founded 1798
founder Magnus Eunson
Water source Cattie Maggie Sources
Washstill (s) 2 × 14,600 l
Spiritstill (s) 2 × 8,500 l
Production volume 2,500,000 l
Website www.highlandpark.co.uk

The Highland Park Distillery is a whiskey distillery in Kirkwall on the Orkney Island Mainland in Scotland , UK . It is the northernmost whiskey distillery in Scotland. The distillery buildings are classified in category B in the Scottish monument lists.

history

The story of Scotland's northernmost distillery began in 1798 when Magnus Eunson's illicit distillery was put on record on the same site as the distillery is today. In 1825 Robert Borwick built the present distillery, which was licensed in 1826. It remained in the possession of the Borwicks until 1869, after which several changes of ownership followed. James Grant bought the distillery in 1890 and had it expanded from two to four stills in 1898. The distillery was closed from 1918 to 1937, when it was taken over by the Highland Distillers Group . From 1997 to 2005, the employees also ran the Scapa distillery, in return they were allowed to use the local warehouses.

In March 2006 the distillery cat Barley died in a car accident; the end of a 200 year old tradition, because there will be no successor.

production

Malt floor

The water for the distillery, which belongs to the Highlands / Islands region, comes from Cattie Maggie's Quarry, an old quarry that is fed by an underground spring. The distillery is one of the few who still own in their own Tennenmälzerei ( floor Maltings ) malts . The malt is kilned in its own kilns , for which peat from the nearby heather- covered Hobbister Moor is used. The malt produced has 20  ppm phenol and is mixed with purchased unpeated malt from the mainland. The distillery has a mash tun (11.4 t) made of stainless steel , twelve fermentation vats (29,200 l each) made of wood, two wash stills (14,600 l each) and two spirit stills (8,500 l each), which are heated by steam. In 2010, 1,800,000 gallons (about 80,000 hectoliters) of whiskey were stored and matured on the grounds on the outskirts of Kirkwall  .

Products

Bottle of the 12 year old Highland Park

The distillery produces a variety of bottlings, of which the 12-year-old and 18-year-old malt whiskey are the most common. They all taste slightly sweet with notes of heather, peat, sea air and honey.

The 12-year-old Highland Park Single Malt Scotch was awarded the BEST OF SHOW AWARD - WHISKEY at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2008 . The 21-year-old Highland Park was named "Best Single Malt of the Year" at the 2009 World Whiskey Awards.

Highland Park whiskey is offered in the following standard bottlings: 12 years, 15 years, 18 years, 25 years, 30 years and 40 years. There are also a number of special bottlings.

The limited Orcadian Vintage Series was only bottled in five years: 1964 (290 bottles), 1968 (1550 bottles), 1970 (1800 bottles), 1971 (657 bottles) and 1976 (893 bottles). Another limited series were the Earl Magnus Editions : Earl Magnus (5976 bottles), Saint Magnus (11994 bottles) and Earl Haakon (3300 bottles). Limited to 275 bottles, Highland Park 50 Years is the oldest and at £ 10,000 also the most expensive Highland Park whiskey. The bottles were designed by Maeve Gillies, are handmade and studded with 925 Sterling silver .

Tourist Information

Entrance to Highland Park

The distillery is one of the most visited attractions in the Orkney Islands. There are several guided tours on weekdays throughout the year, and also on weekends in the main season. Prior reservation is required in the summer months. Highland Park received an award from the Scottish Tourist Board in 2009 for outstanding service and excellent tourist infrastructure. There is an advertising community with the Orkney Islands Council. Both partners have committed to promoting the other in the common interest. a. a Loganair fan gun for one year completely in the black and white paintwork of the distillery.

social commitment

The Edrington Group, which also owns other distilleries in addition to the Highland Park Distillery, is owned by the Robertson Trust - a foundation that uses the profits generated from its own companies to support socially disadvantaged people. The foundation was established in 1961 by siblings Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel Robertson.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ History of the Robertson Trust (English)
  3. ↑ The Robertson Trust (English)

See also

Web links

Commons : Highland Park  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files