Highland Park is not just 3 Ingredients mashed together, fermented , distilled and allowed to age in oak . The best way to understand this whisky is to understand the island.
Magnus Eunson, the smuggler famed for creating this wonderful dram, distilled illegally and hid his precious stocks in the St Magnus Cathedral ( not named after him)We visited the church and it was a surreal experience, that was where the first wee barrels of Highland Park were laid to avoid the ever approaching taxman...
We also attended a tasting in the Tasting Room with Gerry, we skillfully maneuvered through 12 Highland Park expressions. (A little bit of Candice heaven) we eagerly ploughed into what made each expression so different, talking casks,smoke,sweet aromas, fruity delights the group learning more and more after each whisky!
We then visited ruins, where ancient civilizations made their mark ( civilizations from 3000 BC made these islands home once upon a time). The Orkney islands have a Viking influence, and belonged to Norway a few hundred years ago, so instead of the Scottish version of : 'cheers' (Slainte) they use the term "skul' (don't quote me on the spelling please)when sipping a whisky. Orkney is steeped in history, everything from Vikings to World Wars, this intense and diverse history might not make whisky,no, but it does add to the character that's sculpted Highland Park's unique balanced flavour over the years, that's resulted in it winning Best Spirit in the World... Just a coupla' times...
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