Highland Park Distillery

Magnus Eunson founded Highland Park in 1798, initially as an illicit operation based at High Park — a local area of Kirkwall, not a reference to the Scottish Highlands. The distillery name derives from this site name rather than a regional classification. Eunson obtained his first legal distilling licence and the distillery has operated continuously ever since.

The distillery was sold to James Grant & Sons of Glasgow in 1937, who maintained and developed the operation through the mid-20th century. In 1979 The Edrington Group (then known as Highland Distillers) acquired Highland Park, bringing it alongside The Glenrothes and The Macallan in one of Scotland's most distinguished portfolio companies. Under Edrington, Highland Park has been positioned as a premium and collector-grade single malt with an extensive range of aged and limited expressions.

Highland Park has received multiple distinctions for excellence. F. Paul Pacult, one of the world's most respected spirits critics, named it "Best Spirit in the World" three times. Its 25 Year Old received the first perfect 100-point score ever awarded to a spirit at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. It won the Chairman's Trophy for Best in Category at the same competition for four consecutive years (2016–2019). The distillery receives approximately 80,000 visitors per year.

The distillery received its official distilling licence in 1826, though Eunson had been operating the site for some years before this formal registration.

Highland Park is one of a very small number of Scottish distilleries that still operates its own floor maltings and cuts its own peat. Orkney heather peat — cut from Hobbister Moor, a few miles from Kirkwall — contains a significantly higher proportion of heather root than the peat found on Islay. This gives Highland Park's smoke a uniquely aromatic, floral, and honeyed character rather than the more medicinal and peaty notes of Islay malts. Approximately 20–25% of the malt used is peated using this local peat, with the remainder being unpeated.

The distillery operates 2 wash stills and 2 spirit stills, with an annual capacity of approximately 2.5 million litres. Maturation takes place in sherry casks made from both American and European oak, sourced from Oloroso sherry producers in Spain.

Highland Park's character is defined by a wild harmony of opposites: aromatic heather-peat smoke, honeyed sweetness, dried fruit from sherry cask maturation, and a persistent maritime saltiness from the Orkney climate. The 12 Year Old Viking Honour (43% ABV) is the ideal introduction — sweet honey and vanilla balanced against delicate heather smoke, with a warming finish. The 18 Year Old Viking Pride adds dark dried fruit and deeper complexity. The 25 Year Old is among the most celebrated aged expressions in single malt, with profound depth and a long, warming finish. The travel retail Land, Sea, and Sky of Orkney series at 14, 16, and 18 years offers further exploration of the house style.

The distillery and visitor centre in Kirkwall is one of Scotland's most visited whisky attractions, welcoming approximately 80,000 visitors per year. Multiple tour tiers available: introductory tours, whisky-lover experiences, and collector/connoisseur tastings including access to the floor maltings and peat kiln. Address: Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SU. Online shop and distillery shop available. Online booking at highlandparkwhisky.com.