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{{Short description|Whisky distillery in Orkney Islands, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Scottish distillery
| Name        = Highland Park distillery
| Type        = Island
| Image       = Highlandpark.jpg
| Image size  = 250
| Caption     = Highland Park Distillery
| Location    = [[Kirkwall]], [[Orkney]], [[Scotland]]
| Owner       = [[Edrington (spirits company)|Edrington]]
| Founded     = 1798
| Status      = Operational
| Source      =
| Stills      = 2 wash<br />2 spirit
| Capacity    = 2,500,000 litres
| Brand 1     = Highland Park
| Type 1      =
| Age 1       = (in years) NAS, 12, 14 (duty-free), 15, 16 (duty-free), 18, 21, 54
| Cask 1      = Bourbon<br />Sherry
| Brand 2     =
| Type 2      =
| Age 2       =
| Cask 2      =
|image=Highland Park Distillery - geograph.org.uk - 2090032.jpg}}
'''Highland Park distillery''' is an [[Island single malt]] [[Scotch whisky]] distillery located in [[Kirkwall]] on the [[Orkney Islands|Orkney Islands,Scotland]]. It is the northernmost [[Island single malt|single malt Scotch]] whisky [[distillery]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/beginners-guide-to-scotch |work=QC |title=How to Drink Scotch Like You Know What You're Doing |first=Natalie B. |last=Compton |date=5 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pharms">{{Cite web|url=https://vinepair.com/articles/highland-park-scotch-whisky-guide/|title=9 Things You Should Know About Highland Park Scotch Whisky|last=Pharms|first=words: Gabrielle|date=2018-08-10|website=VinePair|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

==History==
Highland Park distillery was founded by Magnus Eunson, a butcher and church officer by day and illicit distiller and whisky smuggler by night. In 1798 he was caught illegally distilling whisky on the site. In 1826, nearly 30 years later, Highland Park received an official licence to distill whisky.<ref name="Pharms"/> The name of the distillery does not refer to the [[Scottish Highlands]], but rather to the fact that the distillery was founded on an area called 'High Park' distinguished from a lower area nearby.<ref name=":0" />

In 1937, Highland Park distillery was sold to James Grant & Sons of Glasgow.<ref name="Arthur">{{cite book |author=Helen Arthur |title=The single malt companion |publisher=Libero |others=Lisbeth Machielsen (trans.) |year=2002 |isbn=978-90-5764-236-4 |page= |language=nl |orig-year=1997}}</ref>

In 1979, the distillery was purchased by [[Edrington (spirits company)|The Edrington Group]], that also owned [[The Macallan distillery]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Gavin D |title=Whisky Opus - The Definitive 21st-Century Reference to the World's Greatest Distilleries and Their Whiskies |publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited |year=2012}}</ref>

In February 2023, Highland Park released a 54-year-old Single Malt Scotch whisky to celebrate Highland Park's 225th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feilden |first=Eloise |date=2023-02-24 |title=Highland Park releases its oldest whisky expression to date |url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/02/highland-park-releases-its-oldest-whisky-expression-to-date/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=The Drinks Business |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Highland park malting floor.jpg|thumb|right|Within the [[malthouse]] at Highland Park Distillery]]

== Production ==
The distilling process at Highland Park is the same as that used at other distilleries.

Highland Park uses the local peat,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gearpatrol.com/2014/04/11/true-norse-visit-highland-park-distillery/|title=Highland Park Whisky Distillery Tour|date=2014-04-11|website=Gear Patrol|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> which contains a higher proportion of heather than many other peats.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.winemag.com/2017/11/06/exploring-the-whisky-islands-of-scotland/ |work=Wine Enthusiast |title=Exploring the Whisky Islands of Scotland |first=Kara |last=Newman}}</ref> The whisky is aged in sherry casks made of either American or European oak, purchased from [[Oloroso]] sherry producers in Spain.<ref name=":0" />

== Whisky ==
The Highland Park range in 2024 was as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highland Park {{!}} Our Whisky |url=https://www.highlandparkwhisky.com/en/our-whisky |access-date=2024-07-17}}</ref>

=== Classic collection ===
Highland Park 12 Year Old

Highland Park 15 Year Old

Highland Park 18 Year Old

Highland Park 21 Year Old 2024 Release

Highland Park 25 Year Old 2023 Release

Highland Park 54 Year Old

=== Special Editions ===
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 5

Highland Park Single Cask Series: Cask No. 1494

In 2025, its website also offered a 30 Year Old and a 40 Year Old. 

There are also travel exclusives: in 2025, Land of Orkney (14yo), Sea of Orkey (16yo) and Sky of Orkney (18yo), and previously Spirit of the Bear (no age), Loyalty of the Wolf (14yo) and Wings of the Eagle (16yo).

== Awards ==
Highland Park has been named "The Best Spirit in the World" on three occasions by F. Paul Pacult, [https://www.forbes.com/2006/02/21/cx_0221wine9.html#6d07504c2098 America's foremost expert on distilled spirits]. Its 25-year-old whisky was the first spirit ever to receive a perfect 100-point score at the [https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ Ultimate Spirits Challenge]. In 2018, two of its special distillery releases, The Light and The Dark, were each awarded a Double Gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sfspiritscomp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/S18_Results_by_CLASS.pdf|title=San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018 Results}}</ref> In 2019 and for the fourth year running,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2018-spirits-results/?product_name=highland&type=&subtype=&product_name=highland+park&country=&award=|title=2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results {{!}} Spirit Product Awards|website=www.ultimate-beverage.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2017-spirits-results/?type=&subtype=&product_name=highland+park&country=&award=|title=2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results {{!}} Spirit Product Awards|website=www.ultimate-beverage.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2016-spirits-results/?type=&subtype=&product_name=highland+park&country=&award=|title=2016 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results {{!}} Spirit Product Awards|website=www.ultimate-beverage.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> Highland Park won the Chairman's Trophy for Best in Category at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-beverage.com/ultimate-spirits-challenge-USC/2019-spirits-results/?type=&subtype=&product_name=highland&country=&award=|title=2019 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results {{!}} Spirit Product Awards|website=www.ultimate-beverage.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

In 2018, Highland Park ranked second, behind sister distillery [[The Macallan]], in whisky auction sales driven by growing demand from whisky collectors for the distillery's special releases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rarewhisky101.com/application/files/9615/4962/1028/3MB_RW101_Full_Report_2018-1.pdf|title=Rare Whisky 101 2018 Report}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of distilleries in Scotland]]
*[[List of whisky brands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last1=Buxton|first1=Ian|title=A Good Foundation: Highland Park, Orkney, established 1798: a 1924 account of the distillery|date=2010|publisher=Highland Park Distillery|location=Kirkwall|oclc=650967730}}
*{{cite book |last= Jackson |first= Michael |author-link= Michael Jackson (writer)| title= ''Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch'', 5th edition |publisher= [[Running Press]] |year= 2004 |isbn= 978-0-7624-1313-3 | pages=309–311 }}
*{{cite book | author=Lerner, Daniel | title=''Single Malt & Scotch Whisky'' | publisher=Könemann | year=1998 | isbn=978-3-8290-0418-3  | pages=122–123}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://www.highlandparkwhisky.com/distillery}}

{{Coord|58|58|6.97|N|2|57|19.62|W|dim:50_scale:500_region:GB-ORK_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}
{{Scottish Distilleries}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Edrington]]
[[Category:Distilleries in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scottish malt whisky]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1798]]
[[Category:1798 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Kirkwall]]