Highland Park 21 Year Old (2023 Release)

Distilled on the wind-swept Orkney Islands at the world's most northerly mainland distillery, Highland Park has produced whisky on its Kirkwall site since 1798. The distillery's house style is shaped by its own floor maltings, lightly peated with aromatic Orcadian heather, and by Gordon Motion's exacting approach to cask selection and maturation. The 21 Year Old 2023 Release draws on 36 individually hand-selected casks laid down between 1998 and 2001, comprising ex-bourbon hogsheads, first-fill sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, and ex-Rioja casks. The extended maturation and diversity of cask types produce a whisky of notable complexity and balance, representing both a considered collector's acquisition and an exceptional gift for those who appreciate the rewards of unhurried ageing. Tasting Note by Highland Park: Tropical fruits, toasted almonds, freshly grated nutmeg and floral peat smoke, with lemon zest, aromatic fenugreek, apples caramelised in honey and cinnamon, a dusting of cedar-smoked sweet paprika, woody spices and a hint of citrus oil in the heather-rich peat smoke.