Highland Park The Light & The Dark 17 Year Old Collection

About Highland Park The Light & The Dark 17 Year Old Collection

Situated in the Orkney archipelago in Northern Scotland, Highland Park Distillery was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson. The name of the distillery is derived not from the region of Scotland known as The Highlands — the Orkney islands are not a part of The Highlands — but rather from the region known as High Park, where the distillery was founded. Highland Park is an incredible longstanding whisky house, and they pride themselves on their rich Norse heritage, an essence that is reflected in their craft.

Today, over two centuries after its founding, Highland Park Distillery remains one of the few Scottish distilleries that continues to hand-turn, malt, and peat its own barley. “You have to be careful here on the malting floor,” says Eric Tait, Highland Park’s Maltman. “You find it can get a wee bit slippery underneath. I have to turn the malt every eight hours to prevent the roots getting tangled and to get it all aerated properly. The airing also helps it to grow. The malt will be on the floor for seven days, and I’m running five floors at the moment.” After malting the barley, Highland Park Distillery smokes it using peat sourced from the nearby peat bog called Hobbister Moor. The unique peat gives Highland Park Whisky its traditional malty flavors that are tempered by just a subtle touch of smoke.

This collection features both The Dark and The Light expressions of the two-part series that celebrates the Orkney climate and the distinctive influence it has on its whiskies. The Dark is an award-winning 17-year-old single malt Scotch whisky that has been matured in first-fill European oak sherry seasoned casks, delivering a distinctly deep flavor, packed with ripe cherries, toasted almonds, and dark chocolate overlaid with hints of smoky peat.

The Light is matured exclusively in refill American oak casks, highlighting the bright and fruity side of the legendary Highland Park spirit with flavors of creamy vanilla, baked pear, and nutmeg that meld luxuriously with rich aromatic smoke. Bottled in a beautifully embossed green glass vial, its serpent dragon design is inspired by the great Norse sagas, embracing both the high sun of the summer solstice and the low sun of the winter solstice. Both of these expressions have earned the coveted Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Grab both of these fantastic whiskies in one collection today!