Highland Park Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide to Orkney's Malt
Updated: 24 hours ago
Highland Park is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands. It is the northernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery. The name refers to an area called High Park, not to the Scottish Highlands. It is owned by Edrington, the group that also owns The Macallan.
In this guide
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Highland Park at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | Kirkwall, Orkney |
Region | Islands, Scotland |
Founded / established | 1798 (traditional founding date) |
Owner | Edrington |
Bottles documented | 3 named expressions in Whisky Clan's bottle database |
Visiting | See visitor information in the original research below. Check official opening and booking details before travelling. |
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Highland Park history, people and production
The history of Highland Park
Highland Park was founded by Magnus Eunson, a butcher and church officer by day and an illicit distiller and smuggler by night. In 1798 he was caught illegally distilling on the site. Nearly 30 years later, in 1826, the distillery received an official licence.
The Single Cask names Robert Borwick as the first licence holder and notes that local accounts also credit David Robertson. The Borwick family ran the distillery for around four decades.
The Single Cask says James Grant, formerly of The Glenlivet, bought the distillery in 1895 and doubled the number of stills from two to four. The distillery then joined Highland Distillers in 1937. Wikipedia words 1937 differently, saying the distillery was sold to James Grant and Sons of Glasgow that year.
Sources also differ on Edrington: Wikipedia says Edrington bought the distillery in 1979, while The Single Cask says Edrington took full control in 1999. Both are noted here because they could not be reconciled from the pages that loaded.
In February 2023 Highland Park released a 54 year old single malt to mark its 225th anniversary.
Owners over time
Founders and early operators: Magnus Eunson, then Robert Borwick (licensed around 1826)
Late 19th century: James Grant, from 1895 (The Single Cask)
1937: Highland Distillers or James Grant and Sons, depending on source
1979 or 1999: Edrington, depending on source
People behind the whisky
Magnus Eunson, the butcher, church officer and smuggler credited as founder
Robert Borwick, who took out the first licence around 1826
James Grant, who bought the distillery in 1895 and doubled the still count
F. Paul Pacult, the American spirits critic who named Highland Park the best spirit in the world on three occasions
How Highland Park is made
Highland Park uses local peat that contains a higher proportion of heather than many other peats. Part of the barley is malted on traditional floors on site and dried over peat from Hobbister Moor. The whisky is aged in sherry casks made of either American or European oak, bought from Oloroso sherry producers in Spain.
Independent bottlers rarely use the Highland Park name. The Single Cask says casks that reach the market are sold under cover names such as Whitlaw, because Edrington does not allow third parties to use the distillery name.
Notable releases and awards
2024 range per Wikipedia: Highland Park 10, 12, 15, 18, 21 (2024 release), 25 (2023 release) and 54 Year Old, plus Cask Strength Release No. 5 and a Single Cask Series bottling. In 2025 its website also offered a 30 Year Old and a 40 Year Old
Travel exclusives in 2025: Land of Orkney (14 years), Sea of Orkney (16 years) and Sky of Orkney (18 years). Earlier ones include Spirit of the Bear, Loyalty of the Wolf and Wings of the Eagle
The official site currently promotes Between You and I by Laila Gohar, a 17 year old single malt, and a travel exclusive version called Journeys
Named The Best Spirit in the World three times by F. Paul Pacult
The 25 year old was the first spirit to receive a perfect 100 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge
In 2018 The Light and The Dark each won a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
In 2019, for the fourth year running, Highland Park won the Chairman's Trophy for Best in Category at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge
In 2018 it ranked second behind The Macallan in whisky auction sales
Current core range and strengths
The core range is listed above. A listing on Whiskybase shows the redesigned Highland Park 12 year old (2024 design) at 40% ABV, 70cl. Strengths for the other ages could not be confirmed from the pages that loaded and are not listed.
Visiting Highland Park
The Single Cask says the visitor centre has operated since 1986 and that tours include the working malting floors and peat kilns. The distillery is on the southern edge of Kirkwall, an easy walk from St Magnus Cathedral. Opening hours, tour prices and booking details were not available from the official site pages that loaded, so check the Highland Park website before travelling.
Highland Park whisky bottle range and cask comparison
Here are named expressions documented from producer or specialist sources, including the available age and ABV. A missing strength is deliberately left as 'Check bottle' rather than estimated.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Highland Park 12 Year Old | 12 years | 40% | Orkney lightly peated whisky with sherry-seasoned casks |
Highland Park 15 Year Old | 15 years | Check bottle | Mature Orkney whisky, sherry oak influenced |
Highland Park 18 Year Old | 18 years | Check bottle | Sherry-seasoned oak and Orcadian peat |
Featured bottle: Highland Park 12 Year Old
Regular and rare releases are distinguished in the Whisky Bottles database; a historical catalogue listing does not prove current availability.
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Frequently asked questions about Highland Park
Where is Highland Park distillery?
In Kirkwall on Orkney. It is the northernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery.
Who owns Highland Park?
Edrington, which also owns The Macallan.
Why is it called Highland Park?
The name comes from an area called High Park, not from the Highlands.
Who founded Highland Park?
Magnus Eunson is credited, a butcher and church officer who was caught distilling illegally on the site in 1798.
When was Highland Park licensed?
In 1826.
Sources and photographic credits
Loaded and used: Wikipedia, The Single Cask Highland Park guide, the Highland Park official site home page (age gate and current releases only), Whiskybase search results (12 year old ABV), Whisky Advocate home page (no Highland Park page found).
Attempted and not usable: Edrington brand page (404), scotchwhisky.com Whiskypedia (the guessed page was a different distillery). Whisky Magazine was not attempted.
Unverified: the 1937 and Edrington ownership dates (sources conflict), visitor hours and prices, and strengths for all expressions other than the 12 year old. Tasting notes are deliberately not included.
Cover image: Wikimedia Commons.
Featured photograph: original credited image from the Whisky Clan distillery media library. If you own this image and would like the attribution updated, please contact Whisky Clan.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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