In 1895 James Grant became the sole owner of the Highland Park Distillery, founded in 1798 by David Robertson, who built it on a site already used by a well-known illegal distiller, Magnus Eunson.
His status as a clergyman gave him good cover, but despite this he attracted the attention of the customs officials and subsequently began to hide barrels of whisky under the pulpit.
The history of Highland Park Distillery in the intervening period is rather vague. We know that it obtained a legal licence in 1825 and that James Grant became a partner and director in 1888, bringing with him the traditions of Glenlivet where his father had been the distiller and director of the Glenlivet Distillery.
Already at that time Highland Park had a high reputation in the circles, when both the King of Denmark and the Emperor of Russia called it "the finest whisky they had ever tasted"; from that time it was universally recognised as one of the best Scotch Whiskies in the world.
The Grants ceded control to Highland Distilleries in 1937.
Highland Park is a unique distillery in that it is located on a hill and requires the use of a pump to lift the water it needs.
Since it is located on the island of Orkney, Highland Park is the most northerly distillery in Scotland. This condition will remain so until the Blackwood Distillery located in the Shetland Islands finally enters production.
Much of the Highland Park distillery is still original and traditional,
including the premises for the preparation of the malt which are the same ones installed initially; the peat extracted from its own peat bogs, the stills traditionally fed by peat and the water that comes from two nearby springs.
The aroma of the peat extracted on the island is very particular and unique; an aroma that remains imprinted in the bouquet thanks also to the contribution of the heather which is burned in small quantities with the peat itself.
Finally, the careful selection of both American and Spanish barrels and the long years of aging in the warehouses on the island exposed to harsh winters, have a decisive influence on the softness, balance and structure of the Single Malts. The final result is a tasty, slightly peaty Whisky, unmistakable on the nose and taste.

HIGHLAND PARK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY MOSAICS COLLECTION DISTILLED 2008 BOTTLED 2024 MOON IMPORT

The Mosaics Collection 2024, Pepi Mongiardino's latest effort, is made up of six different Whiskies united by a thematic label; in this case they are reproductions of ancient mosaics.
In this case we present a Highland Park from the assembly of two barrels n° 7188-7239, bottled in 2024.
Only 816 bottles of 70 cl. produced at an alcohol content of 45% Vol.
The color is antique gold; the nose develops full-bodied and powerful aromas with hints of toffee, orange blossom and broom.
The palate is introduced by fruity memories of ripe pear and banana; followed by creamy and enveloping sensations of dried fruit and honey.
The long finish, in its roundness, is an explosion of sweet tobacco leaf.