Best Highland Park Whisky

Last Updated on: 24th April 2024, 10:00 pm

With the assistance of whisky expert Neil Coleman and valuable customer feedback, I have reviewed and ranked every Highland Park release and determined which is the best.

Written by: J Highland

Choosing the Best Highland Park

For Newcomers to Peaty Whisky:

• Highland Park 12: This expression offers a good introduction to peaty whiskies with its balanced sweetness, approachable smokiness, and lighter body. Adding a touch of water can reveal more complexity.

For Those Who Enjoy Sherry-Influenced Smoky Whisky:

• Highland Park Dark Origins: This NAS whisky uses double the first-fill sherry casks compared to their 12-year-old expression, resulting in a robust and bold flavor profile that balances smokiness with sherry sweetness and baking spices.

For Value-Conscious Peat Whisky Enthusiasts:

• Highland Park 15: This 15-year-old Scotch offers a well-rounded peat experience with notes of vanilla, tobacco, malt, peat, caramel, and oak. It’s a good value for the price compared to other similar aged whiskies.

For Experienced Peat Enthusiasts Who Want a Refined Single Malt:

• Highland Park 18: This award-winning whisky bridges Speyside’s sweetness with Islay’s smoke, offering a unique combination of citrus, cinnamon, chocolate, honey, and delicate smoke.

For Seasoned Whisky Drinkers Who Enjoy Bold & Complex Flavors:

• Highland Park 21: This whisky boasts a rich and complex profile with notes of leather, apple, pear, orange, vanilla, caramel, and a subtle hint of smoke. While powerful, it allows other flavors to shine through besides the oak influence.

A Few Caveats:

• Highland Park 10 is a good option, but it can be difficult to find in the US.
• Highland Park Magnus is a good introduction to Highland Park’s smoke for beginners, but it lacks the complexity of their aged expressions.

I hope this helps you find the perfect Highland Park Scotch for your taste!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Highland Park Magnus: Smoky Intro for Whisky Newbies

• Nose: Lemon, orange, smoke
• Palate: Orange, vanilla, smoke
• Finish: Oak spice, smoke
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park Magnus honors founder Magnus Eunson. This NAS whisky spends time in first-fill sherry casks and bourbon barrels.

The nose is light and inviting with lemon, orange, and a touch of smoke. The taste is thin, featuring light smoke alongside orange and vanilla notes. The finish is short with oak spice and lingering smoke.

A good introduction to Highland Park’s signature smoke for beginners, but lacking the complexity of their aged expressions, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Highland Park Dark Origins: Bold Sherry Smoke

• Nose: Alcohol, vanilla, sherry
• Palate: Smoke, sherry, baking spice
• Finish: Medium, oak spice, smoke
• Alcohol content: 94 proof (47% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park Dark Origins celebrates founder Magnus Eunson’s legal distilling days. This NAS whisky uses double the first-fill sherry casks of their 12-year-old, resulting in a robust flavor profile.

Expect a bold nose with initial alcohol giving way to vanilla and sherry. The taste is full-bodied and warming, offering a satisfying balance of smokiness, sherry sweetness, and baking spices. The finish lingers with oak spice and smoke.

Dark Origins delivers a powerful and enjoyable smoky-sherry experience.

Highland Park 10: Elusive Smoke for European Fans

• Nose: Sherry, floral, light smoke
• Palate: Ginger, orange peel, sherry, peat
• Finish: Salt, pepper, smoke
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Spotting Highland Park 10 in the US is rare, but it’s a mainstay in Europe.

The nose is a delicate mix of sherry, floral notes, and a touch of Highland Park’s signature smoke. The taste, at 80 proof, feels a bit thin with hints of ginger, orange peel, subtle sherry, and peat. The finish is short and light, offering some minerality, pepper, and a whisper of smoke.

While decent, it lacks the strength and complexity of the top 10-year Scotches.

Highland Park 12: Sweet Smoke for Peaty Beginners

• Nose: Floral, smoke, orange, honey
• Palate: Cereal, orange, green tea, smoke
• Finish: Long, oak, pepper
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park 12 is a gateway to peaty pleasures. The nose is floral and citrusy with honey, and a subtle hint of smoke. The lighter body offers a smooth, sweet experience with iodine, honey, and a touch of peat smoke. The finish is short but satisfying, balancing sweetness and pepper with a hint of oak. Adding water reveals hidden meaty notes.

While some might find it light, it excels at introducing beginners to peaty whiskies with its balanced sweetness and approachable smokiness. This remains a top choice within 12-year-old single malts.

Highland Park 15: Smooth Peat & Value

• Nose: Peat smoke, orchard fruit, vanilla
• Palate: Vanilla, tobacco, malt, peat, caramel, oak
• Finish: Long, peat, oak spice, caramel
• Alcohol content: 88 proof (44% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park 15 offers a well-rounded peat experience. The aroma is smoky with hints of apple, pear, and vanilla. The taste is a smooth blend of creamy and light notes, featuring vanilla, malt, caramel, gentle peat, toasty oak, and hints of tobacco. The finish is long and satisfying, lingering with peat, oak spice, and caramel sweetness.

It delivers balanced and enjoyable flavors. This 15-year-old Scotch is also considered a good value, offering a reasonable price compared to other whiskies of similar age.

Highland Park 18: Award-Winning Smoky Delight

• Nose: Smoke, oak, floral
• Palate: Citrus, cinnamon, chocolate, honey, smoke
• Finish: Long, oak spice, smoke, chocolate
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park 18 boasts a prestigious title: “Best Spirit in the World” by spirits expert F. Paul Pacult. The nose is smoky with hints of sherry and orange, yet the body leans lighter. The taste is surprisingly citrusy, balanced with cinnamon, chocolate, honey, and a touch of delicate smoke. The long finish is warm with oak spice and a hint of dryness.

While some might debate the world’s best title, it’s an undeniably refined single malt. This whisky bridges Speyside’s sweetness with Islay’s smoke, making it a must-try for peat enthusiasts, especially considering its reasonable price.

Highland Park 21: Bold & Balanced After Two Decades

• Nose: Leather, apple, pear, cookie dough
• Palate: Orange, vanilla, caramel, brine, smoke
• Finish: Long, caramel, oak spice
• Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Highland Park 21 is a bold dram for seasoned drinkers. The nose is rich with leather, apple, pear, and a surprising hint of cookie dough. Smoke plays a subtle role, hinting at its aged character. The taste is a vibrant blend of orange, vanilla, and caramel with whispers of brine and smoke.

Unlike most 21-year-old whiskies, the oak influence is restrained, allowing other flavors to flourish. The finish is satisfying, balancing oak with smoke and caramel.

This robust and flavorful whisky might be overpowering for those who prefer milder expressions, but for those seeking depth, it’s a delight.

Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Magnus	$45
Dark Origins	$83
Highland Park 10	$50
Highland Park 12	$60
Highland Park 15	$95
Highland Park 18	$160
Highland Park 21	$390

Frequently Asked Questions

The Selection Process for the Top Bottle

• Expert Reviews: Insights from renowned Scotch critics were essential.
• Taste Testing: Evaluations based on personal experiences with Highland Park expressions.
• Consumer Feedback: Collecting opinions from whisky enthusiasts and aficionados.

A Blend of Tradition and Uniqueness

• Location: Situated in Kirkwall, Orkney, it stands as Scotland’s northernmost distillery.
• Distinctive Peat: Utilizes local peat from Hobbister Moor, enriched with heather for a unique flavor.
• Barley Malting: One of the few distilleries that malt its own barley.

The Legacy and Craft of Highland Park

• Founding: Established in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a significant figure in Orkney’s whisky history.
• Heritage: Named after its original location, “High Park,” and not the Scottish Highlands.
• Production Emphasis: Focused on the “five keystones of production,” ensuring quality and consistency.

Distinctive Characteristics

• Sherry Oak Casks: A critical element in maturation, imparting depth and richness.
• Flavor Profile: Known for its balanced peaty smokiness blended with a rich sherry influence.
• Local Ingredients: The use of Orkney peat and local water sources contributes to its unique taste.