Highland Park

The origins are uncertain. ScotchWhisky.com notes the competing stories of the smuggler Magnus Eunson and of the farmer David Robertson in 1798, the date on the distillery's gate, and doubts about its early names. The distillery found its feet in the late nineteenth century under William Stuart and then James Grant, formerly manager of The Glenlivet, who took full control in 1895 and expanded it. Highland Distillers took full control in 1937, and Highland Park is now part of the Edrington Group. It first appeared as a single malt in the late 1970s.

The distillery stands on Holm Road in Kirkwall, Orkney's main town; Orkney lies in the Highland region. ScotchWhisky.com explains that Orkney peat is made almost entirely of sphagnum moss and heather. It is burned in the distillery's own kiln, and the smoked malt makes up about 20% of each mash.