Toronto, ON - Orkney based distillery, Highland Park, has introduced a cask strength edition, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 1, to its award-winning single malt Scotch whisky range.
The ‘straight from the cask’ whisky is whisky in its purest form, with no water added after maturation, giving the whisky a robust and intense flavour with a greater depth of finish.
Gordon Motion, Highland Park, master whisky maker, selected and married together predominantly sherry-seasoned American oak casks of different ages to create the whisky. His focus was to create a harmonious balance of flavour in the classic Highland Park style.
“A cask strength whisky is very much made in the traditional style, but it doesn’t have to be enjoyed that way,” says Highland Park Brand Ambassador Cameron Millar. “Its full flavour allows you to discover the taste and strength that appeals to your palate by adding ice or water.”
Nicolas Villalon, Edrington Area Manager for Eastern Canada admits, “I’ve always loved everything that Highland Park has to offer. This newest marque gives everyone who loves Highland Park, or simply cask strength whisky, the chance to experience our single malt in its purest form by bottling ‘straight from the cask.’”
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 1 is the first in a line of highly anticipated batch releases. Each batch will be crafted to share the same underlying character, but with different flavours coming to the forefront based on the cask make-up.
This cask strength expression will be available in 750mL bottles (63.3% ABV) at a suggested retail price of $129.95 and is set to hit shelves in most major markets in the coming weeks. Prices will vary by market.
To find out more visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com
Whisky Maker’s Notes: Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 1
ABV: 63.3%
Colour: Naturally warm and golden colour
Nose: Heather honey, freshly grated nutmeg
Palate: Molten toffee-log fire, sun-ripened citrus fruit
Finish: Lingering peat smoke
What is cask strength whisky?
Most whiskies are diluted with water prior to bottling to reduce the alcohol-by-volume (ABV) strength, typically to 40% or 43%. Cask strength is a term used to describe a whisky that has not had water added after its cask maturation period. Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 1 has been crafted at full strength, straight from the cask and has only been gently filtered prior to bottling.
About Highland Park, the Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul
Whisky has been distilled at Highland Park in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798. Our founder Magnus Eunson, was a direct descendant of Vikings who settled in Orkney over 1,000 years ago. A butcher and church officer by day and a bootlegger and smuggler by night, he set up an illegal whisky-making operation at a little bothy (a stone hut) at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall.
It is still the site of the distillery today and although we say Highland Park was founded in 1798, that’s actually the year the authorities finally caught up with Magnus and he finally had to go legal.
Few trees survive the gale-force winds on Orkney. This makes the island peat woodless and rich in heather. This then helps create the trademark Highland Park flavour profile of aromatic smoky peat and sweet heather honey.
About Edrington
Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, The Macallan is their central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing Single Malt category and Naked in the Blended Malt category.
Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs around 3,000 people in its companies and joint venture operations worldwide, with over 70% employed overseas. The company owns its route to market in 13 countries and operates the remainder through joint venture and third-party agreements.
About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka and Midori liqueur.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com
