TORONTO, ON – Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its new Cask Strength Release No.4, coinciding with the distillery’s 225th Anniversary. Cask Strength Release No.4 is Highland Park in its purest form. Neither diluted nor chill-filtered, this unique expression delivers a robust and intense flavour.
The launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 sees Highland Park use a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-port casks for the first time in the series, adding aromas of toasted coconut and Turkish Delight. Matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads, and a small quantity of refill casks. These casks were all hand-selected by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion. The whisky is a naturally deep, rose gold colour driven entirely by Highland Park’s casks, without additives.
To celebrate the launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 in its 225th anniversary year, Highland Park has partnered with UK-based woodworker, Jamie Gaunt, to design a commemorative piece shaped from the oak cask staves used to mature the whisky. Inspired by both the flavours of Cask Strength Release No.4 and history of Highland Park, Gaunt’s sculpture has been on display in Orkney since summer 2023.
“The crafts of whisky production and woodworking draw many parallels. Just as I transform a piece of wood, wood has the same impact on whisky. Cask Strength Release No.4 is no different; each of the casks used in the whisky contribute to the complex flavours and aromas,” says Gaunt. “To commemorate the launch, I have transformed the staves from the casks to create a unique design inspired by Highland Park in its purest form.”
“For me, a cask strength whisky really celebrates an individual’s whisky journey, best enjoyed with your own personal level of water and ice,” adds Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker at Highland Park. “The peat from our home in Orkney gives the whisky a completely different character with aromatic heather smoke and unexpected contrasts in sweet and smoky flavours.”
Highland Park produces each Cask Strength whisky in batches, annually, which allows the Master Whisky Maker the freedom to experiment with interesting and exciting styles of casks. This year, expect aromas of crushed lemons and cedarwood, along with peat smoke. On the palate, zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge, expertly balanced with toasted oak and heather-rich peat. A long finish gives way to sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice.
The new Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.4 boasts an ABV of 64.3% and will be available in limited quantities at select locations across Canada this fall for a suggested retail price of $175.00 CDN. To find out more about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com.
Notes to Editors
About the 2023 release of Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.4
RSP: $175.00
ABV: 64.3%
Appearance: Deep, rose gold colour
Tasting notes: Cask Strength Release No.4 opens with enticing aromas of toasted coconut, driven by the ex-bourbon casks, along with crushed lemons and cedarwood; there’s a delightful hint of Turkish Delight in the aromatic peat smoke too, thanks to the influence of the ex-port casks. Intriguing flavours of zesty pink grapefruit and fragrant rose water emerge on the palate, expertly balanced by earthier suggestions of toasted oak and heather-rich peat, while the long finish reveals exotic sun-baked spices and a ribbon of liquorice running through the final breath of floral peat smoke.
