St. Ola (Highland Park) 21 Years Old 2004

The Macallan might be the jewel in the crown of Edrington, but a close second is Highland Park, especially after the brand investment, it has received in recent times. Established in 1798 by David Robertson on the outskirts on Kirkwall on Orkney, history suggests the site was used for illicit distillery way before this official date. In a landscape shaped by nature, ravaged by Vikings and the tides of war, Highland Park manages to bring everything together. A historical whisky that is universally appreciated, offering a little bit of something and famously called an ‘all rounder’, from locally sourced peat to a welcoming rugged characteristic. Highland Park doesn’t need the branding to stand out from the crowd. An increasingly varied core range can seem bewildering to someone new, so start with the 18 year old and being your voyage.