Highland Park Dark 17 Years

Overview
Highland Park The Dark is a limited-edition 17-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from the Orkney Islands, crafted to evoke the distillery's rugged autumn and winter seasons through extended maturation in sherry-seasoned casks. Released as the first installment in a two-part Solstice series, it pairs with the lighter counterpart, The Light, to capture the contrasts of Orkney's climate.

Specs at a glance

Good to know
Distilled at Highland Park on Orkney using traditional floor malting methods, this whisky matures in first-fill European oak sherry-seasoned casks, drawing on the island's Viking heritage with a sleek black bottle embossed with a serpent dragon. It earned double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018. The release celebrates time spent indoors with family amid Orkney's fierce winds and mild temperatures.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Sherry-driven depth with peat smoke undertones, reflecting the cask influence and Orkney peat.
• Palate: Bold balance of sherry richness and subtle peat, delivering a sensory profile suited to dark evenings.
• Finish: Lingering warmth from sherry casks and peat, with structured length.

Notable details

• Production: Matured in first-fill European oak sherry-seasoned casks; non-chill filtered implied by cask strength ABV; peated using local floor maltings.
• Lineage: Highland Park Distillery, Orkney Islands; traditional methods since 1798, emphasizing Viking-inspired craftsmanship.
• Comparison: Contrasts with Highland Park The Light, its spring counterpart in the series.
• Availability: Limited to 28,000 bottles; MSRP ranged $200-380 at launch.

"Highland Park The Dark is an award-winning, balanced whisky that offers a unique sensory journey perfect for sharing on dark autumn and winter evenings." – The Whiskey Wash

Closing
A sherry-forward, peated single malt that embodies Orkney's shadowy solstice spirit for contemplative sipping.

Sources

[1] Whiskycritic – "Highland Park Launches The Dark"

[2] Adventuresinwhiskey – "Review: Highland Park The Dark Single Malt Whisky"

[3] Thewhiskeywash – "Highland Park The Dark Whisky Review: Tasting Notes & Expert Analysis"

[4] Whiskycritic – "Highland Park Launches The Dark"

[5] Adventuresinwhiskey – "Review: Highland Park The Dark Single Malt Whisky"

[6] Thewhiskeywash – "Highland Park The Dark Whisky Review: Tasting Notes & Expert Analysis"

[7] Thewhiskeywash – "Highland Park The Dark Whisky Review: Tasting Notes & Expert Analysis"

[8] Whiskycritic – "Highland Park Launches The Dark"

[9] Adventuresinwhiskey – "Review: Highland Park The Dark Single Malt Whisky"