Highland Park Launches Cask Strength: Heather

Highland Park offers “More heather than ever” in a new cask strength whisky that proudly celebrates Orkney’s aromatic heathered peat.   

Highland Park, the award-winning Orkney distillery, announces Cask Strength: Heather a limited-edition single malt crafted with 100% Orkney peat-smoked barley bottled at a cask strength of 63.6% ABV. This whisky represents the brand’s most pronounced expression yet of Orkney’s aromatic heathered peat—the unique local ingredient that gives Highland Park its different by nature flavour.  

A celebration of Orkney peat  

Highland Park’s peat is responsibly sourced from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles down the road from its distillery in Kirkwall. At this remote northern latitude, the wind is so strong that trees find it difficult to grow, but, every summer, the landscape comes alive with a purple carpet of heather. Over many millenia, this heather has infused itself into the moor resulting in peat with a unique, floral character. And when this peat is used to make Highland Park whisky, it results in something equally unique—a subtle hint of aromatic smoke that’s present in every bottle.   

Cask Strength: Heather is a proud celebration of this unique ingredient—a true flavour of Orkney that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the world. Bottled at cask strength for extra vibrancy of flavour, it’s been crafted using 100% Orkney peat-smoked barley and matured in first-fill European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks and select refill casks, for a vibrant expression of heathered smoke that beautifully balances the intense sweetness from the cask.   

The whisky is the first of Highland Park's refreshed Cask Strength releases, through which the brand will continue to explore bold expressions of its Orkney character and provenance through creative craftsmanship.  

Aromatic and Intense  

The pronounced influence of heathered peat in this release has resulted in a whisky that bursts with heady aromas and intense sherry sweetness. On the nose Cask Strength: Heather is particularly aromatic, with fragrant notes of bonfire smoke, vanilla pods and brandy butter. On the palate, it's rich and oily, with creamy marshmallow and nutty notes of macadamia, offset by peppery spice and smooth floral smokiness. The finish lingers with vanilla sweetness and perfumed smoke. Throughout, the uniquely fragrant influence of Orkney heathered peat smoke brings both warmth and balance.   

Crafted for character   

In crafting Cask Strength: Heather, Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker Marc Watson finely balanced the influence of Orkney peat-smoked barley and sherry-seasoned oak casks. The whisky’s rich sweetness comes from first-fill European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks, which have been rounded off with select refill casks for smoothness and balance. It’s been non-chill filtered and bottled at a cask strength of at 63.6% ABV and gets its natural deep amber colour directly from the cask without the use of additives.   

Inspired by heather  

The packaging design of Cask Strength: Heather puts a very heather spin on Highland Park's new visual identity, inspired by the brand’s Orkney provenance. On the box a deep purple gradient nods to the shifting colours of the heather on Hobbister Moor in summer, underlining the dynamic character of this expression.   

Product details: 

• Product name: Highland Park Cask Strength: Heather 

• ABV: 63.6% 

• Volume: 700ml 

• Recommended retail price: $80 USD  

• Colour: Deep amber, natural colour (no additives) 

• Availability: Available for purchase now via Reserve Bar; Globally available January 2026 via Highland Park's owned retail and ecommerce channels, influential premium off-trade accounts, and selected premium on-trade venues 

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: Bonfire smoke, vanilla pods, brandy butter 

• Palate: Rich and oily, with marshmallow sweetness, macadamia nuts, peppery spice and floral smoke 

• Finish: Vanilla sweetness and perfumed smoke