Highland Park – 17 Year Old John Rae (70cl, 54.8%)

Highland Park – 17 Year Old John Rae is a whisky from Highland Park (Islands). Aged 17 years, bottled at 54.8% ABV, 70cl. Highland Park remains the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, although not by much, as it is little more than a stone’s throw from fellow Orcadian, Scapa. Accounts of the distillery’s genesis vary, and the truth is probably lost to the mists of time, but it is thought that a local farmer named David Robertson founded what we now know as Highland Park distillery in 1798, on the site of an illicit still operated by nefarious smuggler (and former priest) Magnus Eunson. Since its introduction as a single malt in the late 1970s, the distillery has been awarded many plaudits, not least of which came from the late, great whisky writer Michael Jackson, who called it “the greatest all rounder in the world of whisky”. It’s characteristic style coming from the use of Sherry casks, along with an often cited heathery sweetness imparted to the spirit by way of the distinct Orcadian peat used during the malting process. Distilled at the Highland Park distillery on Orkney, the proceeds from this release will support the restoration of the Hall of Clestrain which was John Rae’s childhood home in Orphir. This 17 year old expression was created by master whisky maker, Gordon Motion, who selected predominantly ex-bourbon & refill casks along with a smaller quantity of sherry seasoned American & European oak casks which were married together in 2019 for the final 2 years of maturation before being bottled at 54.8% ABV. Bottle Numbers: One of only 1212 bottles released