Highland Park first brought scotch fans into the dark, and now its bringing them into the Light. The Orkney Islands-based scotch recently unveiled its newest expression, The Light.
This limited-edition, 17-year-old single-malt Scotch whisky was inspired by summer on the islands, where days last close to 20 hours — a dramatic contrast to winter. While the climate is mild, the winds are so strong that very few trees survive. This creates the aromatic peat — woodless but rich in heather — that, when used to dry the malt, gives Highland Park whisky its signature flavor.
Matured in refill American oak casks, The Light follows the 2017 release of The Dark, which was aged exclusively in first-fill European oak sherry casks. Just 4,500 bottles will be available in the USA.
“In both The Light and The Dark, we share the story of the noble Viking warriors who are our ancestors, of our contrasting island seasons and of the intense balance of our whisky,” says Jason R. Craig, brand director at Highland Park. “Our award-winning whiskies deliver flavors of smoky sweetness that’s the product of our climate and our craftsmanship — our own continuous cycle.”
Presented in a pale-green bespoke glass, the decoration on the bottle and oak cradle of The Light complements that of The Dark. The serpent dragon embossed on the front takes its inspiration from Viking stories, while “The Light” is written in runes on the creature’s tail and embossed on the oak cradle in a nod to the distillery’s Nordic ancestry.
Highland Park The Light is available from specialty spirits retailers nationally for $300.
