Edrington brand Highland Park has launched an exclusive single cask bottling for World Duty Free’s World of Whiskies stores at London Heathrow Airport.
The 14-year-old Highland Park Single Cask Edition is drawn from a 500 litre ex-sherry cask made from Spanish Oak, and only 588 bottles are available. It was filled on 25 July 2002 and placed in Warehouse 20 at Highland Park distillery in Orkney before being moved to Glasgow at the end of 2016. It was bottled at cask strength – 58.2% ABV.
A launch event was held today (5 May) during the airport’s Whisky Festival. Highland Park Senior Brand Ambassador Martin Markvardsen was on hand at the World of Whiskies store in Terminal 5 to lead tasting and educational activities, as well as a World Duty Free ‘Twitter Takeover’, where he interacted online with Highland Park fans and whisky connoisseurs.
Edrington EMEA Travel Retail Commercial Director Kasper Andersen said the release was an important step in growing Highland Park’s presence in the travel retail channel. “Differentiation and storytelling are two key pillars in our strategy to build Highland Park, and this exclusive bottling epitomises this approach,” he said. “We are delighted to collaborate with World Duty Free and Heathrow to bring Highland Park’s unique heritage to life in the World of Whiskies stores.”
Dufry Global Category Head – Liquor David de Miguel (World Duty Free is a Dufry company) commented: “World of Whiskies attracts shoppers looking for something a little different – collectors and connoisseurs who want to add something unique to their collection, or travellers looking to purchase whisky as a special gift. This Highland Park Single Cask Exclusive is ideally suited to these shoppers, offering something only available at World of Whiskies and in very limited editions, yet still relatively affordable. We are delighted to work with brand owner partners like Edrington who deliver this level of product innovation and collaboration.”
Edrington described the whisky as having aromas of ripe black cherries and rich cocoa, as well as a “delicate” mix of ginger, cinnamon and peat smoke. The palate is claimed to be spicy and long-lasting, with notes of honeycomb and peat smoke. It has a honey and peat finish.
