Highland Park 40 Year 750ML

Highland Park 40 Year 750ML is a rare 40-year-old Orkney Island single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 47.5% ABV (95 proof) in a 750ml format. Named Best New Release of the Year at the 2009 World Whisky Awards, this expression represents one of the oldest permanent releases from a distillery renowned for its singular use of Orkney heathered peat.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.5%  |  Origin: Orkney Islands, Scotland  |  Age: 40 Years  |  Distillery: Highland Park

Production & Heritage

Highland Park sits in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, making it Scotland's northernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery. The distillery remains one of the few in Scotland to conduct traditional floor maltings on-site, hand-turning roughly 25% of its barley before kilning it over locally harvested Orkney peat from Hobbister Moor for the first eight hours, followed by 19 hours over coke. This heathered peat — unique to Orkney and used by no other distillery — imparts an aromatic smokiness quite distinct from mainland peat, registering 30–40 ppm phenols in the malt yet presenting as delicate and floral rather than aggressive. The remaining 75% of Highland Park's malt comes unpeated from Simpson's. For the 40 Year Old, four decades in oak have allowed this heathered smoke character to integrate fully with deep layers of dried fruit, spice, and chocolate, creating a whisky that Whisky Magazine described as sharing "some of the 18 Year Old's refinement but taking it into a different league."

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toffee and dark chocolate lead, followed by candied citrus peel and a gentle wave of soft peat smoke. The heathered peat gives a floral, almost honeyed quality to the smoke that sets it apart from heavily peated Islay malts.

Taste: The entry is rich with dried fruits and heather honey, building toward a spiced mid-palate of nutmeg and orange peel. Cocoa and bittersweet chocolate emerge at the peak, woven together with restrained smoky undertones that never overpower the sweetness.

Finish: Exceptionally long and warming, with lingering bitter chocolate, baking spice, and a final wisp of aromatic peat smoke. The balance between sweetness and smoke holds steady through the entire fade.

How to Drink Highland Park 40

A whisky of this age and complexity deserves to be sipped neat, ideally in a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature. A few drops of water can open additional aromatic layers, particularly the more subtle citrus and floral notes buried beneath the chocolate and smoke. Given its rarity and depth, mixing into cocktails is generally not recommended — this is a contemplative dram meant to be savored slowly.

Best For

• Gifting an experienced Scotch collector or whisky enthusiast
• Marking a major milestone — retirement, 40th birthday, or anniversary
• Adding a flagship bottle to a serious single malt collection
• Hosting a guided tasting focused on ultra-aged Island whiskies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Highland Park 40 taste like? Highland Park 40 delivers rich dried fruits and heather honey on the palate, layered with nutmeg, cocoa, spiced orange peel, and a gentle Orkney peat smoke that lingers through a very long finish.

How does Highland Park 40 compare to Glenfarclas 40? Both are prestigious 40-year-old single malts, but Highland Park's Orkney heathered peat gives it a distinctive smoky-floral character absent from the sherry-driven Glenfarclas 40. The Whiskey Wash noted that Glenfarclas 40 typically retails for roughly 75% less, making it a more accessible ultra-aged option, while Highland Park 40 scored 95/100 in that same publication.

Is Highland Park 40 good for sipping neat? Highland Park 40 is purpose-built for neat sipping, with 40 years of oak maturation creating a remarkably integrated and complex profile at a very drinkable 47.5% ABV.

Where is Highland Park 40 made? Highland Park 40 is distilled at the Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall on Scotland's Orkney Islands, the country's northernmost single malt Scotch whisky distillery. The peat used in production is sourced exclusively from Hobbister Moor on Orkney.

What foods pair well with Highland Park 40? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and toffee notes; aged Comté or Gruyère echoes the nutty, honeyed sweetness; smoked salmon mirrors the whisky's gentle peat; dried fruit and nut platters harmonize with the dried-fruit palate; and orange-scented desserts like crêpes Suzette highlight the spiced citrus character.

What sizes does Highland Park 40 come in? Highland Park 40 Year Old is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Highland Park 40 worth the price? Highland Park 40 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of single malt Scotch, reflecting four decades of aging, limited availability, and recognition including a 95/100 score from The Whiskey Wash and Best New Release at the 2009 World Whisky Awards. For collectors and serious enthusiasts, the depth and complexity justify its standing among the most prestigious aged expressions in the category.

Why Highland Park 40?

What separates Highland Park 40 from virtually every other ultra-aged single malt is the Orkney heathered peat — a raw material no other distillery in the world uses. After 40 years in oak, that heathered smoke has fully merged with layers of toffee, dark chocolate, dried fruit, and spice, yielding a whisky of remarkable harmony. Scoring 95/100 from The Whiskey Wash and winning Best New Release at the 2009 World Whisky Awards, this bottling has earned critical validation to match its pedigree. For anyone seeking a four-decade-old single malt with genuine terroir and unmistakable identity, Highland Park 40 stands in rare company.