Highland Park Between You & I 16 Year 750ML

Highland Park Between You & I 16 Year 750ML is a 16-year-old single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 48% ABV (96 proof) in a 750ml format. This limited expression marks Highland Park's first-ever use of virgin Swedish oak casks — a collaboration with Swedish Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén that bridges Orkney tradition with Scandinavian culinary craft.

Quick Facts: ABV: 48% (96 Proof)  |  Origin: Orkney Islands, Scotland  |  Age: 16 Years  |  Distillery: Highland Park

Production & Heritage

Highland Park Distillery, founded in 1798 in Kirkwall on the remote Orkney Islands, remains one of the few Scottish distilleries still practicing traditional floor malting. Between You & I matures for 16 years across a carefully balanced combination of virgin Swedish oak, sherry-seasoned American and European oak, and ex-bourbon casks — a multi-cask strategy that layers complexity while the virgin Swedish oak contributes an extra dimension of wood spice and tannic structure rarely encountered in Scotch whisky. The whisky is bottled without chill filtration and without added colour, preserving the full spectrum of flavour developed during its lengthy maturation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Opens with honey and toasted nuts, followed by heather smoke and ripe orchard fruit. A gentle oak spice emerges underneath, hinting at the virgin Swedish oak influence.

Taste: The entry is soft and malt-sweet, giving way to a mid-palate surge of dark fruit, vanilla, and caramelized oak. Orkney-style peat threads through the background — restrained but present — while warm baking spice and dried fruit build toward a rich, layered peak.

Finish: Long and warming, with persistent wood spice, gentle tannins, and a distinctive sea-breeze minerality. The honeyed malt sweetness gradually recedes, leaving dry oak and a faint wisp of smoke.

How to Drink Between You & I

At 48% ABV with no chill filtration, this single malt rewards neat sipping, though a few drops of water open up the Swedish oak's spice and bring the fruit notes forward. For cocktails, the layered wood character and moderate peat make it versatile: try it in a Rob Roy, where the dark fruit and oak spice complement sweet vermouth beautifully; in a Blood & Sand, where the honeyed malt balances cherry liqueur and orange juice; or in a Penicillin, where its heather smoke adds depth without overpowering the ginger and lemon.

Best For

• Gifting a whisky enthusiast who values rare cask finishes and limited releases
• Exploring Orkney-meets-Scandinavia terroir at a dinner party
• Adding a unique Swedish oak expression to a single malt collection
• Pairing with a multi-course meal alongside food-focused friends

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Between You & I taste like? It delivers honeyed malt and dark fruit layered with vanilla, caramelized oak, and warm baking spice, anchored by Highland Park's signature subtle Orkney peat and a distinctive sea-breeze minerality from 16 years of island maturation.

How does Between You & I compare to Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak? Both expressions lean into sherry-cask influence, but Between You & I adds virgin Swedish oak and Orkney peat smoke for a spicier, more complex profile at a higher ABV (48% vs. Macallan 12's 43%). The extra four years of maturation also give the Highland Park a deeper tannic structure and longer finish.

Is Between You & I good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 48% ABV and absence of chill filtration deliver full-bodied texture and layered flavour that reward patient, unhurried tasting, especially with a few drops of water to release the aromatic complexity.

Where is Between You & I made? It is distilled and matured at Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of mainland Scotland. The distillery has operated on the same site since 1798.

What foods pair well with Between You & I? Smoked salmon, where the whisky's peat and sea-salt notes mirror the fish; aged Comté or Gruyère, whose nutty sweetness complements the toasted-nut aroma; dark chocolate truffles, which echo the caramelized oak and dried fruit; seared duck breast with a berry reduction, matching richness to richness; and Swedish-style cured meats, a nod to the collaboration's Scandinavian roots.

What sizes does Between You & I come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 48% ABV.

Is Between You & I worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-edition single malt within Highland Park's range, justified by its 16-year age statement, unique virgin Swedish oak maturation, and the Björn Frantzén collaboration — factors that place it above core-range offerings in both complexity and collectibility.

Why Between You & I?

The defining feature here is the virgin Swedish oak — a cask type Highland Park had never used before this release. That wood adds a structural dimension of tannic grip and baking spice that sits alongside, rather than overshadows, the distillery's trademark heather-peat smoke and honeyed malt. The collaboration with Björn Frantzén, a chef with three Michelin stars, roots this whisky in a culinary philosophy of balance and ingredient quality. At 16 years old, non-chill filtered, and bottled at a robust 48% ABV, Between You & I stands as one of the more distinctive expressions in Highland Park's modern portfolio.