Highland Park releases its oldest whisky expression to date

Orkney distillery Highland Park has unveiled its oldest release to date — a 54-year-old Single Malt Scotch whisky, with just 225 bottles on sale for £39,000 each.

The rare release has been created to celebrate Highland Park’s 225th anniversary, and will be available in the UK from Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Whisky Shop from 23 February with an RRP of £39,000.

Highland Park’s oldest expression to date was originally laid down in 1968, four refill butts and six refill hogsheads were combined in February 2008 and refilled into first fill European sherry butts, where the whisky continued to mature. Since 2008, the final 14 years of maturation have taken place in ex-sherry casks.

The 225 bottles have been created by Highland Park master whisky maker Gordon Motion. He said of the new release: “Representing a quarter of Highland Park’s life, we felt it was a fitting way to mark our 225th anniversary; born and crafted in the heart of Orkney.”

The £39,000 Highland Park 54 Year Old release consists of a bespoke embossed bottle of the 54 Year Old whisky, a presentation box made of Scottish oak wood.

Each buyer will also be invited to visit Orkney for a special experience.

Boxes housing the 54-year-old expression were designed by craftsperson and designer John Galvin to represent the cliffs of Yesnaby in Orkney. the conical ‘push’ at the base is a nod to the mash tuns at the distillery. Michael Rudak, senior designer at Stoelzle Flaconnage, created the bottle housing the rare, limited edition 54 Year Old liquid.

The value of fine and rare single malt whisky rose by 21% in the year to November 2022, a report said, with volumes also up 23% driven by growth in the £100-£1,000 price bracket.

According to the inaugural Noble & Co Whisky Intelligence Fine & Rare Whisky Auction Market Report 2022, last year was one of “strong growth” in the fine and rare whisky markets, which had returned “to a positive trajectory” following the pandemic. Read more here.