Highland Park 12 Year Old 70cl

Honey, heathery sweetness, and a confident wisp of smoke, Highland Park 12 is the kind of single malt that makes you slow down mid-sip and pay attention. It’s from Orkney, a wild little set of islands north of mainland Scotland, and the flavour feels like it came from there, salty air, gentle peat smoke, and cozy spice all in the same glass.

If you’ve ever found Scotch either too smoky or too sweet, this is your easy win. The 12 years of ageing gives it time to pull everything together, so you get layers instead of chaos. You can drink it neat right away, but it’s also forgiving, add a small splash of water and it gets softer, brighter, and more aromatic.

• Nose: Heather honey, orange peel, vanilla, a light coastal smokiness
• Taste: Malty sweetness up front, then warming cinnamon and gentle peat, with a little dried fruit richness
• Finish: Medium-long, lightly smoky and spicy, with a lingering honeyed note

How to drink it: pour it neat in a whisky glass when you want a proper sit-down sip, or add one ice cube if you like it a touch calmer and slightly sweeter.

This is also a smart next step if your comfort zone is Glenfiddich 12 or Glenlivet 12 and you’re curious about a hint of smoke without diving straight into an Islay bonfire. You’ll still get the friendly, approachable malt character, but with more personality and a salty, island edge.

Want to mix it? You can, and it won’t disappear. Try it in an Old Fashioned with a restrained hand on the sugar, then express an orange peel over the top to pull out those citrus notes.

What makes it different is the balance, it’s not a peat monster, and it’s not a dessert dram either. The Orkney style sits right in the middle, with sweet malt, spice, and smoke all showing up without fighting for attention.

Fun Fact: Highland Park is famous for using local Orkney peat (loaded with heather), which is a big reason their smoke tastes more aromatic than medicinal.