Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky pays homage to Magnus Eunson, who founded the distillery. During the 18th century, Eunson worked as a butcher and church official during the day, but illegally distilled and smuggled whisky at night (legend has it that on Sunday's, Eunson would hide in the pews of his church in order to avoid British tax collection agents).

Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from lightly peated barley, which is mashed and fermented before being twice distilled through Highland Park's copper-pot stills. Following distillation, the whisky is matured in double first fill sherry casks (80% first-fill sherry and 20% refill sherry, with about 60% first-fill European oak casks and 20% first-fill American oak casks used). Then, the whisky is bottled without the use of chill filtration or artificial coloring.

Highland Park Dark Origins "offers a different take on the typical Highland Park profile,"notes Bloomberg, "with more sweetness and spice layered on top of the soft smoke, and the distinctive finish Highland Park lovers look for."In addition, the whisky "represents a bold new direction for the company"(according to Drink Spirits) and is "a worthy tribute to a rebel" (according to Forbes). 

Tasting Notes

While the sherry casks provide Dark Origins with only a slightly copper-reddish color, they contribute a bold aroma of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, espresso beans, butterscotch and blackcurrant to the whisky. Notes of heathered smoke, peat, caramel, coffee cream and cocoa beans dominate the palate of Dark Origins, and lead to a finish accented by touches of sherry and vanilla.

Proof 93.6 (46.8% ABV)