Highland Park has unveiled its new Cask Strength Release No.4 ahead of the Orkney-based distillery’s 225th anniversary in September.
Neither diluted nor chill-filtered, Cask Strength Release No.4 (RSP £80) delivers a robust and intense flavour and will be available with an ABV of 64.3% from the end of June in the UK from The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Amathus, and Master of Malt.
The launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 sees Highland Park bring a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-port casks to the series for the first time, adding aromas of toasted coconut and Turkish Delight. The whisky is matured predominantly in first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads and a small quantity of refill casks – all hand selected by Gordon Motion, Master Whisky Maker.
Gordon Motion commented: “For me, a cask strength whisky really celebrates an individual’s whisky journey, best enjoyed with your own personal level of water and ice added. The peat from our home in Orkney gives the whisky a completely different character with aromatic heather smoke and unexpected contrasts in sweet and smoky flavours.”
To celebrate the launch of Cask Strength Release No.4 in the brand’s 225th anniversary year, Highland Park has partnered with woodworker Jamie Gaunt to design a commemorative art piece, shaped from the oak cask staves used to mature the whisky. Inspired by both the flavours of Cask Strength Release No.4 and history of Highland Park, Gaunt’s sculpture will be on display in Orkney from summer 2023.
