Highland Park Dark Origins Review

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Highland Park Distillery, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation & Maturation: The whisky is matured in double first-fill sherry casks. The term "double" is speculated to mean either a second filling in a first-fill sherry cask or using double the amount of sherry casks typically used for Highland Park's standard expressions. This process aims to achieve a naturally darker, richer flavor. Highland Park Dark Origins is non-chill filtered and has an ABV of 46.8%.
Age Statement: No age statement is provided, but by law, it must be aged a minimum of three years and a day. The whisky is suggested to be younger than Highland Park's standard expressions due to recent stock scarcity.
Color & Bottle Design: The whisky has a dark, golden brown amber color, which is darker than the Highland Park 12-year-old. The bottle design features a dark figure with a beard, representing the distillery's founder, Magnus Ionsson.

Nose: A full sherry nose with hints of spice, oak, a little nuttiness, and a slight presence of alcohol, indicating youth.
Palate: The whisky feels stronger than its 46.8% ABV, with a strong spiciness from the oak and a metallic dryness associated with younger whiskies. There's a dominant oakiness, slight bitterness from the oak, combined with sherry aromas, developing dryness, and an upcoming fruitiness.
Overall: An intense, somewhat aggressive single malt with a complex balance of oak, sherry, and fruitiness.

Highland Park was originally founded as a farm distillery and still maintains its fields around the distillery. The "Dark Origins" name pays homage to the distillery's founder, Magnus Ionsson, reflecting the darker, richer flavor profile achieved through the unique maturation process.

Highland Park is one of the few distilleries that still grows its own barley, emphasizing its deep roots and connection to the Orkney Islands. The distillery's history and location contribute significantly to the whisky's identity, blending tradition with innovative maturation techniques.

"Whenever I see a black and dark bottle, I imagine there will be a very light and uncolored whiskey in it, so they have something to hide." - Luening Horst Luening, master taster of Whisky.com, on the initial skepticism towards dark bottles.
"It feels like 55% ABV, not only 46.8." - Comment on the whisky's intense strength and flavor profile.

Highland Park Dark Origins is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Orkney Islands, matured in double first-fill sherry casks for a darker, richer flavor.
The whisky has no age statement but is suggested to be younger than standard expressions due to recent stock scarcity.
It features a complex flavor profile with dominant oakiness, sherry aromas, and a developing fruitiness.
The "Dark Origins" name and bottle design pay homage to the distillery's founder, reflecting the whisky's rich history and unique maturation process.
The whisky is part of Highland Park's core range and represents a blend of tradition and innovation.

For Whisky Connoisseurs: The unique maturation process and complex flavor profile make this a must-try for those who appreciate the nuances of single malt Scotch.
For Adventurous Drinkers: The intense, somewhat aggressive flavor profile offers an exciting experience for those looking to explore beyond standard whiskies.
For Fans of Sherry-Cask Whiskies: The double first-fill sherry cask maturation provides a rich, sherry-forward taste that will appeal to enthusiasts of this style.