About Highland Park Whisky Distillery
Distillery Owner
The Edrington Group
Distillery Founded
1798
Distillery Status
Active
Distillery Capacity
2 500 000 litres
Distillery Address
Holm Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SU
Distillery Number
01856 874619
Distillery Website
www.highlandpark.co.uk
1798
David Robertson founds the distillery. The local smuggler and businessman Magnus Eunson previously operated an illicit whisky production on this site.
1816
John Robertson, an Excise Officer who arrested Magnus Eunson, takes over production.
1826
Highland Park obtains a license and the distillery is taken over by Robert Borwick.
1840
Robert´s son George Borwick takes over but the distillery deteriorates.
1869
The younger brother James Borwick inherits Highland Park and attempts to sell it as he does not consider the distillation of spirits as compatible with his priesthood.
1876
Stuart & Mackay becomes involved and improves the business by exporting to Norway and India.
1895
James Grant (of Glenlivet Distillery) buys Highland Park.
1898
James Grant expands capacity from two to four stills.
1937
Highland Distilleries buys Highland Park.
1979
Highland Distilleries invests considerably in marketing Highland Park as single malt which increases sales markedly.
1986
A visitor centre, considered one of Scotland’s finest, is opened.
1997
Two new Highland Park are launched, an 18 year old and a 25 year old.
1999
Highland Distillers are acquired by Edrington Group and William Grant & Sons.
2000
Visit Scotland awards Highland Park “Five Star Visitor Attraction”. The distillery has spent over £2 million on the visitor centre and distillery.
2005
Highland Park 30 years old is released, first in the US and in the autumn in UK.
2006
The second edition of Ambassador´s Cask, a 10 year old from 1996, is released. New packaging is introduced.
2007
The Rebus 20, a 21 year old duty free exclusive, a 38 year old and a 39 year old are released.
2008
A 40 year old and the third and fourth editions of Ambassador´s Cask are released.
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde