Highland Park Whisky Distillery sits just south of Kirkwall, on Holm Road, and has made single malt whisky since 1798. A guided tour explains the distillery’s history and whisky-making, from its traditional malting floor to the whisky maturing in oak casks. Tastings are part of the experience, with different tours offering different drams. If you’re driving, ask about having your samples bottled to take away. Book a tour in advance, as access to the working distillery is by guided visit.
A working distillery since 1798
Highland Park has made whisky in Kirkwall since 1798. The distillery is about a mile south of the town centre, and the guided visit gives you a closer look at its production and history. Tours begin with an introductory film about Orkney before continuing around the site.
The distillery still malts some of its own barley on a traditional malting floor. Local peat is used to smoke the barley, and the whisky matures in oak casks seasoned with sherry. A tour connects these steps, from preparing the grain through to the finished single malt.
What you see on the tour
The malting floor is one of the details that sets the visit apart: Highland Park is among the distilleries that still use this traditional method. Tours also cover the peat kiln and the stages of whisky production. Look out for the note about the swallows during the visit, a small detail that one tour-goer particularly enjoyed.
The tour is guided, with time to ask questions about the process and the distillery’s history. The length and tasting vary by experience. One reported visit lasted an hour and 15 minutes, while a travel account describes a standard tour of about an hour.
Tastings and choosing a tour
Tastings let you sample Highland Park single malt as part of the visit. The standard tour has been described as including a dram of the 12-year-old whisky; other tours focus on more extensive tastings. The available experiences and their inclusions differ, so check the distillery’s current tour details before booking.
If you are driving, ask whether your tasting samples can be bottled to take away. This lets you enjoy them later instead of drinking at the distillery. Some tours require advance booking, and booking ahead is a sensible choice for a visit to the working site.
Getting there and finding more whisky
The distillery is south of Kirkwall centre, on Holm Road. One route description puts it at about a 20-minute walk from St Magnus Cathedral. Lynnfield, nearby, is known for a selection of more than 300 whiskies, including Highland Park and Scapa expressions. It can be a useful next stop if you want to explore more bottlings after your tour.
FAQ
Do you need to book a tour at Highland Park Distillery?
Yes. Access to the distillery is by guided tour, and some tour experiences require advance booking. Check the distillery’s current availability before you go.
How long does a Highland Park Distillery tour take?
Allow about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Tour length depends on the experience you book.
Can drivers take the whisky tasting samples away?
Ask about bottled samples for drivers. The distillery has provided small bottles of tasting samples to take away.
Where is Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall?
It is on Holm Road, south of Kirkwall town centre. One route description gives a walk of about 20 minutes from St Magnus Cathedral.
