Highland Park is not a Speyside whisky. While both Highland Park and Speyside whiskies are known for their high quality and distinct flavors, they come from different regions in Scotland and have their own unique characteristics.
Speyside whiskies are produced in the Speyside region, which is located in the northeastern part of Scotland. This region is known for its abundant supply of fresh water from the River Spey, which is used in the production of whisky. Speyside whiskies are typically known for their smoothness, fruity notes, and floral aromas. Some famous distilleries in Speyside include Glenfiddich, Macallan, and Balvenie.
On the other hand, Highland Park is a Highland distillery, despite sometimes being listed as belonging to the Islands whisky region. The Highland Park distillery is located in Kirkwall, on the Orkney Islands, which are situated off the northern coast of Scotland. The Orkney Islands are not currently a legally defined or recognized whisky region, but they have their own unique characteristics that set them apart from other regions.
Highland Park whiskies are known for their balance of flavors, combining sweet and smoky elements. The distillery uses traditional methods, including floor malting their own barley and using traditional peat for drying the malt. This gives their whiskies a distinctive smoky and peaty character, along with notes of heather, honey, and dried fruits. Highland Park whiskies often have a rich and full-bodied profile, with a hint of maritime influence from the surrounding sea.
I have had the pleasure of tasting both Speyside and Highland Park whiskies, and while they are both exceptional in their own right, they offer different flavor profiles and experiences. Speyside whiskies tend to be lighter and fruitier, while Highland Park whiskies have a more robust and smoky character.
Highland Park is not a Speyside whisky. It is a Highland distillery located on the Orkney Islands, known for its unique combination of smoky and sweet flavors. If you're a whisky enthusiast looking to explore the diverse range of Scotch whiskies, I highly recommend trying both Speyside and Highland Park expressions to appreciate the distinct characteristics of each region.