Highland Park is one of those distilleries that sits in the back of your mind whenever someone asks about island single malts. Based up in Orkney, they've been quietly turning out brilliant whisky for generations, and this 16 Year Old — the "Between You and I" bottling created in collaboration with chef Björn Frantzén — is a proper statement piece. At £152, it's not an impulse buy, but it's the kind of bottle that earns its place on a shelf.
What drew me to this release is the story behind it. Björn Frantzén runs one of Stockholm's most celebrated restaurants, and when a chef of that calibre gets involved in selecting a whisky, you pay attention. This is a 16-year-old expression bottled at 44.5% ABV — slightly above the standard 40-43% you see on a lot of Highland Park's core range, which tells me they wanted to preserve more character without pushing it into cask-strength territory. That's a sweet spot I appreciate. Enough punch to carry complexity, enough restraint to make it approachable.
Sixteen years is a meaningful age statement. At that point, the spirit has had real time to interact with oak, and Highland Park's use of sherry-seasoned casks in their maturation programme tends to show itself clearly. The island character — that gentle thread of peat smoke Highland Park is known for — should be well integrated at this age rather than dominating. Think of it as seasoning rather than the main course.
What to Expect
If you've had Highland Park 12 and enjoyed it, this is its more composed, more confident older sibling. The extra four years of maturation and the careful cask selection for this collaboration bottling should deliver a richer, more layered drinking experience. The 44.5% ABV means you can drink it neat without it feeling thin, but a few drops of water will open it up nicely if that's your preference. This is an island whisky with manners — it knows how to dress up without losing its identity.
The Frantzén connection isn't just marketing either. When a chef whose career is built on understanding flavour profiles selects a cask or a vatting, there's a sensibility at work that goes beyond the usual celebrity endorsement. I respect that.
The Verdict
At 8.5 out of 10, the Highland Park 16 Between You and I earns its score through a combination of pedigree, thoughtful bottling strength, and genuine collaboration. The £152 price point puts it in competition with some serious whisky, but Highland Park's track record at this age range is strong, and the Frantzén partnership adds a layer of curation you don't always get. It's not cheap, but it's not trying to be. This is a considered whisky for considered drinking.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn glass at room temperature. Give it five minutes to breathe after pouring — sixteen-year-old whisky benefits from a little air. If you want to add water, do it sparingly: a quarter teaspoon at most. And if you're feeling adventurous, try it alongside a rich starter course — smoked salmon, aged cheese, something with umami. Given the Frantzén connection, this whisky was practically made to sit alongside food.
