#27 The Scottish Dane - 2

This podcast interview features Martin Marksen, a Global Brand Ambassador for Highland Park, who provides an inside look at the distillery’s traditional and innovative practices. He explains the unique malting process on Orkney, notingthat while most grain comes from the mainland, they maintain distinctiveflavors by using local peat and floor malting. The discussion highlights the distillery's sustainability efforts, such as significantly reducing peatconsumption and experimenting with alternative fuel sources like heather and grass. Marksen also details the critical role of cask selection, pecifically emphasizing the influence of European and American sherry-seasoned oak on the final product. Additionally, the conversation explores the prestigious "Master of the Quaich" honor and the collaborative spirit found within the Scotch whisky industry. The episode concludes with a professional tasting ofspecialized releases, including a cask-strength heather-peated whisky and an experimental 16-year-old expression aged in Swedish oak