Highland Park Distillery sits on a hill overlooking Kirkwall, the main town of the Orkney Islands. This public land was long known as Rossbank Highland Park. The distillery claims to be 'the northernmost Scotch whisky distillery in the world.' Since 1798, a local distiller named Magnus Eunson had been distilling illegally here. He was described as 'Orkney's greatest and most successful private distiller,' while also being called 'a ruffian and petty thief.' He was protected by the mayor of Kirkwall, whose son took over the distillery's operations until it was forced to close in 1814. In 1813, the Rossbank Highland Park estate was enclosed and divided into several plots, and the name was changed to 'Highland Park,' although the distillery itself continued to be called Kirkwall Distillery until 1876. The plot containing the distillery was taken over by local tax officer John Robertson, who had long pursued Magnus Eunson (eventually becoming London's Commissioner of Excise). Another plot was taken by Robertson's wife, Roberta Borwick. In 1826, Borwick acquired the entire plot including the distillery and immediately obtained a distilling license. Borwick managed the distillery until his death in 1840, after which it was passed to his son George. In 1860, George, 'tired of the business,' leased the equipment to a local company. After his death in 1869, ownership of the distillery was transferred to his son, Rev. James Borwick. He publicly sold the distillery for £450, believing that owning a distillery was incompatible with his holy work. The distillery was sold to a local farmer, and then in 1876 resold to William Stuart of Miltonduff Distillery. Stuart partnered with his cousin James Mackay to improve Highland Park. The first quarter produced 19,300 gallons, and production more than doubled between 1882-1883. Glasgow agents Robertson & Baxter became its main customer. James Mackay died in 1885. William Stuart then partnered with James Grant, who became Stuart's sole partner for the next ten years. James immediately replaced the equipment with two larger stills and installed two new stills in 1897. But the prosperity of the 1890s was about to turn into depression. Between 1904-1905, Robertson & Baxter's orders dropped from 60,000 gallons to just 107 gallons. However, the distillery maintained production throughout World War I. In 1908, James Grant brought his son and daughter-in-law into the company. His son Walter Grant transformed the business into a limited company and sold it to Robertson & Baxter's sister company—Highland Distillers. The transaction was completed in 1937. In 1979, Highland Distillers began promoting Highland Park as a single malt whisky. In 1986, the distillery set up a visitor center, which was rated as a five-star attraction by the Scottish Tourist Board in 2000. The parent company's name also changed to Edrington in 1999.

Prior to her maiden voyage in September 1883, the SS Pembroke Castle called at Kirkwall. Captain Donald Currie and his distinguished guests received a warm welcome from local dignitaries, who "...broached a large bottle of the legendary old Highland Park whisky. The guests were astounded, declaring they had never tasted such an exceptional whisky; the difference from the Scotch they knew was like chalk and cheese." Twelve casks of Highland Park were subsequently shipped to Copenhagen, where "...they were served to the King of Denmark, the Tsar of Russia, and a distinguished gathering. All agreed Highland Park was the finest whisky they had ever sampled." A hogshead of 1877 Highland Park set a new auction record in Edinburgh in 1892. When Highland Distilleries acquired the Highland Park distillery, they had to purchase the "quarter-acre Kettie Maggie Quarry, deemed worthless and unworkable," to secure the distillery's water supply. The quarry's ponds feed into the production spring water, contributing unique characteristics. The Edrington Group invests £20 million annually in sherry casks for Highland Park.