The Highland Park Midsummer Social was a party to celebrate the summer solstice, drink some fine whisky and hold a torch in a makeshift bothy. As you do when you’re in Hackney.
Hackney kicked off its shoes last week for a Highland Park ‘Midsummer Social’ shindig at the Dalston Roof Park.
Hosts Highland Park, the Orkney single malt with Viking soul, turned it into a tasting like no other with fabulously decadent cocktails – Smoked Old Fashioned anyone? Folk music was provided by Lottie Mullan and, with the Orkney single malt flowing freely, it was down to some serious tasting.
I’ve never seen anyone ‘weld’ a cocktail before.
A makeshift ‘bothy’ had been thoughtfully erected on the roof so, with torches in hand, we took turns to huddle around and listen to brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen who skillfully took us through the Highland Park 12 and 18 year old single malts and then something special called Ice. Some 17 years in the making.
“Is this a dram I see before me?”
Only 718 miles from London, Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands knocks out some extremely good whisky and when better to celebrate this than the summer solstice.
Yes, yes I know it’s from Orkney but where’s the bloody booze then?
Highland Park is proud of both its Viking heritage and Nordic influences and as such they are a band apart. The evening weather was glorious (it rained heavily in the day) and the location afforded spectacular views across the city.
Decent sliders stopped people falling over
And if you’re worried about all that drinking on an empty stomach then have no fear as Root and Bone were on hand to produce fantastic beef brisket sliders, salmon on rye crackers and a host of other goodies all things Nordic and north of the border – which were the choice of the discerning media glitterati present.
Even Sid Snot turned up for a wee dram…
