In an inspired fusion of dramatic talent and fine spirits, Orkney-based whisky distillery Highland Park has unveiled an intriguing collaboration with Star Wars and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie.
The result? A captivating short film that introduces viewers to the enchanting landscapes of Orkney and the rich legacy of Highland Park’s whisky craftsmanship.
Celebrating 225 years of whisky artistry, Highland Park knew it needed something extraordinary to mark the occasion. Enter famed British actor Gwendoline Christie, hailed as the perfect embodiment of Highland Park’s spirit, an outlier in the whisky world due to its remote location and distinctive flavours.
Celebrating 225 years of whisky artistry, Highland Park knew it needed something extraordinary to mark the occasion. Enter famed British actor Gwendoline Christie…
In Orkney Stories, Christie is depicted as an intrepid explorer, delving deep into the heart of Orkney’s natural wonders and the distillery’s legacy. She wanders across Hobbister Moor, where the heather moorland infuses the peat below with an intensely floral character.
This unique peat is the secret behind Highland Park’s signature sweet and subtly smoky flavour, a counterweight to traditional Highlands distilleries and the heavily peated Scotch category.
Christie also ventures behind the scenes of the 225-year-old Highland Park distillery, revealing the magic that sets it apart. From the traditional floor maltings, one of the rare few left in Scotland, to the craftsmanship that defines Highland Park’s character.
Sharing her perspective on the Orkney landscape and its influence on Highland Park Whisky, Christie says: “Orkney has a stunning landscape, which I’ve been able to explore first hand to see how the environment and communities influence the heritage, flavour, and spirit of Highland Park Whisky.”
Paul Condron, Global Brand Director at Highland Park, notes, “We invited Gwendoline Christie to experience the magic of our Orkney Island home to celebrate our 225th Anniversary year.” Christie’s spirit of creativity and her willingness to challenge norms made her the ideal storyteller to capture and convey the essence of Highland Park.
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
The Luxe Review 
In an inspired fusion of dramatic talent and fine spirits, Orkney-based whisky distillery Highland Park has unveiled an intriguing collaboration with Star Wars and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie.
The result? A captivating short film that introduces viewers to the enchanting landscapes of Orkney and the rich legacy of Highland Park’s whisky craftsmanship.
Celebrating 225 years of whisky artistry, Highland Park knew it needed something extraordinary to mark the occasion. Enter famed British actor Gwendoline Christie, hailed as the perfect embodiment of Highland Park’s spirit, an outlier in the whisky world due to its remote location and distinctive flavours.
In Orkney Stories, Christie is depicted as an intrepid explorer, delving deep into the heart of Orkney’s natural wonders and the distillery’s legacy. She wanders across Hobbister Moor, where the heather moorland infuses the peat below with an intensely floral character.
This unique peat is the secret behind Highland Park’s signature sweet and subtly smoky flavour, a counterweight to traditional Highlands distilleries and the heavily peated Scotch category.
Christie also ventures behind the scenes of the 225-year-old Highland Park distillery, revealing the magic that sets it apart. From the traditional floor maltings, one of the rare few left in Scotland, to the craftsmanship that defines Highland Park’s character.
Sharing her perspective on the Orkney landscape and its influence on Highland Park Whisky, Christie says: “Orkney has a stunning landscape, which I’ve been able to explore first hand to see how the environment and communities influence the heritage, flavour, and spirit of Highland Park Whisky.”
Paul Condron, Global Brand Director at Highland Park, notes, “We invited Gwendoline Christie to experience the magic of our Orkney Island home to celebrate our 225th Anniversary year.” Christie’s spirit of creativity and her willingness to challenge norms made her the ideal storyteller to capture and convey the essence of Highland Park.
The film is available for viewing on Highland Park’s YouTube channel and website. Highland Park 18 Years Old Single Malt is available here.
Here’s to 225 years of craftsmanship, creativity, and the indomitable spirit of Orkney.
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The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
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Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
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January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
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