Dining

Highland Park and Gwendoline Christie join forces to toast 225 years of whisky craft

Gwendoline Christie walking through Highland Park's Distillery Cask Room

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 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.

First pour: Whisky 1901 Ledger Series is a hand-picked single cask tour of key Scottish distilleries

Premium indie bottler Whisky 1901 has expanded its portfolio with The Ledger Series, an intriguing new collection of single-cask Scotch whiskies that showcase the character, provenance and individuality of some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries.  Founded as a cask investment business, Whisky 1901 is widening its orbit with a range of carefully selected age-statement releases, each…