Fans of Highland Park can anticipate a new look to their familiar bottles as the brand refreshes its brand identity. With a new look for its beloved 12, 15, and 18-year-old single malt range, the brand aims to reflect the essence of its Orkney home.

Additionally, it will also be launching new packaging across the global travel retail exclusive editions of 14-, 16- and 18-year-old whiskies that tell stories of the land, sea and sky of Orkney, with packaging featuring subtle bands of color inspired by each strata.

The refreshed packaging will also have a focus on evoking Orkney's light and climate with vibrant colors, while heather-flecked labels enhance the visual connection to its flavor. The wood-grain pattern is a homage to the sherry oak casks used, with the redesigned bottle specifically allowing the whisky's natural hue to shine.

Highland Park was founded 226 years ago in Orkney, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland and has been distilled on the same site at Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798.

Orkney sits in the North Sea, at roughly the same latitude as the southern tip of Greenland, it’s a place defined not just by its natural beauty, but also the creative, resourceful spirit of the people who live there.  

For over 200 years, the distillery has remained true to its own traditions, crafting single malt whisky far from the mainland, and continues to do so into the future.

Notably, Orkney's temperate climate (thanks to the Gulf Stream) facilitates ideal whisky aging. The island's windy conditions limit tree growth, resulting in peat rich with floral heather, not woody roots. This unique peat is said to impart a subtle, aromatic and signature smoky-sweet note to Highland Park's whisky.

As part of Highland Park’s continued commitment to sustainability, the redesign will also see the new bottles contained within 100% recyclable cardboard cartons, made from FSC-certified forests!

Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This expression boasts a spicy but mellow profile with subtle smoke on the finish, and remains a great introduction to the unique warmth of Orkney heathered peat.

The 12 Year Old Highland Park achieves its well-rounded character through a blend of hand-selected, first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, which contribute spicy-sweet and warm notes. Refill casks are added to refine the robust flavors from the first-fill casks, delivering what is said to be a balanced and easy-drinking whisky.

Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This offering is said to finely balance aromatic warmth with zingy citrus notes, with a focus on flavor contrasts.

The 15 Year Old Highland Park achieves its warm vanilla notes through a blend of first-fill sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, balanced by refill casks. Bottled at 44% ABV, this reportedly gives an added layer of vibrancy to its complex flavors.

Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The 18 Year Old is said to be deep and intensely fruity but also smooth, and is the distillers’ most highly awarded whisky. 

The rich depth of the 18 Year Old Highland Park is derived from a greater use of first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak casks, contributing pronounced fruit and spice notes. These flavors are complemented by the influence from sherry-seasoned American oak and refill casks.

Travel Retail Exclusive: Highland Park Land of Orkney 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A subtly sweet and smoky whisky, this expression reportedly brings together vanilla notes with the flavour of Orkney heathered peat. It's said to be as full of contrasts as the Orkney landscape, where moors and rolling farmland meet dramatic, sea-sculpted coasts. 

The sweetness that comes from first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks take the lead in the Land of Orkney 14-year-old, with its flavour rounded out with refill casks for a smooth and balanced finish. 

Travel Retail Exclusive: Highland Park Sea of Orkney 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This whisky is touted to combine sweet smokiness with subtle spicy notes. Full of character, but wonderfully smooth, it’s named after the waters that surround Highland Park’s Orkney home.

It achieves its character through whiskies matured in first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, contributing fruit and spice, and sweet vanilla notes, respectively. Refill casks are then used to harmonise these flavors.

Travel Retail Exclusive: Highland Park Sky of Orkney 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Fashioned after long days, long nights, intense sunsets and unbelievable auroras—the Sky of Orkney brings drama and beauty in equal measure. Likewise, this whisky is said to be intensely aromatic, rich and carefully balanced.

The 18 Year Old Sky of Orkney's intense fruity and spicy character is a result of maturation in first-fill, sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks. Refill casks smooth and soften these flavors, introducing balance and a nutty element to the extended finish.

The expressions are available globally from October 2024.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team