British actor, Gwendoline Christie, famed for her roles in Game of Thrones and Star Wars, has collaborated with Orkney’s Highland Park whisky distillery to create a short film; Orkney Stories, exploring the ‘extraordinary nature’ of the islands and the brand’s legacy there.
Christie herself is renowned for challenging norms through her work as an actor and model, creating a synergy with the award-winning island single malt, which describes itself as an ‘outlier in the whisky world’ due to its location and distinctive flavour.
In Orkney Stories, Christie learns about the heritage of the brand, discovering the heather moorland that infuses the peat below with a floral character, that in turn gives Highland Park its signature sweet and subtle smoky flavours, standing out from the heavily peated scotch category.
Christie then gets taken behind the scenes at the 225-year-old Highland Park distillery, discovering what makes the whisky so distinctive, including the distillery’s traditional floor maltings, one of only a handful left in Scotland.
She commented: “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. I have always drawn inspiration from my surroundings, and I loved delving into how Highland Park too, is deeply shaped by the setting of its Orkney home.”
Global Brand Director at Highland Park, Paul Condron, said: “We invited Gwendoline Christie to experience the magic of our Orkney Island home to celebrate our 225th Anniversary year. Through the eyes of Gwendoline, we show our special relationship with the islands and what makes our whisky so distinctive. Inspired by her spirit of creativity and drive to challenge norms; Gwendoline Christie felt like the perfect person to shape and share our story.”
Orkney Stories is now live to watch on Highland Park’s social media platforms, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and website.
