Actress Gwendoline Christie Experiences the Magic of Orkney with Highland Park Whisky

Orkney-based whisky distillery, Highland Park, today announces its collaboration with British actor, Gwendoline Christie, creating a short film; Orkney Stories.

To mark nearly a quarter of a millennia of whisky making, Highland Park invited creative, Gwendoline Christie, to explore the extraordinary nature of the islands and the brand’s legacy in its island home. Gwendoline is renowned for challenging norms through her work as an actor and model, a synergy shared with award-winning single malt Highland Park, an outlier in the whisky world due to its location and distinctive flavour.

The campaign, which is Highland Park’s biggest single campaign investment to date, is directed and created by Charlie Thomas and showcases a true creative collaboration between Gwendoline, Charlie, and Highland Park. Gwendoline played an instrumental role in shaping the creative direction of the campaign, contributing to the content narrative and the props and garments involved in the shoot. 

Charlie’s impressive career of over 20 years includes the marketing and branding of companies in the fields of fashion, art and design, including roles as visual director for the Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney companies respectively.

Shot by Scottish Production Company, LS Productions, whose previous partners include Valentino and Bentley, Orkney Stories showcases Orkney’s most captivating and historic locations including Aikerness Beach and The Broch of Gurness. Locations also include Hobbister Moor; hills of breath-taking heather moorland, that infuse the peat below with an intensely floral character that’s unique to Highland Park’s flavour. 

Gwendoline spends time behind the scenes at the 225-year-old Highland Park distillery where she discovers what makes the whisky unique. Here, Gwendoline meets some of Highland Park’s whisky crafters taking part in the distillery’s traditional floor malting, where barley is turned by hand multiple times a day allowing it to fully absorb the aromatic smoke flavour produced by the peat in the kilns. Highland Park is one of only a handful of distilleries left in Scotland following this ancient process.

Charlie Thomas commented, “It was a pleasure working with Gwendoline Christie. Together, we curated a short film that truly encapsulates the magic of Orkney and expresses how these island communities and stories have crafted Highland Park into the whisky it is today. Gwendoline is a true visionary, and working directly with her to tell this story was a privilege. Highland Park is unique, not just in how the whisky has been created over the past 225 years, and its flavour, but in its story and its Orkney home. After my first visit to the islands, I was inspired, from the landscapes to the weather and the sounds of the sea spray - all of these elements completely brought this film to life.” 

Gwendoline Christie 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.”

Paul Condron, global brand director, Highland Park, 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 celebrates Highland Park’s 225th anniversary by giving the audience the chance to experience Orkney, through the eyes of Gwendoline Christie. Orkney Stories is live from Thursday 5th October to watch on Highland Park’s social media platforms, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and website, and a full social advertising campaign will be executed via Instagram, Meta, Pinterest, and YouTube globally.