Made with a Twist: Highland Park launches Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old Malt Whisky

For the first time, Highland Park have married whisky matured in oak casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja wine – 153 casks in total – with whisky matured in 70 first-fill bourbon casks. The result is TWISTED TATTOO 16 Year Old, a rich and full-bodied single malt whisky with a distinctively different character.

Tattoos are a vital part of our cultural heritage today. They tell the world who we are, without saying a word. In collaboration with Danish tattoo artist and modern day Viking Soul, Colin Dale, Highland Park created the bold design for this whisky, which celebrates the tattoo as a mark of both standing apart and being part of a tribe – just like Highland Park. Colin’s intricate design is inspired by the free-flowing Nordic knotwork found on Viking wood carvings and reflects the Norse legend of the Midgard serpent, which grew so large it twisted round the Earth to grasp its tail in its mouth.

The ‘rich and full-bodied’ single malt, with ‘notes of light heather peat and soft red fruits’, is said to have been inspired by the Viking legend of the Midgard Serpent, which twisted around the Earth to bite its own tail.

The expression combines whiskies matured in casks seasoned with Rioja wine and in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks.

Highland Park has joined forces with Skin & Bone, a studio run by Danish tattoo artist Colin Dale, to create the design featured on Twisted Tattoo’s packaging.

Dale specialises in dot-work tattooing, a freestyle, non-electric technique, and has helped to resurrect the ancient tattooing methods of the Nordic, Native American and Inuit cultures.

‘For us, Colin Dale was an ideal choice as a creative partner,’ said Jason Craig, Highland Park global brand director. ‘He is the perfect example of a modern-day Viking soul, and our partnership shows off the similarities between our crafts.

‘Tattoos are emotionally important and tell stories on the skin, much like our whisky tells the tales of our Orkney islands’ ancestry. Both arts can be traced back hundreds of years, with the traditional skills still playing a key role in the tattooing and whisky-making processes today.’

Bottled at 46.7%, Highland Park Twisted Tattoo will be sold in 70cl and 75cl bottles, depending on country. RRP of US$100 / GBP80 per bottle.

TWISTED TATTOO 16 Year Old is now available from specialist retailers around the world. Check back for updates on availiability in duty-free and travel retail stores.