Highland Park unveils animal-inspired GTR range

Edrington-owned Highland Park has released a new range of Scotch whiskies in global travel retail, which pay homage to animals from Viking culture.

Highland Park’s new travel retail range takes inspiration from iconic animals in Viking culture

The series reintroduces age statements, new packaging and bottle designs to bring the expressions in line with the brand’s domestic range.

The collection comprises no-age-statement Spirit of the Bear, 14-year-old Loyalty of the Wolf, 16-year-old Wings of the Eagle and 18-year-old Viking Pride Travel Edition.

Packaged in a one-litre bottle, Spirit of the Bear (40% abv) has been matured in Sherry-seasoned American oak casks. It has notes of smoky peat, root ginger, freshly grated nutmeg and sweet vanilla pods. It is priced at €50.

Loyalty of the Wolf (42.3% abv) is described as a “sweet and complex” whisky and has been matured in a combination of Sherry-seasoned American oak casks and ex-Bourbon casks. It has an RRP of €65.

Meanwhile, the “spicy and elegant” Wings of the Eagle (44.5% abv) is matured in both sherry-Seasoned European and American oak casks. It is priced at €90.

Viking Pride Travel Edition (46% abv) is the “pinnacle” of the range and matured in Sherry-seasoned European oak casks. It has “rich, dark chocolate” and “heather honey” notes and has an RRP of €110.

Jason Craig, brand director, Highland Park, said: “The new travel retail-exclusive Highland Park collection marks a major step for the brand as we look to deliver new innovations and explore new flavour profiles for whisky drinkers around the world.”

Igor Boyadjian, managing director, Edrington Global Travel Retail: “The new travel retail exclusive collection delivers a step-change in range navigation through a number of premium cues, which allow consumers to understand the different character of each whisky whilst offering a strong storytelling proposition and on-shelf presence.”

Each expression is already available in European travel retail, apart from Viking Pride Travel Edition which will launch later in the summer. The range will be available in major Asian and Middle Eastern airports from September 2018 and in the Americas from December 2018.