Highland Park opening new store on special day

Single malt whisky brand Highland Park marked International Viking Day with the opening of its new customer experience store in Kirkwall, Orkney.

International Viking Day is regarded as the date when our Viking ancestors would shed their winter clothes and prepare their ships for travel for the year ahead. Taking inspiration from Orkney’s Norse roots, Highland Park embarked on an adventure to open a new shop – a first for the brand.

Having welcomed over half a million visitors to Orkney during her 20 year career with Highland Park distillery and a recent recipient of the industry’s prestigious Keepers of the Quaich accolade, Patricia Retson, was enlisted to help officially open the store.

Patricia said: ‘It was an honour and a pleasure to open the new Highland Park store. I hope to see many more visitors discover Orkney and Highland Park’s exciting history.’

Inside the new Highland Park shop

Jason Craig, global brand director, Highland Park, joined Patricia to mark the occasion with a reading of a traditional Viking poem.

Jason said: ‘We’re excited to open the doors to our new shop and share even more of our world with our visitors. It felt fitting, on a day believed to be about embarking on new adventures for our Nordic ancestors, that we’ve embarked on ours.

‘We could think of no better ambassador to open our new store than Patricia. She retired from her role as Senior VP and Education Host at the Highland Park Distillery in April, having helped us create a multi award-winning visitor experience. Patricia’s commitment to the industry and passion for our rich history makes her a true modern day Viking Soul.’

As well as a retail space offering merchandise and whiskies and a tasting room. The new experience includes a gallery featuring works from local creatives. Orkney based

{hotographer and digital influencer Kendra Towns is the first to feature her collection of images inspired by the light on the islands.

Seven new members of staff have been employed with an additional four members joining the team during the summer season. There will be no plastic bags used on the premises and a new range of consumer merchandise is in development featuring materials crafted from reusable plastics.

For more information about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com