Highland Park 17 yo, Between You and I by Laila Gohar, 47.5%

Introduction

Highland Park 17 Year Old “Between You and I by Laila Gohar” is the second release in Highland Park’s creative collaboration series, where the art of whisky and the world of visual art meet in a unique dialogue. In this chapter, Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker Marc Watson has entered into an inspiring partnership with New York-based Egyptian artist Laila Gohar – known for her sensuous and poetic visual storytelling – to create a whisky that transcends the traditional and speaks directly to the imagination.

Production Method

• Ingredients: Scottish barley from the Orkney Islands, distilled at the iconic Highland Park distillery, founded in 1798 and located in Kirkwall on Orkney – one of the world’s most northerly whisky distilleries
• Distillation Process: Traditional copper pot still distillation following Highland Park’s characteristic method, which combines lightly peated malt with the distillery’s unique water and fermentation processes to achieve a complex and well-balanced spirit
• Maturation: The whiskies have been matured for a minimum of 17 years in selected bourbon casks, contributing soft, sweet notes of vanilla and fruit, along with a delicate depth and richness
• Special Techniques: Marc Watson created the whisky drawing on Laila Gohar’s artistic universe, then shared the bottles with her, and she responded with her own tasting notes. These notes inspired a series of vivid memories and associations, reinterpreted as illustrative details on the packaging – the result of a genuine conversation in taste between artist and whisky maker

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Inviting and aromatic, with distinct notes of leather, delicate orange blossom and sweet vanilla, creating a sophisticated and dreamy aromatic profile
• Palate: Rich and complex, with a well-balanced fusion of floral, fruity and spicy elements – the elegance of orange blossom meets the velvety sweetness of vanilla and the depth and character of leather nuances
• Finish: Long and warming, with lingering notes of vanilla and a soft, dry leather tone that leaves a pleasant and memorable conclusion to the tasting experience

Recommended Serving

• Serving Temperature: Room temperature, approximately 18–20°C, to best highlight the whisky’s full range of aromas and flavours
• Glass Recommendation: A tulip-shaped nosing glass or a Glencairn glass, which concentrates the aromas and showcases the nuances of the nose to best effect
• Serving Suggestions: Best enjoyed neat or with a single drop of cold spring water to open up the complex layers of flavour. The whisky can also be enjoyed over a single large ice cube, which slowly unlocks its character
• Food Pairings: Pairs beautifully with dark chocolate with orange, aged cheeses such as manchego or aged cheddar, as well as light desserts featuring vanilla and citrus notes

Product Specifications

• Alcohol Content: 47.5% ABV
• Bottle Size: 70 cl
• Country/Region of Origin: Scotland – Orkney Islands, Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall
• Certifications/Awards: Official bottling from Highland Park – part of the exclusively limited “Between You and I” series, second release

Summary

A Unique Tasting Experience

Highland Park 17 Year Old “Between You and I by Laila Gohar” is more than a whisky – it is a work of art in bottle form, where 17 years of patient maturation in bourbon casks has created an extraordinary balance of orange blossom, leather and vanilla that few whiskies can match.

As part of a strictly limited production, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a bottle that unites Highland Park’s 200-year whisky heritage with Laila Gohar’s refreshing artistic vision – a combination that exists in only a very limited number of bottles worldwide.

Highland Park is recognised as one of the world’s most respected distilleries, and this special release confirms the distillery’s ability to create whiskies that continually challenge and delight even the most seasoned whisky enthusiasts and collectors.

Recognition from Connoisseurs

Whisky lovers and art connoisseurs around the world have embraced the “Between You and I” series as a fresh and bold expression of what modern whisky culture can be when creativity and craftsmanship meet at the highest level.

When you invest in a bottle of Highland Park “Between You and I by Laila Gohar”, you enter an exclusive circle of collectors and tasting experts who understand and appreciate the interplay between artistic expression and exceptional whisky production.

The unique packaging, illustrated with Laila Gohar’s interpretations of the whisky’s tasting notes, makes the bottle a complete work of art in its own right – one that has been praised by both whisky media and art critics for its ability to unite two sensory worlds in a single, cohesive expression.

From Highland Park to You

With the “Between You and I” series, Highland Park wishes to give something truly unique back to its loyal and curious fans – an invitation to experience whisky in an entirely new and enriching way that engages all the senses and ignites the imagination.

Laila Gohar’s warm, sensuous and poetic approach to art is reflected directly in the character of the whisky, and it is precisely this authenticity that makes this collaboration so special and compelling for anyone who appreciates beauty in all its forms.

We invite you to become part of this story in taste – open the bottle, pour a glass and allow yourself to be drawn into the vivid dialogue between Marc Watson and Laila Gohar: a conversation in taste and art that is now yours to discover.