Highland Park 17YO Between You and I Released

Crafting a New Virgin American Oak Expression with Food Designer Lalia Gohar

Edrington-owned Orkney distillery Highland Park has announced the second release in its Between You and I collaboration series, partnering with New York-based Egyptian-American artist and food designer Lalia Gohar to present Highland Park 17 Year Old Between You and I by Lalia Gohar single malt whisky, channeling her playful, surreal, and imaginative artistic realm through the liquid.

Virgin American Oak Maturation and Flavor Profile

Bottled at 47.5% ABV in a 700ml format, this new bottling is inspired by Gohar's upbringing and Egyptian cultural background. In terms of maturation, a portion of the whisky was aged in virgin American oak casks. The whisky-making team blended these with the distillery's mature stocks to build an intricately layered character.

According to official tasting notes, the expression offers rich notes of orange blossom, warm spices, and leather, balanced by Highland Park's signature delicate aromatic peat smoke and subtle sweet undertones, bridging regional culture with personal memory.

Creative Concept and Surrealist Packaging Design

Highland Park master whisky maker Marc Watson shared that working on the Between You and I series offered a rare opportunity to delve into Gohar's personal universe and tailor a bespoke flavor profile for her. The team selected standout casks to evoke a sense of home and memories of Egypt, and he looks forward to the personal connections drinkers will make with the dram. As the first person outside the distillery to taste the creation, Gohar noted that her artistic practice revolves around reimagining objects, ingredients, and flavors to make the familiar feel unexpected, sparking curiosity and dialogue; the dram instantly conjured memories of her early years in Egypt, volcanic slopes, and Andalusian courtyards, all of which she integrated into the packaging design.

This tasting journey directly informed the packaging. The presentation case highlights Gohar's surrealist artwork, accompanied by a bespoke booklet that dispenses with conventional tasting notes in favor of imaginative literary vignettes. The Between You and I series debuted with Swedish three-Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén, and this collaboration with Gohar continues the voyage of exploring diverse cultures and personal narratives through whisky.

📅 Publication Date: 2026-09-25

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business