Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old

Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old is a distinctive limited-edition Orkney single malt that brings together Spanish red-wine influence, first-fill bourbon casks and Highland Park’s signature aromatic peat smoke.

Released in 2019 and bottled at 46.7% ABV, Twisted Tattoo marked the first Highland Park expression to feature whisky matured in casks seasoned with Spanish Rioja wine. Those casks introduce ripe red fruit and gentle tannin, while first-fill bourbon barrels contribute vanilla, sweetness and oak spice.

Its striking serpent artwork was created in collaboration with Danish tattoo artist Colin Dale and inspired by the Norse legend of the Midgard Serpent, a creature said to have grown large enough to encircle the world and bite its own tail.

The result combines whisky, mythology and traditional tattooing in one of the most visually memorable releases within the wider Highland Park collection.

What Is Highland Park Twisted Tattoo?

Twisted Tattoo is a 16-year-old single malt Scotch whisky produced at Highland Park Distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney.

The whisky combines spirit matured in two contrasting types of cask:

Spanish Rioja wine-seasoned oak casks
First-fill ex-bourbon casks

This combination gives Twisted Tattoo a different profile from Highland Park releases built primarily around sherry-seasoned oak.

The Rioja casks contribute soft red fruit, wine sweetness and subtle tannin, while the bourbon barrels bring vanilla, honey and toasted oak. Beneath both sits the distillery’s familiar heathered peat smoke.

Key details include:

Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky
Aged for 16 years
Released in 2019
Bottled at 46.7% ABV
Presented in a 70cl bottle
Matured using Rioja-seasoned and first-fill bourbon casks
Highland Park’s first release to use Rioja-seasoned oak
Produced in Kirkwall, Orkney
Limited-edition presentation
Artwork created with tattoo artist Colin Dale
Inspired by the Norse Midgard Serpent

Twisted Tattoo remains recognisably Highland Park, but its red-wine influence takes the familiar balance of fruit, spice and smoke in a new direction.

Highland Park’s First Rioja-Cask Release

Rioja is one of Spain’s most celebrated wine regions, best known for red wines based predominantly around the Tempranillo grape.

Depending on the wine and its maturation, Rioja casks can contribute flavours including:

Red cherry
Raspberry
Plum
Red grape
Vanilla
Baking spice
Dry tannin
Toasted oak

Twisted Tattoo was the first Highland Park whisky to incorporate this type of cask into its maturation recipe.

Rather than allowing the wine to completely dominate the whisky, the Rioja influence is woven through the distillery’s existing character. Red fruit and sweetness appear alongside honeyed malt, vanilla, oak spice and soft smoke.

This balance makes the release particularly interesting for drinkers who enjoy wine-cask whisky but still want the underlying distillery character to remain clear.

The Role of First-Fill Bourbon Casks

The Rioja-seasoned oak is combined with whisky matured in first-fill bourbon casks.

A first-fill cask is being used to mature Scotch whisky for the first time after previously holding bourbon. Because the wood has not yet been repeatedly reused for Scotch, it can offer a stronger contribution of American oak character.

Typical flavours include:

Vanilla
Caramel
Coconut
Honey
Citrus
Toasted wood
Sweet spice

These notes provide a softer and sweeter foundation beneath the red fruit and tannin of the Rioja casks.

The bourbon influence is also important because it prevents the wine character from becoming overly heavy. Vanilla and honey bring roundness, while citrus and oak provide structure.

Highland Park’s Heathered Peat Smoke

Highland Park’s smoke differs from the more medicinal and maritime peat frequently associated with Islay whisky.

The distillery uses peat cut from Orkney’s Hobbister Moor, where the exposed landscape supports heather and low vegetation rather than extensive woodland.

When burned during the malting process, this peat contributes an aromatic style of smoke often described through notes such as:

Heather
Dried flowers
Earth
Gentle wood smoke
Sweet herbs
Soft resin

In Twisted Tattoo, the smoke sits beneath the red fruit and vanilla rather than dominating the whisky.

It becomes more noticeable towards the finish, leaving a gentle smoky echo after the Rioja fruit, oak and spice begin to fade.

Highland Park Twisted Tattoo Tasting Notes

Nose

Delicate heathered peat and soft red fruits rise from the glass, followed by vanilla and warming oak spice. Plum, cherry and raspberry are joined by honeyed malt and a light aromatic smokiness.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied with a velvety texture. Ripe red fruit from the Rioja-seasoned casks develops alongside vanilla, cocoa, toasted almond and sherried spice. Highland Park’s gentle heather smoke remains present beneath the fruit and oak.

Finish

Long and warming, with dried red fruit, subtle wine tannin and seasoned oak. Soft peat smoke and spice linger with a slightly resinous, aromatic character.

The Story Behind the Twisted Tattoo Name

The name refers to the serpent illustrated across the bottle and presentation box.

In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr is the Midgard Serpent, a vast creature associated with the god Loki. According to legend, it grew so large that it could surround the world and hold its own tail between its teeth.

The circular serpent became a powerful symbol of:

Continuity
Cycles
Strength
Transformation
The boundaries of the world
Destruction and renewal

This imagery suits Highland Park’s long-running connection with Orkney’s Norse heritage.

The islands were under Norse rule for centuries, and Scandinavian influence remains visible in Orcadian place names, traditions and identity.

Artwork by Colin Dale

Highland Park worked with Danish tattoo artist Colin Dale to translate the Midgard Serpent into the release’s visual design.

Dale is known for both modern tattooing and traditional hand-poked dot-work techniques. His work draws from Nordic, Inuit and Native American tattoo traditions, using patterns and symbolic imagery to tell stories through the skin.

For Twisted Tattoo, he created an intricate serpent influenced by the free-flowing knotwork found on historic Viking carvings.

The collaboration reflects a connection between tattooing and whisky making:

Both rely on established craft traditions
Both require patience and precision
Both create something intended to endure
Both can carry history, identity and personal meaning
Both continue to evolve without abandoning traditional methods

The bottle therefore does more than reference Viking imagery. Its design connects two forms of craftsmanship through a shared interest in storytelling.

Made in Orkney

Highland Park was founded in Kirkwall in 1798 and remains one of Scotland’s most northerly whisky distilleries.

Orkney’s environment plays an important role in the distillery’s identity.

The islands experience:

Strong Atlantic winds
Cool temperatures
Long winters
A maritime climate
Treeless moorland
Heather-rich peat

These conditions contribute to Highland Park’s distinctive style.

The cool climate supports steady maturation, while Orkney peat gives the whisky its aromatic and gently smoky character.

Twisted Tattoo combines this Orcadian foundation with casks linked to Spain and the United States, bringing together three different traditions within one whisky.

How Does Rioja Influence the Whisky?

Wine casks can have a considerable effect on single malt, particularly when the wine has a strong fruit and tannin profile.

Rioja-seasoned casks introduce red-fruit flavours that are less common in the more traditional sherry-and-bourbon Highland Park style.

Twisted Tattoo may reveal:

Red cherry
Raspberry
Plum
Red grape
Cranberry
Dried fruit
Wine tannin

These flavours combine particularly well with Highland Park’s heather smoke.

The fruit provides brightness and sweetness, while the peat and oak keep the whisky from becoming overly soft or wine-led.

The result is richer than a bourbon-cask Highland Park but generally fresher and more red-fruit focused than a heavily sherried expression.

Rioja Casks Compared with Sherry Casks

Highland Park is particularly associated with sherry-seasoned oak, so Twisted Tattoo provides an interesting comparison.

Rioja-Seasoned Casks

These can introduce:

Fresh red berries
Plum and cherry
Red grape
Wine tannin
Vanilla
Dry spice

Sherry-Seasoned Casks

These more commonly contribute:

Raisins
Figs
Dates
Orange peel
Chocolate
Roasted nuts
Rich baking spice

Rioja influence tends to feel brighter and more fruit-led, while Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks often produce darker dried-fruit flavours.

Twisted Tattoo retains some of Highland Park’s familiar richness, but its red-wine character gives it a recognisably different personality.

How to Serve Highland Park Twisted Tattoo

Twisted Tattoo is best explored neat before water or ice is introduced.

Neat

Pour a measure into a tulip-shaped whisky glass and allow it to rest for several minutes.

This gives the alcohol time to settle and allows the red fruit, vanilla and smoke to separate.

With Water

Add a few drops of still water after the first taste.

Water can bring forward:

Softer berries
Vanilla
Honey
Citrus
Aromatic peat

Add water gradually rather than immediately reducing the whisky to a much lower strength.

Over Ice

A large cube can create a slower and cooler serve, although colder temperatures may initially reduce some of the whisky’s aroma.

As the ice melts, the Rioja fruit and vanilla can become softer while the oak and smoke remain in the finish.

Food Pairings

The whisky’s combination of red fruit, smoke, vanilla and spice makes it suitable for several food pairings.

Good choices include:

Dark chocolate
Chocolate-covered almonds
Mature cheddar
Smoked cheese
Charcuterie
Roast duck
Venison
Berry desserts
Plum tart
Fruit cake
Roasted nuts

Dark chocolate highlights the cocoa and red-fruit notes, while smoked meat and cheese complement the heathered peat.

Berry-led desserts connect directly with the Rioja influence without overwhelming the whisky’s subtler oak and smoke.

Is Twisted Tattoo Collectable?

Twisted Tattoo has several qualities that appeal to collectors.

It was:

Released as a limited edition
Bottled in 2019
Highland Park’s first Rioja-cask expression
Created with a recognised tattoo artist
Presented with distinctive serpent artwork
Given a clear 16-year age statement
Bottled at a relatively high 46.7% ABV
Based on a cask recipe outside the core range

Its appeal therefore extends beyond its packaging.

The whisky marks a specific point in Highland Park’s experimentation with wine-seasoned casks, while the Colin Dale artwork gives it an identity that is immediately recognisable on display.

It remains a bottle designed to be opened and enjoyed, but its limited-edition status and unusual maturation also give it lasting collectable interest.

Explore More Highland Park Whisky at HTFW

HTFW offers an extensive selection of Highland Park whisky, from approachable core releases to limited editions, older vintages and rare single casks.

Highland Park 15 Year Old

Highland Park 15 Year Old provides a rich and complex interpretation of the distillery’s traditional house style.

Crème brûlée, heather honey, cinnamon, fruit and aromatic smoke make it a useful comparison with the red-wine influence of Twisted Tattoo.

Highland Park 16 Year Old Wings of the Eagle

Highland Park 16 Year Old Wings of the Eagle shares the same age statement but follows a more traditional sherry-led route.

Matured in sherry-seasoned European oak, it combines dried fig, apricot, nutmeg, marzipan and Highland Park’s heathered peat smoke.

Tasting the two side by side shows how Rioja and sherry casks shape the same Orcadian spirit differently.

Highland Park 16 Year Old Between You & I

Highland Park 16 Year Old Björn Frantzén Between You & I is another limited 16-year-old expression.

Created in collaboration with chef Björn Frantzén and bottled at 48% ABV, it offers citrus, honey, spice and balanced oak in a premium presentation.

Highland Park 18 Year Old

Highland Park 18 Year Old is one of the distillery’s most established aged releases.

It combines cherries, dark chocolate, toffee, marzipan, oak spice and aromatic peat smoke, providing a deeper and more mature interpretation of the classic Highland Park profile.

Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride

Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride offers another presentation of the highly regarded 18-year-old single malt.

Rich fruit, honey, chocolate, oak and soft smoke make it a natural progression for anyone who enjoys Twisted Tattoo’s balance of sweetness and peat.

Highland Park Dragon Legend

Highland Park Dragon Legend places greater emphasis on Highland Park’s aromatic peat smoke.

Inspired by Norse mythology, it provides a bolder and smokier alternative while retaining honeyed sweetness and spice.

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2 presents the distillery’s character at a powerful 63.9% ABV.

It is a suitable choice for drinkers looking for greater intensity, texture and control over dilution.

The complete selection can be found through the Highland Park range at HTFW.

Twisted Tattoo Compared with Other Highland Park Releases

Choose Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old for red berries, Rioja influence, vanilla, tattoo art and gentle heather smoke.

Choose Wings of the Eagle 16 Year Old for dried fruit, sherry-seasoned oak, marzipan and a more traditional Highland Park profile.

Choose Highland Park 15 Year Old for crème brûlée, honey, cinnamon and balanced smoke.

Choose Highland Park 18 Year Old for deeper cherry, dark chocolate, toffee and mature oak.

Choose Dragon Legend for a more peat-forward and powerful expression.

Choose Cask Strength Release No. 2 for maximum intensity and the freedom to add water to taste.

Why Highland Park Twisted Tattoo Stands Out

Twisted Tattoo offers:

A 16-year age statement
Bottling at 46.7% ABV
Highland Park’s first use of Rioja-seasoned casks
First-fill bourbon-cask influence
Ripe red fruit and soft wine tannin
Vanilla, cocoa and toasted almond
Highland Park’s signature heathered peat
Artwork created by Colin Dale
Inspiration from the Midgard Serpent
A strong connection with Orkney’s Norse heritage
Limited-edition collectable presentation
A distinct alternative to the distillery’s sherry-led releases

Few Highland Park bottlings combine such a recognisable visual identity with a genuinely different cask recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Highland Park Twisted Tattoo?

It carries a 16-year age statement.

How strong is it?

It is bottled at 46.7% ABV.

What size is the bottle?

The bottle contains 70cl.

When was it released?

Twisted Tattoo was released in 2019.

What casks were used?

It combines whisky matured in Spanish Rioja wine-seasoned casks and first-fill bourbon casks.

Why is the whisky called Twisted Tattoo?

The name refers to the tattoo-inspired image of the Midgard Serpent twisting around the world and biting its own tail.

Who designed the artwork?

The serpent design was created in collaboration with Danish tattoo artist Colin Dale.

Is Twisted Tattoo smoky?

Yes, but the smoke is lighter and more aromatic than many heavily peated Islay whiskies. It has the heathered peat character associated with Highland Park.

What does it taste like?

Its profile combines red cherry, plum and raspberry with vanilla, cocoa, toasted almond, oak spice and soft peat smoke.

Is it a limited edition?

Yes. It was released as a limited-edition Highland Park bottling with dedicated artwork and packaging.

Final Thoughts

Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old brings together three distinctive traditions: Orcadian whisky making, Spanish Rioja wine and Nordic-inspired tattoo art.

The Rioja-seasoned casks introduce ripe red fruit and gentle tannin, while first-fill bourbon barrels add vanilla, sweetness and toasted oak. Highland Park’s fragrant heathered peat runs beneath both, ensuring that the whisky remains firmly connected to its Orkney origins.

Colin Dale’s Midgard Serpent artwork gives the bottle immediate visual impact, but Twisted Tattoo offers more than collectable packaging. Its status as Highland Park’s first Rioja-cask release makes it an important and genuinely distinctive chapter in the distillery’s modern history.

For drinkers who enjoy wine-cask single malt, balanced peat or unusual Highland Park releases, it provides a rich and memorable alternative to the distillery’s better-known sherry-led whiskies.

Shop Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky at HTFW.