The Art of Wild Harmony: Highland Park 56’s Design Story

Glass Designer Michael Rudak shares exclusive insights into the creation of Highland Park 56 Year Old's distinctive decanter. Inspired by Orkney's Standing Stones and the concept of Wild Harmony, the design represents a unique intersection of whisky heritage and artistic innovation, creating an experience that engages all senses.
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When we think about whisky and art, it’s often in abstract terms – the craft of distillation, the beauty of age-old traditions. But for Highland Park‘s latest release, this intersection becomes tangibly real through the work of Glass Designer Michael Rudak, who has created something that transcends traditional whisky packaging.

In a recent email exchange, Rudak shared with me the creative journey behind Highland Park 56 Year Old’s distinctive decanter, revealing how art and whisky can merge to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

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Evolution of a Concept

The design evolution from Highland Park 54 Year Old’s ‘birth of Orkney’ theme to the 56 Year Old’s more settled, organic forms showcases Glass Designer Michael Rudak’s concept of Wild Harmony in physical form.

“It all started with the Highland Park 54 Year Old release, which was focused on the genesis of Orkney, the creation of land, and the juxtaposition of how untamed that process is but how it creates a balanced environment,” Rudak explained. “Ultimately the concept is Wild Harmony.”

This concept of Wild Harmony evolved naturally for the 56 Year Old. “If the 54 Year Old showcases birth, then the 56 Year Old should symbolise growth,” Rudak shared. “We were inspired by how man first began to touch and shape the land, utilising its natural materials to create something harmonious from something wild.”

Nature Meets Design

The Standing Stones of Stenness played a crucial role in shaping the design. “The Standing Stones are arguably the most prominent and everlasting fingerprint of man on the island,” Rudak noted. “They’re steeped in history, and I love how they evoke a sense of strength and rawness from every angle, but at the same time they’ve been placed so considerately to evoke a sense of welcoming and unity.”

This balance between raw nature and human intervention is reflected in the decanter’s form. “It’s purposely designed to look strong and proud, but it has been softened and organically dimpled to represent warmth and elegance. Not clean cut, not perfect, but shaped from the land,” Rudak explained.

The Design Details

The decanter’s texture draws inspiration from Orkney’s defining feature – the sea. “It was important that the texture was grounded in Orkney,” Rudak told me. “Ultimately, we were inspired by the Wild Harmony of water. The ocean waves are ferocious, yet they brought people to the island. It shapes Orkney’s landscape and resources but gives life for civilizations to grow.”

The design incorporates subtle yet meaningful elements that connect to both the whisky and its heritage. “The texture is split in two halves with a fissure in the centre,” Rudak explained. “It carries forward the idea from 54 Year Old, allowing light to pass through the bottle behind the branding undisturbed giving a clean glimpse to the hidden jewel within that is the whisky.”

Even the mouth of the decanter tells part of the story: “It follows the same organic styling from the 54 Year Old release, but it’s slightly calmer and flatter. This signifies the progression of time between the two products, where the land becomes more shaped and harmonised over time.”

Art Beyond the Bottle

When discussing the intersection of his art with whisky, Rudak’s passion becomes evident. “The creation of whisky is an art in itself, and a liquid this special requires a vessel to complement that depth and complexity,” he told me. “We set out to create a design to stand the test of time and transcend what a whisky release needs to look like. Art is personal, story-led, unique, and emotional. So is this design.”

This philosophy echoes broader conversations about whisky’s role beyond mere consumption. As Rudak explains, “The art and design behind any whisky release brings a huge sense of expression. Its aim should be to give you a glimpse into the liquid story, whether that’s through colour, texture, materiality, or form. Ultimately through design you’re allowing people to experience the whisky with every sense other than taste, before they open and enjoy it.”

“The creation of whisky is an art in itself,” says Glass Designer Michael Rudak, whose decanter designs for Highland Park aim to engage all senses before the first drop is poured.

The Creative Process

The journey to the final design involved extensive experimentation. “One of my favourite moments was the experimentation phase,” Rudak shared. “I love seeing how far I can push certain ideas, whether that’s through form or texture. It’s a non-linear process that provides a lot of creative freedom and encourages me to think more deeply about the meaning behind my work.”

The design process was deeply collaborative, particularly with master craftsman John Galvin, who created the wooden presentation case. “Working with John is always amazing,” Rudak shared. “I really enjoyed discovering how we can communicate a single concept across two different elements in slightly different ways to create one harmonious product.”

This collaboration between glass design, woodcraft, and whisky making exemplifies how modern spirits can transcend their original purpose to become something more – a piece of art that tells a story, captures a moment, and creates an experience beyond the liquid itself.

In creating the Highland Park 56 Year Old decanter, Rudak and his collaborators have achieved something remarkable – a design that speaks to both heritage and innovation. The decanter doesn’t just house one of Highland Park’s oldest whiskies; it tells the story of Orkney itself through its form, texture, and symbolism. This convergence of whisky making, design, and craftsmanship demonstrates how premium spirits can transcend their liquid form to become true artistic expressions. In doing so, the Highland Park 56 Year Old becomes more than just another ultra-premium whisky release – it becomes a testament to how the worlds of art and whisky can enhance each other, creating something that appeals to all senses while respecting both tradition and innovation.

Mark Littler

Mark Littler is the owner and editor in chief of the Whiskey Wash. He is also the owner of Mark Littler LTD, a prominent whisky and antiques brokerage service in the United Kingdom. Mark is a well known voice in the whisky industry and has a regular column at Forbes.com and has a popular YouTube channel devoted to everything whisky.

Mark completed the purchase of The Whiskey Wash in late 2023.

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