22 August 2024

A unique exhibition is being curated to celebrate Highland Spirits

When the Inverness Castle Experience opens in mid-2025, visitors will be invited to explore a new exhibition within the West Tower of the Castle, dedicated to celebrating the 'Spirits of the Highlands.'

This special showcase will feature a unique collection of Highland spirits, each distilled exclusively within our iconic region of Scotland. The exhibition will offer a fascinating look into the history and flavours that define the Highlands, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the rich heritage and craftsmanship of our local distillers of whiskies, gins, rums, vodkas and more.

The Castle Project Team have reached out to distilleries across the Highlands, from the smallest independent to the larger multi-brands, with an invitation to join in with this unique exhibition, asking them to share a bottle that is truly special to them and to tell us the story behind it. This includes the history, the philosophy, and what makes it stand out in their collection. It’s all about celebrating the spirit with a story that is as rich as its flavour!

This collaboration will not only enhance the visitor experience but also highlight the incredible variety and quality of Highland spirits. By sharing these spirits and their stories, visitors will be able to dive deeper into our local distilling traditions. We hope this exhibition will inspire people to venture beyond the Castle, exploring the distilleries themselves and discovering the unique communities that make the Highlands so special.

Fiona Hampton, Director of Inverness Castle & Events at High Life Highland, said, “The ‘Spirits of the Highlands’ exhibition will be a celebration of the remarkable distilling heritage that has flourished in the Highlands for centuries.”

“We are excited to partner with local distilleries to showcase the stories and spirits that have made our region so iconic. This is an opportunity to not only share our history but to invite visitors to engage more deeply with the craft that defines the Highlands.”

The Inverness Castle Experience project, opening in mid-2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.   

The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.