Highland Park Names Marc Watson as New Master Whisky Maker

HIGHLAND PARK MASTER WHISKY MAKER - GORDON MOTION - RETIRES AFTER 27 YEARS

MARC WATSON APPOINTED NEW MASTER WHISKY MAKER

London UK: Wednesday 9th July, 2025 – Edrington has announced that after 27 years of spearheading the innovation of Highland Park, Gordon Motion retires as Master Whisky Maker. Marc Watson will be taking over the role for the award-winning Single Malt Scotch whisky distillery, founded in Kirkwall, Orkney in 1798. 

Gordon Motion commented: “I want to thank Highland Park for being my home for close to three decades. As I reflect on those, there have been some truly special moments. From selecting 10 exceptional casks from 1968 to create landmark releases like our 56-year-old, through to playing a pivotal role in the growth of our single malt portfolio, together with introducing our first Cask Strength and Global Travel Retail releases to the world.

“It’s been a great privilege and even better fun to have been a custodian of this truly great single malt whisky. 

“I couldn’t ask for a better successor than Marc Watson to take Highland Park into the future. His attention to detail, deep knowledge and love of whisky and distilling, together with his creative flair, makes him the ideal person to become Highland Park’s next Master Whisky Maker.”

Marc Watson, the newly appointed Master Whisky Maker, graduated from Heriot-Watt with a Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling, and brings with him over 11 years of industry experience, including most recently holding the role as Master Blender for The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt since 2023. Prior to this, Marc was also recognised with the prestigious Icons of Whisky Distillery Manager of the Year award.

A passionate explorer of flavour, he has been working alongside Gordon for the past 6 months to immerse himself in Highland Park’s exceptional aged whisky stocks and its distinctively unique flavour profile. 

Marc Watson commented: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Highland Park and its different by nature approach to whisky and to life and have a huge admiration for my predecessors who have created the legacy that makes it such a special single malt Scotch Whisky. I am incredibly excited to build on the award-winning quality that Gordon has nurtured throughout his tenure, whilst also being able to bring my own creativity.”

Sherry Skies: The Farewell Whisky From Gordon MotionIn a farewell to Gordon Motion, Highland Park is releasing a limited-edition whisky to honour his legacy.

Sherry Skies is a 19-Year-Old whisky that celebrates Highland Park’s distinctive character and the combination of science and instinct that Gordon has put into every bottle of Highland Park Single Malt Whisky across his tenure. 

The whisky’s depth of sherried sweetness reflects Highland Park’s obsession with fine-tuning every detail of the casks that contribute to the flavour of its award-winning whisky. Created from six sherry seasoned casks – crafted and seasoned for Highland Park in Jerez – and three bourbon casks, Sherry Skies’ deep sherry influence brings notes of intense jammy dried fruit and sweet tannic spices, perfectly balanced with the subtle hint of aromatic smoke of Orkney heathered peat.  

Gordon Motion continues: “I’ve sampled 100,000s of casks during my 27-year career, and the nine selected for Sherry Skies deliver a unique depth of flavour - singing with the sherry sweetness that I have loved exploring and perfecting, balanced with the subtle hint of aromatic smoke of our Orkney heathered peat.  I hope this farewell dram will give people as much joy savouring it, as I had creating it.” 

Limited bottles of Highland Park Sherry Skies are available to purchase at the Highland Park Distillery and Albert Street store and via the brand website.