Orkney spirit takes to the sky

Highland Park single malt whisky is sponsoring two aircraft in the fleet of Loganair, the airline that serves the Scottish islands.

Two Islander aircraft will carry branding for Highland Park - which is made in Orkney - and the strap "the best spirit in the world".

Distributor Maxxium UK claimed it was the first branding of its kind for a Scotch whisky company.

One of the routes served by the planes will be Westray to Papa Westray, the world's shortest scheduled airline service with a flight time of two minutes.

First-time passengers on the journey will receive a complimentary miniature of Highland ark and a certificate to mark their trip.

Gordon Muir, senior brand manager, said the deal had been

chosen because "the islands are central to our identity and to our whisky".

He added: "The peat that we cut from our own moor and use to malt our barley, the sea spray that drifts over the islands, and the cool, consistent climate all play a critical role in the flavour of Highland Park."