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Feature
SB visits… Glenmorangie House
To get a real sense of a brand’s identity, immersion is key. So Scotch malt whisky producer Glenmorangie has launched a new experience that brings its portfolio to life – we went to the Highlands to see how it’s done.
Located on a beautiful stretch of coastline in the Scottish Highlands, deep in the Royal Burgh of Tain, the boutique LVMH-owned Glenmorangie House was revamped in 2021 as an homage to the brand’s luxurious portfolio, by renowned designer Russell Sage.
Every element of Sage’s design reflects the whisky creation process and the flavours of the brand’s single malts. From the golden-hued Morning Room inspired by fields of barley, to the Tasting Room which honours Glenmorangie’s unique water source The Tarlogie Springs.
The hotel boasts six bespoke bedrooms and three one-bedroom cottages, each of which has been decorated to jaw-dropping effect to tell a tale of Glenmorangie and its whisky expressions.
Our room, Reserve, was decorated to evoke the flavours of Glenmorangie Finest Reserve 19 Years Old, a whisky inspired by a fantasy of being shipwrecked on a desert island, laden with tropical fruits. The vision is brought to life with bold wallpaper featuring monkeys and tropical decals alongside a tiger painted inside the wardrobe, with pineapple lamp bases and prints of jungle scenes painted by the acclaimed French artist Henri Rousseau.
The purpose of our visit was to experience Glenmorangie’s new immersive experience, which brings its latest limited edition single malt, A Tale of the Forest, to life.
The brand has created the unforgettable weekend package in the setting of the nine-bedroom hotel, and is composed of a two-night stay in a standard or cottage room, with afternoon tea served on arrival and a hearty Scottish breakfast daily.
The experience naturally includes plenty of whisky, with a tour and tasting hosted at the Glenmorangie Distillery a short drive away. Here, guests can see first-hand the iconic giraffe-high stills the distillery is famous for, and explore the warehouses where the whisky rests. A tasting direct from the barrels and a stop off in the shop, which hosts a number of distillery exclusive bottlings, rounds off the distillery experience.
What follows is a guided walk in the surrounding Scottish woodland.
As we made our way through the pines on our visit, we came upon a clearing where the team hosted a tasting of the Tale of the Forest expression.
The limited edition whisky offers notes of these beautiful surroundings, with pine needles, woodland moss and juniper on the nose, and flavours of eucalyptus, mint, bitter orange and distant smoke on the palate.
Upon returning to the house, we were treated to a cocktail masterclass within the garden tepee, which is heated by an open fire, hosted by the team from Edinburgh’s acclaimed Bramble bar.
The cocktails were soaked up with a decadent five-course tasting menu with wine flights, created by head chef John Wilson, with elements inspired by the whisky and its woodland story.
On clear nights such as these, guests are invited to go outside and enjoy a hot toddy around the fire pit while taking in the stars (and hoping for a rare but not unheard of glimpse of the Northern Lights). If the weather is less favourable, there is the option of relaxing with a dram indoors beside the fire in the Buffalo Room, an atmospheric living space reflecting the time and skill involved in ageing Glenmorangie in wooden casks.
Guests can enjoy a late check-out until 1pm, which leaves plenty of time to partake in the extra activities available, including a falconry display in the gardens, or a beach-front walk down to the Cadboll Stone, which was carved by the Picts in the 8th century, and is the inspiration for the brand’s signet emblem.
Upon departure an exclusive bottle of Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is presented to take home. Ours now sits proudly on our shelf as a reminder of a beautiful weekend.
The Tale of the Forest experience is now available to book on limited dates, priced at £1,200 (US$1,461) per room for a two-night stay in a Standard Room or Cottage, inclusive of all elements outlined above.