The Glenturret – Scotland’s Oldest Working Distillery – Celebrates a Spectacular Year: 31 International Awards, Distiller of the Year and The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant Opening
let’s begin
The Glenturret - Scotland’s Oldest Working Distillery, located in the heart of Crieff - celebrates an exceptional year with 31 international award wins, success at a groundbreaking Sotheby’s auction, a collaboration with the country’s most renowned hotel, Gleneagles, and becoming Scotland’s first distillery to offer fine dining, with the launch of The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant.
Since the brand’s relaunch, the distillery has doubled its team whilst retaining all members throughout the pandemic. The outstanding collection of victories and accolades accumulated over the last year is a recognition of the scale of The Glenturret’s ambition and a testament to the brand’s transformative work throughout global disruption, which has affected so many enterprises in Scotland and throughout the drinks and hospitality industries.
The Glenturret is one of the fastest developing brands in the sector by value and volume with growth of more than 200% since the acquisition by Lalique Group and entrepreneur Hansjörg Wyss. The Glenturret’s 2021 range boasted six never before released expressions featuring evolving flavours from their casks, including partnerships with Jaguar Cars and legendary Scottish hotel, Gleneagles. In addition, the ‘Still Life’ range by Lalique began with the launch of ‘Winter’, the first of four new Highland Single Malt whiskies, presented in a hand-blown decanter, limited to just 105 pieces.
The upcoming 2022 range boasts six unprecedented whiskies, alongside the launches of truly unique limited editions and the ultra-premium The Glenturret in Lalique Trinity ‘Prowess’ which follows in the footsteps of the 2020 success of ‘Provenance’.
As the brand continues to attract curious connoisseurs from the likes of China and the US. 2022 will also see the opening of the exclusive Visitor Centre Distillery Tour experience.
International Whisky and Design Awards
In the first year since its relaunch in 2021, The Glenturret accumulated 31 international awards for its whiskies, as well as significant accolades for its redesign and the remarkable team behind the renowned distillery.
In June 2021, The International Spirits Challenge judged The Glenturret’s 2020 Maiden Release of both the 10 Years Old Peat Smoked and the 12 Years Old as gold, with Triple Wood earning silver. The Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters Competition awarded gold to the Triple Wood and 10 Years Old Peat Smoked, while the 12 Years Old was honoured with the special Masters Medal. Both remotely held blind-tasting competitions recognise the most talented producers in all regions. These plaudits come in addition to the 25 international awards already earned in the months since The Glenturret’s 2020 relaunch.
Concerning the team and design, Master Distiller Bob Dalgarno and Distillery Manager Ian Renwick were recognised in the 2021 Icons of Whisky awards, with Bob winning the prestigious, ‘Master Distiller of the Year’ and Ian rewarded Highly Commended, ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. Assistant Brand Manager Gemma McColl was runner up Young Achiever in The Spirits Business Awards 2021; and the esteemed Whisky Magazine Design Awards bestowed six gold medals to the redesigned bottles of the 2020 Maiden Release, with the Triple Wood winning Best Redesign of the Year.
Concluding 2021 on a true high, the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2022 ceremony, welcoming the Scotch whisky industry’s finest saw The Glenturret attain the coveted Distiller of the Year award.
The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant Launch
In 2021, The Glenturret became Scotland’s first distillery to offer fine dining, with the launch of The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant. The heritage and shared philosophies of both Lalique and the gem of a distillery are reflected in the new gastronomic haven that was recently added to the Michelin Guide and aims to achieve its first star in 2022.
Designed by distinguished duo Green & Mingarelli, Lalique’s fourth restaurant exhibits crafted elegance, furnished with dramatic Lalique Champs Elysées chandeliers peppered within exposed centuries-old brickwork. Globally renowned Head Chef Mark Donald – who joins from Michelin-starred Number One at The Balmoral in Edinburgh – champions the exceptional Scottish produce foraged in the local terroir, fusing playful flavours reflective of his global experience. The extensive wine list – already awarded Best of Award of Excellence at the Wine Spectator Award 2021 – boasts fine wines from five continents, many from the private cellars of Lalique’s Executive Chairman Silvio Denz, transporting enthusiasts to far- flung destinations. Executive Sommelier Julien Beltzung is a finalist in the 2022 Gold Service Scholarship front of house competition.
The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant is also home to,
- The Bar – the crown jewel for whisky connoisseurs, housing Scotland’s finest whiskies taken from within and outside of The Glenturret archive. A destination in its own right, its 250 spectacular whiskies include coveted rarities such as The Glenturret 35 Year Old 1977 and a Port Ellen 18 Year Old 1979 Silent Stills Signatory
- The Lalique Afternoon Tea at The Glenturret, served in the elegant Salon – a thoughtful elevation of the traditional tea, with tableside trolley service, drink pairings, and creations by Kayleigh Turner, recent Pastry Chef of the Year at the Scottish Food & Drink Awards
To celebrate the restaurant’s opening, a unique crystal cask has been hand-crafted at the Lalique factory in Alsace. Engraved with The Glenturret crest, the cask holds ‘The Spirit of Glenturret’ – a 2-year-old liquid drawn from cask #106 which was filled the day that Silvio Denz and his business partner Hansjörg Wyss took over The Glenturret.
The Glenturret x Lalique Uaine crystal decanter auctioned at Sotheby’s inaugural ‘The Distillers One of One’ event
Another significant 2021 brand moment comes from The Glenturret and Lalique’s creation of Uaine, a unique single malt held in a jade green hand-blown crystal decanter designed by Lalique’s Creative Director, Marc Larminaux.
On 3 December 2021, Uaine was auctioned at Sotheby’s ‘The Distillers One of One’, its first biennial auction inviting the most exclusive Scotch whisky distilleries to specially produce never-to-be-repeated single malts. Each work was auctioned at Barnbougle Castle to raise funds for The Distillers’ Charity, the philanthropic arm of The Worshipful Company of Distillers, to support disadvantaged young people in Scotland.
The Glenturret’s spellbinding Uaine – meaning green in Scottish Gaelic – was among the most sought-after of the 40 lots, fetching more than 1.5 times that of its low estimate of £20,000. Influenced by a sense of place, Uaine was presented in an equally bespoke hand-sculpted display chest of white Scottish sycamore with sumptuous leather and 24ct gold detailing. The chest alone – sculpted by distinguished Scottish cabinet maker Callum Robinson, whose former partnerships include Burberry, Bentley, Vacheron Constantin and Hèrmes – took over 100 hours to craft, its finish reflecting materials that René Lalique himself may have worked with a century ago.
Continuing on brand synergies, 2021 also saw the inauguration of The Glenturret’s collaboration with Scotland’s most esteemed country hotel, Gleneagles. For the next five years, The Glenturret will produce 750 bottles per year of the very first Gleneagles single malt, celebrating the fusion of two renowned names with a shared locality and focus on exceptional quality.
The Glenturret prides itself on its family-oriented culture. Its whiskies are traditionally hand-crafted today in the same way as 1763; by the hands of expert artisans in the enchanting Perthshire countryside. The success of The Glenturret’s reimagining positions the brand amongst the industry elite. The small-batch slow-timed distillery fuses the hard-won wisdom of generations of whisky masters with the imagination of their most esteemed contemporaries to craft moments to treasure in spirit and glass.
Awards
International Wine and Spirits Competition 2020
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
London Spirits Competition 2021
Triple Wood, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
Frankfurt Trophy 2021
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Grand Gold
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
San Francisco Spirits Competition 2021
Triple Wood, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release – Double Gold
The Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters Competition 2021
Triple Wood, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release -Masters Medal
World Whiskies Awards 2021
Triple Wood, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Bronze
World Whiskies Design Awards 2021
The Glenturret Triple Wood, re-design/ re-launch – Best
The Glenturret Triple Wood, re-design/ re-launch – Gold
The Glenturret Triple Wood, Bottle Design – Gold
The Glenturret 12 Years Old, Bottle Design – Gold
The Glenturret 10 Years Old Peat Smoked, re-design/ re-launch – Gold
The Glenturret Range, Range Design – Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2021
Triple Wood, 2020 Maiden Release – Silver
10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
12 Years Old, 2020 Maiden Release – Gold
Design & Packaging: The Glenturret Range 2020 Maiden Release, re-design – Gold
New York International Spirits Competition
12 Years Old – Gold
10 Years Old Peat Smoked – Silver
12 Years Old – Single Malt Scotch of The Year
Icons of Whisky – Scotland – 2021
Master Distiller/Master Blender of The Year – Bob Dalgarno
Distillery Manager of The Year – Ian Renwick, Highly Commended
Icons of Whisky – Global – 2021
Master Distiller/Master Blender of The Year – Bob Dalgarno
Icons of Whisky – Scotland – 2022
Distiller of the Year – The Glenturret
Greg
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