FOOD : The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Glenturret Distillery

What does a luxury brand and a whisky distillery have in common? Any guesses?? …. a fine dining restaurant in the heart of Perthshire, Scotland; that’s what.

Luxury brand, Lalique bought into The Glenturret, a Speyside whisky, Scotland’s oldest working distillery recently and as a partner has invested millions of pounds in the making of scotch but also in the creation of an exquisite restaurant, bar and lounge that will provide indulgent Afternoon Teas, eclectic and seasonal bar food and a fine dining experience headed up by Chef Mark Donald.

REVIEW - THE GLENTURRET WHISKY DISTILLERY, LALIQUE BAR MENU

Located at the heart of The Glenturret whisky distillery, nestled at the foot of the rolling hills of Crieff and alongside the River Turret, guests will enjoy world-class gastronomy and hospitality in the idyllic Perthshire countryside.

Available for dinner five nights a week, the seasonal and contemporary multi-course tasting menu offered at The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant has been created by Mark and his team to highlight the exceptional Scottish produce sourced and foraged in the local terroir. Diners will be taken on a culinary journey guided by a sense of place and introduced to unique and playful flavour combinations reflective of Mark’s global experience.

The elegant design and decoration were inspired by place and history: centuries old brick work is left exposed and the blues and reds from The Glenturret and Murray clan tartans combine with soft golden barley tones to create an ambience of crafted elegance. Two Lalique Champs Elysées chandeliers decorate the restaurant, as well as barley motifs crafted from Lalique crystal adorning polished oak doors and the beautiful tartan furniture; guests will eat and drink from bespoke Lalique glass and tableware.

Alongside an extensive fine wine list, a spectacular Whisky Bar will offer more than 250 spectacular whiskies to try by the dram or as part of a flight; just perfect after a distillery tour or for a final dram after a whisky tasting.

I was here on a press trip with Scott from BluBlazerGuy and Emma from FoodieExplorers (hence the three whisky cocktails!)

After a tour of the distillery, we were shown to the Glenturret Lalique Restaurant. The lounge and bar area are open and serving guests, whilst the fine dining is set to open later this week.

We started our Whisky Experience off with a GlenFizz (£16.00) - a delightful cocktail using the Glenturret Triple Wood and Bourgoin Verjus (non-alcoholic grape juice). This was sublime and so refreshing.

Focusing on Scottish produce, gorgeous plump Oysters (£6.00) from Orkney where the first gems to come out the kitchen - one au natural and one with a Kipper Vinaigrette.

The bar menu is concise and perfectly formed offering a range of small snack delights to full on hot bar lunches.

Our host ordered a selection of the snacks for us including possibly the best cashew nuts (£3.50) I’ve ever had the pleasure of nibbling on; large briny juicy Gordal olives (£3.50), a selection of pickled vegetables (£4.50) (the mini beets were splendid quarters that married tang and crunchy wonderfully) and a large box of bread (£5.50) made from the barley used in Glenturret whisky.

I was the meat n chips gal on this outing and chose the Beef Short Rib, charred cabbage and shitake mushrooms (£18.00) and a side of Salt n Malt Fries (£6.00)

Four slabs of succulent beef adorned my plate. The beef short rib came with a layer of unctuous fat that really enhanced the beef and alongside the mushrooms and a great jus, this dish was umami heaven. Chips were gorgeous and notably enjoyed by my two fellow bloggers too.

This Loch Etive Sea Trout with carrot and mussel (£16.00) dish was like a seasonal carpet of summer flavours. The fish was flaky with a crispy skin and the side salad (£6.00) was a lovely fresh accompaniment.

The Orkney Scallop with gooseberry, girolle and roast pork butter (£16.00) was my other choice (as you know I find it hard to see past Scottish Scallops). The presentation of this dish is absolutely wonderful and a dish that you only want to take photographs of as it’s way to pretty to eat. Alas that thought didn’t last long.

Two choices for dessert - cheese or chocolate. Maracaibo 65% Chocolate and Malted Barley (£14.00) was stunning. Shards of chocolate awash with the flavour of malt.

Artisan Cheese Plate was good with a nice mix of blue, goat, cheddar and brie.

We tucked into a sensational bottle of Sauternes; a 2015 La Chapelle de Lafaurie-Peyrague. Elegant and soft with a medium intensity, this wine has hints of banana, pineapple, vanilla and honey. Although a sweet dessert wine, the sweetness doesn’t overpower allowing you to quaff several glasses.

Onto the final leg of our visit, the whisky tasting. We sampled three Glenturret whiskies - the 10yo Peat Smoked, the 12yo and the 15yo.

After an expertly tutored tasting, taking us through the three whiskies, we were left to decide which one was our favourite. The 10yo Peat Smoked surprised me and I’m giving this my whisky star. I found it slightly sweeter than the other two with gorgeous notes of campfire, smoke and a hint of wood.

The Glenturret Distillery is certainly putting themselves on the map. They are working hard at prolonging the guest visit, allowing guests to linger longer and really building on a truly Scottish experience.

Most distilleries have a small cafe attached, where, if you are lucky you can purchase a coffee and a slice of cake whilst your other half or partner peruses the shop in search of a momento or a distillery edition whisky. Here at Glenturret, you can most certainly while away hours with a distillery tour, lunch, a whisky tasting, afternoon tea and then return that evening for fine dining.

I am so looking forward to enjoying the tasting menu here because if the bar menu is anything to go by, I know the fine dining aspect is going to be sublime.

The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant opens its doors on 28 July 2021.

In addition to The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, there’s also the Glenturret Café for light refreshments.

The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, The Glenturret Distillery. www.theglenturret.com

My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10

I was invited by The Glenturret Lalique to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.