Michelin star for Glenturret Lalique restaurant

This hasn't happened before! That the Macallan specialists didn't come up with it first, too! Or maybe they fell, only they didn't succeed? We will never know. What we do know, however, is that yesterday The Michelin Guide announced that a star has been awarded to the restaurant Glenturret Lalique.

The tourism sector is becoming more and more present in the Scottish distilling industry, and as a result, whisky producers are trying to attract, to an increasing degree and in the most varied way possible, no longer just whisky consumers as such, but precisely those who visit Scotland and decide to visit a distillery. So-called Visitor Centers are opening at more distilleries, existing VCs are being expanded or at least receiving a major facelift, and whiskey editions available only in distillery stores have evolved from mere tourist attractions into sought-after products by connoisseurs and collectors.

At least a few distilleries have also launched cafeterias or full-fledged restaurants on their premises. An excellent meal will be had in Glenfiddich, the restaurant in Ardbeg is famous for its cuisine, and Lindores Abbey not only offers meals, but also organizes parties, including weddings, anniversaries or birthdays.

Distillery Glenturret, which became part of the Lalique group in 2019, has set itself the goal of elevating both the distillery and its products to the super premium group. The core offerings have been refocused, old, decades-old editions have been bottled or announced, and packaging design has been completely changed. There have also been changes within the distillery itself, where an elegant restaurant, The Glenturret Lalique, has been launched - in a largely glassed-in building, overlooking the Glenturret Alembics on one side and the Turret River on the other, flowing right past the distillery. The restaurant seats 26 and offers sophisticated dishes based on Scottish tradition and local products, but dressed in the modern form you'd expect in the world's most refined establishments.

Confirmation of the bold assertions expressed here about the quality of cuisine at the Glenturret Lalique Restaurant is the awarding of the first Michelin star, which is unique in the world. To date, no locally run whisky distillery - in Scotland or around the world - has been recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Finally, a clarification - it's most likely not true that Macallan specialists didn't come up with this idea. In April 2019, shortly after the announcement of Glenturret's change of ownership, Bob Dalgarno, former Master Blender of the Macallan brand, and Ken Grier, one of the key members of the team credited with building the new £140 million Macallan distillery, joined the Glenturret/Lalique team. It is possible that they brought with them ideas that could not be implemented in the previous location.

Extremely refined tasting menu with Glenturret Lalique we are not able to offer our readers, but we can recommend looking between the shelves of the House of Whisky Online and getting acquainted with the current offer of Glenturret whisky. You will find both new editions, offered in a revised layout, as well as older and even very old editions. Please visit.


[17.02.2022 - Photo: The Michelin Guide]