News, awards and what's on
Summer may be winding down, but with the (slightly) colder weather comes a flurry of exciting dispatches from the front lines of Scottish hospitality.
Johnnie Walker Princes Street has announced their ultimate whisky experience, and dinner’s being served by Douneside House, whose ever-popular Dining Club is back to tantalise palates in October.
Award nominations are flying around, with recognition for Luxury Scotland members from VisitScotland and Luxury Leisure magazine. Plus, Dunnet Bay Distillers are toasting a special milestone.
So, without further ado, let’s get on with the update...
Join the Douneside House Dining Club
Foodies, get ready: Douneside House is hosting a special Dining Club on Friday 4th October.
Expect to indulge in a mouthwatering variety of ingredients prepared by their 3 AA Rosette-awarded chef. Each dish is accompanied by a carefully selected wine, presented by the sommelier, who’ll explain why each wine is the perfect pairing.
This exclusive dining experience is limited to 14 guests, so be sure to secure your spot at the table before it goes. Douneside dining packages start from £275 per person. You can find out more at their website.
The ultimate whisky experience has landed
Johnnie Walker Princes Street is now offering the ‘Ultimate Edinburgh Whisky Experience’, an opportunity for visitors to explore both Johnnie Walker and Glenkinchie whiskies in an immersive, interactive experience.
It begins with an interactive Journey of Flavour Experience, where visitors learn about the Johnnie Walker blends and enjoy three personalised whisky cocktails. Then, it’s off to the 1820 bar for a two-course lunch with a view of Edinburgh Castle.
The next leg takes in Glenkinchie Distillery for a tour of a working distillery in action. This includes sampling some of the whisky, and trying a special 27-year-old single malt.
As a souvenir of the experience, guests can hand-fill and engrave their own bottle of whisky to take home. You can find out more on the Johnnie Walker website.
Good work, chef!
Congratulations to The Torridon’s Head Chef, Danny Young, who has been named a finalist for the National Chef of the Year competition by the Craft Guild of Chefs. This is an incredible achievement, and we wish Danny all the best for the finals in October.
Thistle do nicely!
We’re delighted to share that no fewer than four Luxury Scotland members and partners have been shortlisted in this year’s VisitScotland Regional Thistle awards.
The 3 AA Rosette Library Restaurant at Douneside House has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Eating Experience’ award at the 2024 Aberdeen City & Shire Thistle Awards.
Little’s Chauffeur Drive have been shortlisted for the ‘Innovation in Tourism’ category.
Murrayshall Country Estate and Glenapp Castle have been shortlisted in the ‘Best Hotel Experience’ category for their regions.
Congratulations to all the nominees, we’ll be keeping everything crossed for you for the finals.
The readers of Luxury Leisure Magazine have spoken
Luxury Leisure Magazine have shortlisted both Prestonfield House and Glenapp Castle in their 2024 Readers’ Travel Awards.
Both properties were shortlisted by readers, in no fewer than four categories: ‘Best Boutique Hotel’, ‘Best Hotel for Food’, ‘Best Hotel for Romance’ and ‘Best Hotel for Pets’.
This is an incredible achievement, and we’ll be keeping an eye out for the final results.
Let the celebrations be-gin!
Congratulations to the team at Dunnet Bay Distillers on the 10th anniversary of the launch of Rock Rose Gin. Join the celebration for this milestone by treating yourself to a bottle of their Smoked Orange Gin - a zesty citrus burst with a delicious smoked tea undertone - the perfect choice as we roll into autumn.
NC500 named the favourite scenic driving route in the UK
In a recent survey by Europcar, the North Coast 500 route was declared the UK's favourite driving route, with 39% of the vote. Scotland’s answer to Route 66 traverses 500 miles of the Scottish Highlands and Caithness coastline, taking in some of the country’s most awe-inspiring scenery. It’s also a great way to experience some Luxury Scotland properties, as Rocpool Reserve, Glenmorangie House and The Torridon can all be accessed from the route.