If you’re going to stay at a luxury resort in the Scottish Highlands, you might as well drink a whisky that matches the experience. And now you can, because the Gleneagles resort and hotel just announced a new partnership with the Glendronach distillery, and you have a chance to purchase a bottle of the first whisky collaboration now.
Gleneagles, which is located in Perthshire, opened more than a century ago in 1924. Today it operates as a high-end, five-star resort that offers many outdoor activities, including falconry, shooting, fishing, hiking, and off-road driving. The hotel, which has been featured on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, is also known for its expansive golf courses and luxury wellness centers. The Glendronach has been around for even longer, making whisky in one form or another for about 200 years. The distillery is known for its sherry cask-matured whisky, most of which is aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso barrels, releasing expressions that rival or even surpass the likes of the Macallan in many cases.
The new whisky series is called Moments from The Glorious Playground, a reference to the nickname for the area surrounding Gleneagles. It kicks off with the first of three expressions that are being bottled exclusively for Gleneagles and will be available to purchase there starting September 1. The first expression, A Moment of Reflection, which was created by master blender Rachel Barrie, is a 14-year-old single malt that was aged in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46 percent ABV. We did not get to sample the whisky, but the official tasting notes describe it as being “full-bodied and creamy,” with notes of honeyed caramel, chocolate malt, cinnamon, nutmeg, sultana, and hazelnut on the palate.
“Gleneagles and the Glendronach share a belief that the most memorable luxury experiences are defined by craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a strong sense of place,” said Adip Agrawal, VP global brand director malts and Irish at Brown-Forman, in a statement. “This collaboration brings those values together beautifully, pairing Gleneagles’ exceptional hospitality with the Glendronach’s mastery of sherry cask maturation. The result is a whisky that captures the character of the setting and the rituals that make it so special.”
Two more single malt whiskies will follow over the next two years: A Moment of Reunion in 2027 and A Moment of Celebration in 2028 (details will be revealed when they are released). 100 bottles of the first release are available to purchase now via an online ballot (SRP £160 or about $218)—you can register here, and winners will be announced on September 1.