Driving along a narrow, single-track road surrounded by trees shading you from the August sun it’s easy to forget your are heading for a five-star tourist attraction.
However, when eventually we arrived at the Glenturret Distillery, the supersized copper grouse in the car park was all the indication needed to tell us we had found the right place.
Nestled in the hills, the distillery is one of many which makes a single malt forming the Famous Grouse blend. While the exact number of stills which contributes to arguably Scotland’s most well-known dram is kept a secret, Glenturret is very much the home of the grouse.
The reception area features artifacts from the distillery’s past, including awards, trophies and some very special bottles which are no longer produced.
The Famous Grouse Experience starts off like almost any other tour offered by distilleries across the country and, trust me, I’ve dragged my extremely patient wife on many.
The small group of which we were part was shown all the steps to making a quality single malt whisky – from crushing the malt to fermentation and on to being aged in oak casks.
Although very much a Famous Grouse tour, much of the programme focused on the single malt industry, despite very little of Glenturret’s produce being bottled and sold as a standalone whisky.
After touring the distillery and entering the shed where the casks are filled, the Grouse portion of the tour took over with a potted history of the brand and some of the malts which go into the blend.
As it is mixed and bottled in Glasgow, there was very little to see in this respect, however our guide did a stellar job keeping even those who had been dragged along by whisky enthusiasts entertained.
It was then on to the modern extension, for want of a better word, which houses the real Famous Grouse Experience.
We were led into a darkened room and told to stand against the back wall.
Then the whole room was brought to life as part of a virtual-reality tour of Scotland which was emceed by our guide, but led by a computerised grouse.
The video documented the areas from which the water and malt come from, showed the distillery in relation to other Scottish landmarks and highlighted some of the brand’s most well-known adverts.
The whole tour was extremely hands-on, from feeling the texture of the malted barley at the start of the tour, to testing our noses to see if we had what it takes to make a master distiller – on that note, I think I’ll stick to drinking whisky.
The group was then given the choice of any of the Famous Grouse’s current range to taste – arguably the best part of any distillery tour. My wife chose the Snow Grouse, which is designed for those new to single malt and is served from the freezer, while I went to the top-of-the-range Black Grouse Alpha Edition.
The Snow Grouse was a tasty enough dram, very classic and true to the original, while the iciness took away some of the harsh alcohol. Despite this, though, my better half was still not won over.
I, however, was blown away by the smoothness of the top-dollar dram.
Having once turned my nose up at many of the classic Scottish blends, it was a pleasant surprise to taste something so complex and peaty, but without the in-your-face smokiness of, say, a Laphroaig.
We were then shown to the ample gift shop, selling everything from whisky to golf balls, and were given the chance to try the star of the show – the Glenturret 12-year-old single malt.
After getting suitably rosy-cheeked, we cleared our heads with a spot of lunch before jumping back in the car to head to our accommodation for the night.
The imposing Crieff Hydro Hotel overlooks the town of Crieff and offers stunning views for miles around.
Our room, although not exactly enormous, offered plenty of space for two with a flat-screen TV and one of the biggest hotel baths I’ve ever seen. However, it was the scenery out the window which really made it special.
We were directly above the main lawn which allowed us to spectate on games of giant chess as well as soak up the view of the Perthshire hills.
All the hotel’s leisure facilities were available to us, but we neglected to pack our swimming attire and elected for a game of snooker in the billiards room.
Dinner at the Hydro really was the highlight of our stay, though, with almost everything going perfectly.
Starting with drinks in the bar – bubbles for her; local ale for me – we were seated in the grand Meikle Restaurant having placed our order already.
I opted for terrine of pork served with chutney and oatcakes while Kirsty went for scallops – both were fresh, delicious and perfectly cooked.
For mains, my wife chose sea bass, which was served with potatoes and a rich, creamy velouté sauce, and I chose to upgrade – £12.95 – to a rib-eye steak with tomato, fries, mushrooms and a Famous Grouse – well it had to be – sauce.
Not having a sweet tooth, I opted for cheese rather than pudding and realised I had chosen wisely after tasting Kirsty’s rich, gooey chocolate creation.
It was delicious. However, one small spoonful was more than enough for me.
After taking in some live ceilidh music in the ballroom, we called it a night and headed to our room to recharge before enjoying a great cooked breakfast and travelling back to Aberdeen the following morning.
For a weekend away, a distillery tour is always a winner – even for those without an interest in our national drink.
The Famous Grouse Experience added the extra elements of entertainment to counter the same-old style of tour offered all over.
The Hydro was something special, and it was plain to see why it was packed out with couples and families looking for the perfect stay-cation.
Tickets for the Famous Grouse Experience can be booked online and start at £9.95 per adult for the basic tour which lasts about an hour up to £225 for a full-day behind-the-scenes trip.
www.thefamousgrouse.com
A night in an executive double room at the Hydro, with dinner, bed and breakfast, will cost around £225 for two adults.
www.crieffhydro.com