Glenmorangie House, Scotland

Boldly beautiful, this 17th century house looking out over the stunning Moray Firth has been given a maximalist makeover, with a creative Highlands menu to match

The appeal of Glenmorangie House goes way beyond whisky. With only six bedrooms and three cottages, and warmly attentive staff who’ll soon know how you take your tea, the stay here is designed to feel more house party than hotel. The dining room has one large table, cocktails are taken together before eating, and evening entertainment in the form of music, mixology or stargazing is arranged to make the most of the company. The interiors, by designer Russell Sage, tell the story of Glenmorangie whisky with maximalist styling, sensory interpretation and more than the occasional surprise.

On the ground floor, each room represents the ingredients of whisky – the beautiful Morning Room is swathed in gold, with meadows of flowers on the walls and artwork made from barley. Upstairs, bedrooms explore Glenmorangie’s signature blends. Reserve is a desert island shipwreck, while Nectar is a French patisserie. A further three cottages behind the main house immerse guests in the whisky-making process.

On the menu

Head chef John Wilson creates Glenmorangie food pairings, dishes that are enhanced by, and in turn enhance the flavours of, each whisky.

There are all the Scottish treats you’d hope for, with rich haggis en croûte in a velvety whisky sauce. Surrounded by pristine Scottish waters you can expect fresh langoustine, lobsters and scallops, too. Your bacon, sausages and black pudding for breakfast travel just three miles from a local artisan, and some of the fruit, vegetables and herbs are picked outside the dining room window in the handsome walled garden. A project, Russell Sage’s first garden, is underway in keeping with the new-look house.

Recreate at home

Thanks to the carefully planned design and the eclectic collection of local arts and crafts, there are new details to discover wherever you turn. While the clashing colours, patterns and textures could be overwhelming at home, you might feel liberated by the more is more approach. It’s the unusual juxtapositions that make you look twice and appreciate things anew. Seating in the snug mixes traditional tartan upholstery with bright plain seat pads, antique bud vases are displayed with different seed heads and lichen like prized blooms. The giraffe is something of a mascot here – they pop up when you least expect them. Rooms from £1,347 for three nights. glenmorangie.com