I had an ultimate whisky weekend in a Scottish castle - it was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience
An exclusive-use Scottish castle is opening its doors for food and drink themed weekends. Rosalind Erskine visited this summer for a whisky-fuelled stay.
If you think of an ideal place to stay in Scotland for a holiday, you might picture a castle complete with turrets, terraces and sprawling grounds. This is exactly what greets guests when arriving at Rothes Glen, an historic former home and hotel located just outside of Rothes in Speyside.
Being Scotland’s most prolific whisky region, it makes perfect sense that this beautifully restored castle is open to exclusive use bookings and regular experience weekends including the ‘ultimate whisky weekend’ which is what I was up north to experience over midsummer in June.
Owned by Damian Riley-Smith and his wife Pippa, Rothes Glen has been a passion project for Mr Riley-Smith who owns Paragraph publishing who produce, among other titles, Whisky Magazine. There has been a property on the site of Rothes Glen since the 1870s but it was in 1893 when Charles Doig, known for designing the Doig ventilator ‘pagoda’ on whisky distilleries, designed and built Rothes Glen as it stands today.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Mr Riley-Smith during a tour of the castle. “My family used to go to the west coast of Scotland, to the island of Jura. They had a lovely big house like this and I just thought it’d be lovely to do it as a private home but used primarily for exclusive use or for these types of events where we let people stay in groups or as individuals. The whole idea is to make the house a hospitality home. We’re trying to make it comfortable but not like a hotel.”
Rothes Glen has 14 spacious and individually decorated en suite bedrooms named after famous former guests (such as prime minister Asquith) and owners; 11 acres of grounds including immaculate gardens and a private lochan with rowing boat; a whisky vault and snooker room and tower cigar room for those who partake.
Our weekend included distillery visits to the normally closed Mortlach in Dufftown plus Cardhu near Archiestown, a cooperage demonstration, falconry display, casino night and hosted whisky dinners in the castle’s large dining room. Head chef Alan Robertson created dinners - think Orkney scallop and pot roasted guinea fowl - which showcased seasonal Scottish produce and which complemented rare drams from Glenfarclas, Brora and Rothes Glen’s editor’s blend
It wouldn’t be a trip to a Scottish castle without a piper, haggis, neeps and tatties and an address to the haggis - one of the best and most dramatic that I’ve seen. It was this celebration of Scotland that kicked off our Brora dinner, hosted by brand ambassador Andy Flatt, who started our night with 1977 45 year old whisky (at £15k a bottle this is a very special dram).
While all this grandeur and expensive whisky might be daunting, Rothes Glen has a welcoming and comfortable feel which is made all the more so by the lovely small team of staff who are on hand morning through evening. We were also hosted by Mr and Mrs Riley-Smith who were extremely hospitable. Our small group of relative strangers on arrival ended up sharing life stories and anecdotes over good food and whisky - as if often the case with easy-going and seamless hospitality.
The ultimate whisky weekend is priced from £2,380 per room and included all meals, drinks and activities. More information on upcoming events can be found via the Rothes Glen website.
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