In celebration of our Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno’s fortieth year in the industry, we are delighted to share with you an exclusive, virtual opportunity to taste The Glenturret Still Life Series: Winter, Spring and Summer.
This exclusive collection, inspired by the unique character of the Scottish seasons and their influence on Bob Dalgarno’s distillery life to date, are presented in beautiful Lalique decanters. Limited to only 105 bottles worldwide per edition, each decanter captures and reflects the essence of its respective season.
Watch our tasting video below, and enjoy a sample of our Still Life Winter, Spring and Summer releases with Bob himself.
From growing up in the heart of Speyside and throughout my career, distilleries have always been part of my life. From memories of standing in The Square, Aberlour, chatting with others who were waiting for the distillery vans - off to work at ‘the still’. Many of those I spoke to have since passed but the ‘stills’ and the memories remain.
My working life has been shaped by the distilleries that I have been part of and by those who work, and have worked, alongside me. Encouraged by some, guided by others, I am forever grateful for their counsel.
Alongside distilling, I have always had an interest in farming. As a youngster, I watched my father working the land on the family farm. My first job upon leaving school was on a local farm, where I learned to look after cattle, drive a tractor, plough, and sow barley – little did I know what a big part that crop would play in my future career.”
The memories forever will be part of my ‘Still Life’…”
Still Life Winter
Launched in 2022 Still Life Winter is the first of four, unique Highland Single Malt decanters from Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno, where each season is a reflection on his distillery life and career to date.
“Almost 50 years have passed since I moved to a distillery as a child. It was the winter of 1972 - everywhere and everything seemed to be blanketed by snow. Little did I know then that it would be the start of a journey enriched by distilleries and those who worked there – my Still Life.”
Rooted in the harshest of the Scottish Seasons, and inspired by 5 decades of distillery life, Still Life Winter weaves memories and passion together to deliver a fusion of characteristics reflective of those who influenced life at distilleries.
The whisky was selected from 4 casks showcasing the different wood types that we use for maturation – each displays its own character which, brought together, reflects my many years of whisky making.
Tasting Notes: CHRISTMAS CAKE, SWEET HONEY AND BRANDY SNAPS WELCOME YOU IN FROM THE COLD. SOFT OAK WITH HINTS OF VANILLA VISIT LATER. SEASONED OAK EMBRACES, RICH AND WARM, THEN LAYERS OF FRUIT WITH WINTER SPICES - NUTMEG, GINGER & CINNAMON HOLD COURT. SOFT WOOD SPICES WITH FRUIT MEANDER INTO THE DARKNESS. (42.5% ABV)
Still Life Spring
Still Life Spring sees the story continue and is the second of four unique Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that draws inspiration from the distillery life of Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno.
Marking the arrival of Spring, this carefully crafted whisky celebrates the close relationship between farming and distilling and the skills involved in both.
“For me, Spring is the start of a new distilling year from a barley perspective. The ploughed fields wait for the warmth of the sunshine to allow the land to be worked and barley to be sown. A season of hope, promise and lighter, brighter days. Having spent my infant years on a farm and my first job also being in farming, till this day Spring is a special time for me...
Add to this the blossoming trees, the greening of the grass and the birth of new wildlife – it’s a busy time of year! For both farmer and distiller the excitement is looking for the barley to “breer” (a doric word for the green shoots starting to show) which gives an early indication of the potential of the year’s crop. New life everywhere – Spring to me is always a season of promise.”
The whisky was selected from 3 casks celebrating the character of both first fill and refill casks. It reflects new life and growth, the freshness that bookends a spring day and the warmth in between.
Tasting Notes: DRIED FRUITS AND WOOD SPICES BACKDROP THE COOL DARK OF THE MORNING. HINTS OF NEW GREEN OAK GIVE TOUCHES OF LIGHT. SOFT VANILLA PROVIDES WARM TONES AS THE DAY UNFOLDS, GINGER CAKE AND CITRUS NOTES FILTER THROUGH TO A FRESH, CRISP FINISH AS THE EVENING TAKES HOLD. (41.2% ABV)
Still Life Summer
Still Life Summer, launching 27th August 2024, is the third decanter in the Still Life series, that draws inspiration from the distillery life of Master Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno
The countryside in summer is a patchwork of colour. Rich green in abundance but it’s the gold that we look forward to – ripening barley in the warm summer sun. As the year progresses and we find ourselves in Summer – long daylight hours, blue skies, warm days and balmy evenings. Combine harvesters sitting ready in the barns, patiently waiting for the harvest to start. As the perfect time arrives, the fields explode with activity – combines roaring through the golden crop, tractors busy carting the barley and baling the straw, framed by blue skies and a hovering heat haze.
“For The Glenturret Distillery, this is traditionally a quieter time with our silent season taking place. Historically this was partly due to a lack of water in the warmer months but also the production workers used to work on farms during the busy summer – many farms were directly owned by, or linked to, distilleries. In more modern times this is not such an issue but most distilleries still have some down time in summer for essential maintenance. Whilst production may be quieter, farming never slows down and I enjoy watching the barley grow and change from green to gold under the warmth of the sun. Chatting with the farmers while walking through the fields checking on the progress of the crop is something I look forward to.”
The whisky was selected from 5 Glenturret casks, all over a quarter of a century old. 3 refill hogsheads provided a bright, vibrant character that balances the rich fruits and spices imparted by the use of 2 first fill sherry casks.
Tasting Notes: SUN RIPENED TROPICAL FRUITS, CINNAMON AND ANISEED BUILD THE WARMTH. AGING OAK FLOATS ON THE BREEZE THEN DRIFTS INTO SWEET VANILLA AND UNDERTONES OF WARM HARVESTED GRAIN. SOFT FRUIT AND WOOD SPICES FRAME THE SUNSET, GENTLE RAYS OF RICH PINEAPPLE DIP TOWARDS THE HORIZON, DUSK IS ESCORTED BY MELLOW FRUITS AND AGED OAK. (40.5% ABV)
Still Life Autumn
The final iteration of The Still Life series, Autumn will be released in 2025. This as with the other will reflect the season, more details to follow.
For further information please contact The Glenturret press office at lucie@simonplussimon.com.
