TL Exclusive: Shivan & Narresh's Spirited Journey To Glenmorangie Distillery and House

Designers Shivan & Narresh, known for their bold yet culture-forward designs, visited the Glenmorangie Distillery and House in Scotland earlier this year. In a freewheeling chat with Travel+Leisure India & South Asia ahead of a special launch, they talk about their journey to the highlands, the shared ideology with Glenmorangie, and finding renewed appreciation for the golden liquid.

In May this year, designer duo Shivan & Narresh visited the Glenmorangie Distillery and House in Tain, Scotland. The distillery, situated in the Scottish Highlands, is nearly 180 years old. The duo not only traced its longstanding history, but also understood the brand’s legacy and sustainability practices.

Visiting Glenmorangie Distillery and House

Talking about the distillery’s spectacular location, Shivan says, “We didn’t know what to expect. But we were surprised to find out how charming and beautiful it was. I felt as if we were sitting in somebody’s living room and cherishing the views while enjoying the drink,” adding, “It was our first time at a distillery that makes the most beautiful scotch in the whole world. The whole experience—the story, process, and tasting—was eye-opening. And what was interesting for us was the ideology behind making scotch.”

Apart from understanding whisky making, the duo also partook in various other activities such as tasting and mixology sessions, elaborate dinners with whisky and wine pairings, and drives around the area. And unsurprisingly, each of them had their personal favourites. For Narresh, it was the evening mixology session. “Going to the distillery was like going through a time machine. One evening they put together a beautiful tent, where we made our cocktails. There were raisins, apricots, dates, honey, cinnamon, and other spices that resonated with scotch.”

For Shivan, it was the fact that they could taste the whisky from the year he was born. “It was phenomenal to taste a Glenmorangie whisky created in 1985. Where else in the world can you taste a 37-year-old whisky? At cocktail hour, we made our favourite Glenmorangie cocktails. You never think of scotch when you think of cocktails but the aromas and flavour possibilities with Glenmorangie were fantastic,” he says.

Beyond The Spirits

The duo is widely renowned in the home country for creating designs rooted in culture but forward in approach. So, did the highlands serve as a design inspiration? “At Glenmorangie House, there were beautiful, palm-sized tulips, and kilometres of beautiful yellow flowers near the sea,” says Shivan who goes on to add, “There is something in the works that will be announced soon.”

Narresh was blown away by the minimalism. “The land was very minimalistic. There were beautiful grasslands and soft curves where the distillery was situated. What stood out was the flavours in the mouth that gave you a vivid technicolour imagination upon tasting a drink. Although what we are creating with Glenmorangie is still a secret, the flavours of the drinks and the celebration it creates in the mouth are the base.”

The duo and Glenmorangie share a similar ideology when it comes to sustainability. “Sustainability is nothing but consuming less and consuming right,” says Shivan. “It is being mindful of consumption. For instance, we use 97 per cent ocean waste to make our swimsuits, that’s one way of being sustainable. We care about where our textiles come from, the base of the textile, and where the yarn comes from. Glenmorangie is a company that is mindful of where the water comes from, how it’s processed, how it’s used, and where it goes after that. When you see this whole process, you begin to understand how careful they are and how passionate they are about what they create. And these are some of the things that coincide with our company,” concludes Narresh.

Related: Glenmorangie And T+L India’s Rivaayat Celebrated The Confluence Of The Old And The New

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