The Glendronach's Boynsmill House has reopened after an extensive restoration project and will play host to high-paying clients on premium distillery tours.
Boynsmill House is the birthplace of The Glendronach. Founder James Allardice lived there when he secured one of Scotland’s first legal distilling licenses in 1826 – which makes its reopening a fitting way to mark the distillery’s 200th anniversary this year.
Now it has a very different role. Modernized into a luxury venue, it has become the ultimate experience for Glendronach visitors. Alongside the reopening, the distillery has launched the Boynsmill Experience, a full-day immersion offering behind-the-scenes access to distillery operations, followed by a banquet and the promise of rare expressions in the house itself. It runs in November and December only, and costs £625 ($840) per person.
And it only gets more exclusive from there. The Glendronach also offers bespoke packages, which could include pre-selecting your drams – such as the recently released 56-year-old – or more time in the privacy of the house, which has sitting rooms, a bar, and a walled garden. The distillery is also hosting a series of dinners with guest chefs.
That keeps The Glendronach up to speed with other high-end distilleries that have invested heavily in bespoke experiences. The Glenturret recently restored a home next to its distillery to host VIP guests, while The Dalmore took the bold step of making its entire distillery tour appointment-only.
The Glendronach isn’t going that far. Its tours still start at £25 ($34) per person. But Boynsmill House will play a permanent role in its approach to private clients, and a restoration on this scale won’t have come cheap.
Because Boynsmill House is a listed building, architects Loader Monteith had to work within strict planning rules, keeping its original character intact while modernizing the interior.
“Our intention was never to simply restore Boynsmill House or make it feel like a traditional country house. We wanted to create somewhere that respects the story and character of the building but gives it a completely new energy,” says Iain Monteith, director at Loader Monteith Architects.
“We wanted guests to feel immediately at home, but also to discover something unexpected as they move through the house – from the warmth of the lounge to the theatre of the tasting bar and the intimacy of the dining room. Every detail has been considered to create an experience that feels timeless, personal and thoroughly connected to The Glendronach.”
Adip Agarwal, global vice president of The Glendronach, said: “It allows us to welcome guests into the place where The Glendronach story began and to share the hospitality, craftsmanship and sense of place that have defined the distillery for almost two centuries. It is an experience that feels deeply personal, richly rooted in our heritage and unmistakably The Glendronach.”
