I booked the themed whisky weekend they run periodically throughout the year as a special treat for my husband's birthday, as he is quite a big whisky fan. From start to finish, we loved every minute of it. Rather than an impersonal hotel, from the moment we arrived, we felt like guests at a private country residence, but with excellent, professional, knowledgeable and friendly service at all times. Our room was beautiful with a modern marble bathroom and four poster bed, desk, armchairs and everything you would possibly require. A rather impressive boot room is at the disposal of the guests so if you require, you may use some wellingtons and a wax jacket to go off and explore the grounds and private beach, which we did and found it peaceful and beautiful.
When it was time for our evening meal we all met in the drawing room for pre-dinner drinks and canapes, giving everybody the opportunity to meet as a group (as I said it was more like a private house) before being led through to the dining area for what was one of the best meals I've had (I have eaten in most of the Michelin starred restaurants in London), so appreciate good food. Although we went as a couple, an American lady who had a penchant for whisky had been working in Germany and had flown in for the weekend and she commented that she felt totally at ease and comfortable on the weekend and was not made to feel at all out of place as a lone traveller, in fact it was the ideal situation. Breakfast the next day was excellent, then the hotel provided a private coach to take us to the Glenmorangie distillery, where we had a guided tour, before being given a tutoring session on the best way to enjoy and drink whisky (along with lots of different samples). You then have the opportunity to make any purchases you may wish from their extensive collection of very rare whiskies, then it is back for the hotel for sandwiches and soup - again delicious, not that we needed another meal but to soak up the whisky from the morning was probably a good idea! Prior to dinner it was blind tasting before what can only be described as one of the most enjoyable evenings we have spent. It may as well have been New Years Eve as we had pipers, highland dancers, a toast to the haggis and the most wonderful meal once again on one long table. At breakfast the next day, I knew that we would at some point return, it had been so relaxing and enjoyable and more that anything, it was quite a unique situation to find yourself in at a hotel. I will point out at this stage, I am not and never have been a whisky fan, but did try a couple at some of the tasting sessions and even in spite of my not enjoying whisky, I had a thoroughly wonderful time. I will probably return for just a regular weekend in the future as we have already done the visit to the distillery, etc., but I can only imagine we will receive the same excellent service.