Distillery’ s restaurant awarded Michelin star after just seven months

The Glenturret Lalique, based in Scotland’s oldest whisky distillery, has been awarded a prestigious Michelin star.

Announcing the award on social media, the Michelin Guide praised the venue for its “multi-course tasting menu of expertly crafted modern dishes”.

Chef Mark Donald said: “I am so proud Michelin have acknowledged the hard work, creativity and dedication from my team – and everyone at The Glenturret.”

Speaking to The Courier when Glenturret Lalique opened last year, Mark, who had retained a Michelin star when he was head chef at Number One at The Balmoral in Edinburgh, was asked if it was his dream to repeat the feat at Glenturret Lalique?

“The million-dollar question!” he replied.

“I would like to get one, but I think it is a dangerous path for chefs to only focus on that. I think you can lose yourself.

“I have seen it happen to a lot of people. I have been trapped in that net, but it is not going to be the main focus of everything I do.

“I would love to get it, but I am not going to come out and scream it from the rooftops.

“I think it can be really disheartening for a team if you don’t get it and that is all you have spoken about for a whole year.

“The madness of Michelin is still very true, but it is like the Oscars for chefs.

“It is that confirmation of your craft and the standard you work to.

“We will work towards excellence, and if we get a star I will be over the moon.”

The restaurant opened in late July last year and the award of the star comes three months after it was added to the Michelin Guide.

John Laurie, the restaurant’s managing director, said previously: “We’ve been working really hard to deliver something new here at Glenturret.

“We’re the first fine dining restaurant in a whisky distillery in Scotland, so ever since we started we’ve known that what we were doing is completely different.

“All of the Glenturret team are really overjoyed, really proud to be working somewhere that’s getting us this kind of recognition.”

The Crieff restaurant becomes one of five restaurants in Perth and Kinross to have received a

Michelin star.

FINE DINING: Head chef Mark Donald says the award is confirmation of the craft and standard of the work he and his team put into the food.

The restaurant is inside Scotland’s oldest distillery.