“Welcome to our Highland studio and thank you for dropping by to view my miniature Masterworks oil painting, ‘Light Dram’ – one of a suite of four paintings in which Glenmorangie Whisky is the subject. Much-beloved around the world, Glenmorangie whisky is steeped in the history of the Highlands of Scotland, where it continues to be distilled on the banks of Dornoch Firth, north of Inverness.

SUBJECT - Standing behind the control deck within the stillhouse of Glenmorangie distillery is a long oblong brass box, known as the ‘spirit safe’. The origins of this extraordinary, glass-fronted piece of equipment, dates back to 1823, when duty laws were changed to ensure an equal footing between small distilleries and their larger competitors. In the process, many previously illegal stills were brought into the ‘legal’ fold, but to protect this situation the drawing-off of the more valuable, higher proofed spirit had to be controlled. Thus the ‘spirit safe’ was born, padlocked and restricted in access to one person - the local Customs & Excise officer - until the early 1980’s.

The antiquity of this piece of equipment is testament to the traditional methods employed at Glenmorangie, where ex-bourbon cask maturation plays a major part in the process of producing their renowned ranges, which includes limited editions such as the bottle shown here, released many decades ago.

To complete the composition of this still-life – a sample of the Glenmorangie tartan, a wicker protected ceramic flagon with bung and jute seal, along with a tasting glass, complete with lid that locks in the flavour.

METHOD – these miniature Masterworks oil paintings are created using my unique method, a method based on traditional techniques, which are progressively worked through in layers from dark-to-light; a process that cannot be hurried, nor short-cuts taken. First, the underlying thinned colours of the underpainting, next the impasto stage, with glazes and tints used extensively to enrich and subtly enliven the oil painting – it is through these techniques where the ‘art’ of oil painting comes into its own.

As always, we thank you for reading and watching, with best wishes from Eileen and myself,”

Paul Taggart

Artist : Author : Presenter : Producer