Much has been made recently of the stories being told by Glenmorangie Distillery in their videos, featuring the iconic Hollywood star, Harrison Ford; set against the backdrop of the Highlands, featuring music played by Traditional Highland Pipers. Glenmorangie Distillery and the Glenmorangie House Hotel are neighbours of ours, both much enjoyed by visitors from around the world, who are bowled-over by the Highland Welcome they receive on their travels around the Highlands.
In celebrating and chronicling this wonderful part of the world, in which we are fortunate to live and work - I have produced a number of collections featuring my Masterworks oil paintings and Miniatures. Amongst them, my Spirit of the Highlands Collection and my Highland Gems Collection. Within these, a suite of four Original Oil Paintings and their accompanying Limited-Edition Prints that are centred on Glenmorangie Distillery and the Glenmorangie House Hotel.
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 the Dornoch Firth, north of Inverness. We thought we’d share my artworks and their stories as part of our Highland Welcome.
There is a history to Glenmorangie House Hotel at Cadboll, yet it is not forbidding, nor foreboding. Any artist would find plenty of subjects within the grounds and the house – the walled garden, the walled kitchen garden, the orchard, the doocot featuring a booted figure (once a factor on the estate) and a ruined castle, to name but a few. I had always felt that the tree-lined drive leading down to the cliff walk would make an interesting view, with the Moray Firth and distant mountains in the background – the subject of my Masterworks oil painting in this suite, ‘Highland Welcome’.
However, as part of this evocative series, I also wanted to capture, in the simplest way, the cosiness of the Buffalo room, which awaited all guests, (when this painting was completed and the hotel was then known as Glenmorangie Highland Home). Where a wee dram of something warming was usually to hand, as they settled down to relax, replete after their evening meal of freshly prepared ingredients. Memories are made of times, such as this, as they are from the paintings that ensue – Eileen and I had enjoyed the hospitality and craich on one such evening.
One by one the guests had made their way to the table – it was January 25th and this was, what was then known as Glenmorangie Highland Home (now the Glenmorangie House Hotel). James Mackay, one of the historical ‘Sixteen Men ae Tain’ at the Glenmorangie Distillery and Pipe Major of Tain Pipe Band (when this painting was produced) was about to perform one of the most pleasant of his annual tasks, the piping-in of the haggis. Here his kilt and sporran lie, carefully draped over the Orcadian chair, as are his beloved pipes, while he takes a much-deserved dram himself, before getting changed for this Burns Night supper. In the sporran you can just make out the badge of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, which James is entitled to wear, having served with the battalion. Not long after the ceremonial meal, his attire was carefully packed away so that he could wend his way home. Memories are made of nights, such as this, as they are from the paintings that ensue – a privilege for an artist such as myself, especially as Eileen and I had enjoyed the aforementioned Burns supper at Glenmorangie Highland Home.
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.
If you would like to purchase any of our limited-edition or fund-raising prints, or enquire about an original painting – simply email us (click here) with your initial enquiry and we will be back in touch to take things forward. Whether it’s a treat for yourself, or a gift for someone special, we take great care of your requirements and we’re delighted to gift-wrap with our compliments.
We thank you for reading our latest news and for your continued interest in our work and, as ever, send best wishes, from Eileen and myself,”
Paul TaggartArtist, Author, Presenter, Producer
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