It might be customary to enjoy a whisky tasting (or two) during a trip to Scotland, but Gleneagles is betting on the enduring lure of champagne for its latest collaboration. The Cellar x Dom Pérignon is a private dining and tasting experience that allows guests to venture deep below the storied hotel, into a space that’s never before been open to guests.
For years, Gleneagles has served guests hungry for local fare, from fresh langoustines to Aberdeen Angus beef and local haggis. But until now, only the hotel’s staff have ventured below ground to grab a bottle from the cellar that has housed the hotel’s wine for over 100 years. That’s changed thanks to The Cellar x Dom Pérignon; the result of a long-term project between the two brands, showcasing Gleneagles chefs’ expertise with local ingredients, alongside Dom Pérignon’s commitment to embracing the bounty of each year’s harvest to create something special.
I was the first to experience the dining experience, which launched in June and I immediately loved getting a peek behind the scenes of one of Scotland’s best hotels. Guests are led through a back corridor, usually accessed by staff, where the only giveaway of the experience is a ‘The Cellar x Dom Pérignon’ plaque outside an inconspicuous door. Once this is ceremoniously opened, though, they are immediately immersed in the cellar, as candles lead the way down a narrow set of stairs.
We were welcomed with a glass of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017, served alongside King’s Golden Oscietra Caviar – a vast tub of the stuff – and accompaniments. Had we not been about to sit down to eat five courses, we’d have been more than happy standing around, dipping pearl spoons into caviar and washing it down with bubbles. Of course, the team has already thought of that, and guests who don’t want to spend the whole evening in the cellar can book to experience the champagne and canapé reception, which gives the drama and luxury without the commitment.
For dinner, we were led to a giant table (so vast that it had to be delivered by crane in two pieces, using the old service hatch last used to unload bottles from delivery trains in the 1920s and ’30s). The space is heaven for wine-lovers; aisles of bottles surround you, while the table is framed by champagne cabinets. Jean-Baptiste Perlay, winemaker, told us: “Here it’s beautiful because you can feel the spirit and the aura [of the collaboration] and, in this room, you have a concentration of so many beautiful wines. It’s something quite unique.”
Unique it was. The menu is seasonal, and will change often, but during the launch evening we dined on fresh local asparagus with smoked eel, turbot with a delicious champagne sauce and juicy lamb with local peas and wild garlic. Each dish was, naturally, paired with glasses including Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017, Dom Pérignon Rosé 2010, and Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Plénitude 2. It’s hard to pick a favourite dish, but I was blown away by the rose and strawberry notes in the dessert, which paired perfectly with the DP Rosé 2010.
The experience is open to the public now, but you’ll need to be prepared: the full Dom Pérignon Experience must be booked at least three weeks in advance, while tastings can be reserved up to three days ahead.
