Cullinan
A Suburban Adventure
When I think Scotland, I immediately think whisky; the jus synonymous with its heritage and the rolling green landscape for which the country is renown. Having said that, when I leave, whisky is normally the last thing on my mind, as I find myself more drawn to the ‘beauty of quiet’ and natural-immersion that Scotland does so well. It’s as if time itself takes a break while you’re there, joining you in admiring its handiwork as you can’t help but be enchanted by the surrounding beauty. Even by Scotland’s standards, Aberdeen is artistically idyllic, and it was there that my most recent Scottish adventure was taking place. Aside from its inescapable beauty, the region is also home to multiple distillery’s meaning my whisky fixation could be satisfied. As we floated towards our first destination, I pondered what it would be like to actually live in such a place, a place where time was both honoured and forgotten, where nature was the only “distraction”. And by floated I do genuinely mean floated; our chariot was none other than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a balletic behemoth that makes light of both corners and off-roading.
Despite its colossal size, Rolls-Royce had some how managed to make the handling light yet responsive, making easy work of the meandering scottish roads, promoting their famed “magic carpet ride” to the SUV genre.
The first stop on my suburban adventure was the Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, part of the William Grant & Sons family and based just a few miles from my accommodation for the evening. In the true nature of the region, the small-batch single malt distillery is renown for its niche whiskies, made using locally grown grown barley, which is floor-malted where possible — a process limited to just 7 of the 100 whisky distilleries operating in Scotland. A distillery tour, followed by a sampling of the silky smooth Balvenie 30 Year Old completed proceedings, and it was back to the Cullinan for transportation — albeit this time as a passenger. The space afforded by Rolls-Royce cars is never meagre, and in this SUV this experience is amplified with its arrogant position providing the perfect vantage point from which to view the oil-painting landscape as we journey.
Our destination? The Arndilly House; an audacious project by young property developer Jerry Pfletschinger to create a luxury residence, and more importantly a home that could welcome the entirety of his family. The scale of this project is hard to contextualise, with each detail reifying the authenticity of the work to such an extent that it’s hard to believe the building is that new — and I mean that in a good way. As we entered the spacious dining room, the fleet of Rolls-Royce Cullinans sat resplendent on the expansive drive, visible through a series of large sectioned windows.
Over dinner we discussed he next day’s activities which would include clay pigeon shooting with fine gun & rifle purveyors James Purdey & Sons, something I was yet to experience. As the courses came and went, the hot topic was unavoidably the Cullinan, the experience of which was comparable to the comfort and regalia I found myself surrounded with at Arndilly House.
As dinner concludes, we head to the games room where the Rolls-Royce Champagne case awaits; awash with motion as it presents us with champagne flutes, and the drink with which to fill them with. Am I tired? No, but I am sleepy, the extensive post Balvenie whisky sampling providing the finishing touch, the spirit living up to its billing as a night-cap.
I lay my head down in my four-post Victorian-styled bed with day one complete, and very much looking forward to day two.
