FDDS has been commissioned to design the experiences and interiors of 3 rooms of the newly refurbished Strathisla Distillery – the oldest continuously working distillery in Scotland, home of Chivas Regal.
After learning about the process to make Strathisla single malt whiskies, guests are guided to the Tasting Room.
They are invited to take seats around the whisky expert who will guide them through the tasting of 3 scotch whiskies: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra and Chivas 18.
A specially created artwork, The Constellation, made of suspended, mouth-blown, amber glass bubbles, comes to life while the guide explains how to reveal the complexity behind each whiskies. With experience, each whisky can be deconstructed in several flavours: the keynotes.
Visitors are invited first to nose, then taste the first whisky, to identify the characteristics, guided by the expert. Pear; the first flavour is represented by the first glass bubble which gently lights up.
Then the chandelier animates itself, linking one flavour bubble to another: Vanilla.
The sculpture follows the rhythm of the tasting, acting as a reference point for the guests. Slowly revealing the complex network of flavours, it draws with light the constellation of the whisky being tasted.
“It is interesting to notice that if the whiskies do share certain keynotes, most of them are different.
It is not always easy to distinguish all the characteristics without the skills of the Master Blenders, but there are no wrong answers. Each perception is unique and personal”.
“By giving the time to reflect and discuss, the tasting ritual of the Constellation Room aims to open the door to memories that the senses of smell and taste can uniquely bring back”
– Florian Dussopt, FDDS Founder.
FDDS worked closely with Chivas Regal, from the creative team to the Master blenders, to deliver a custom experience and the interior around it.