Whisky Focus - The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair

The Glenlivet has unveiled the latest innovation from its Nàdurra range, no its not a new expression of the Nàdurra which has been finished in some exotic cask, it is The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair. A celebration of modern craftsmanship, the Dram Chair aims to provide the perfect setting in which whisky connoisseurs can relax and enjoy a dram of single malt Scotch whisky.

At first glance at The Dram Chair I was immediately thrown back to my school days where I remember old solid oak wooden chairs not too dissimilar in style to The Dram Chair although I didn't have the luxury of a leather seat and it wasn't whisky which I was studying in those days. The Dram Chair is the result of a collaboration with award-winning British designer, Gareth Neal, whose original furniture is popular among discerning customers around the world. Neal drew inspiration from the traditional, nineteenth century production methods at the heart of Nàdurra, meaning ‘natural’ in Gaelic, to design a contemporary piece that captures the spirit of the range.

The frame of the chair is hand-crafted from oak, so crucial to the maturation of The Glenlivet spirit, while the leather seat has been steeped in oak bark by the only remaining oak tannery in Great Britain. The copper rivets, which mirror the distillery’s copper pot stills, secure the chair and ensure that it will withstand the test of time and a dram can be nestled comfortably on the chair’s arm

The original design will be on display for a limited time at The New Craftsmen store in Mayfair, London, before it becomes an exhibit at The Glenlivet Distillery. Members of The Guardians of The Glenlivet online community can commission a chair to order and customise which arm of the chair should be equipped to house a dram. Each bespoke chair will be etched and numbered to create subtle variations and originality for collectors. You will really need a taste for whisky and chairs as commissioning a Dram Chair will cost you £6,200.

Commenting on the launch, Neal said: "My core values are people, process and place, so spending time with the handful of people who make The Glenlivet Nàdurra and witnessing first-hand the time-honoured processes that are used to create this fine whisky was truly inspiring. I have used a similar, hand-crafted approach to my own production methods for this unique dram chair.

"Enjoying a dram is a moment of escapism and I wanted to immerse the sitter in the materials that have brought this moment of pleasure about, in absolute comfort. The piece is so lightweight that it can literally be transported to a location of choice. I imagined a dramatic vista of the Scottish Highlands but the collector can create their own perfect Nàdurra moment."

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director of The Glenlivet, added: "Neal and The New Craftsmen were obvious partners to commission to make The Glenlivet Nàdurra Dram Chair. They are passionately committed to a shared vision: combining the unique heritage of British craftsmanship with a sense of modernity. The partnership has resulted in something naturally crafted that is surprising and unique – a timeless original."

The Glenlivet Nàdurra is batch produced at cask strength using traditional methods and is bottled without chill-filtration, which offers additional complexity, body and a richer texture. The Dram Chair launch continues an innovative year for The Glenlivet Nàdurra, which has included the expansion of the range with two permanent new additions; Nàdurra Oloroso, matured exclusively in sherry casks, is extending its presence from Travel Retail into domestic markets, while Nàdurra First Fill Selection was launched last month and is rolling out into markets worldwide.
 

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