If you’re planning your next event, tablescaping is a guaranteed way to elevate your meal and status as host. The creative and purposeful decoration of a table is what brings the theme and what’s being served together, in one impressive harmony.

In celebration of 200 years of originality and innovation in the whisky industry, The Glenlivet hosted a milestone dinner that will take guests on an immersive journey through the heart of The Glenlivet experience. Now we invite you to join us, by taking a glimpse at how our story was brought to life through an ethereal tablescape, a creation that reflected our commitment to pushing boundaries for years to come. 

Read on to discover the artistry behind the feature focus at our celebration dinner. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to recreate elements of the design at home but be sure to make it your own – after all, The Glenlivet stands for more than just whisky; we embrace the power of living originally.

The origin of The Glenlivet takes root in the waters of the venerable River Livet, which inspired our tablescape artists to pay homage to the waterway in this table design. Its length gently curves like natural running waters and the glass-like table has an ombre effect, which transitions from a blue reminiscent of the river’s waters to an amber that brings to mind the rich hue of our whisky, celebrates the legacy of the River Livet while symbolising the flow of our brand into the future.

With a breathtaking tablescape acting as the centrepiece of the dining experience, we needed to make sure that the setting matched its status. Therefore, we housed the bespoke table amongst the copper stills within The Glenlivet still room.

The copper whisky stills are like the crown jewels of our distillery, gleaming like burnished heirlooms. These striking vessels, with their warm, honeyed glow, conjure an artisanal romance, where heritage and craftsmanship meet in the most luxurious way. They seem almost sculptural – each rivet a nod to a time-honoured tradition. With the stills being pivotal in transforming the river’s water and humble ingredients into The Glenlivet scotch whisky, they had to be a feature of our event.

Lighting is always an important factor in a tablescape layout. Our table was set within a dimly lit room with spotlights used to accentuate its curves and illuminate the intricacies of its design.

Animated waves of prismatic light danced on the surface of the table, looking like reflections of the sun on the river’s surface. This felt almost poetic for an evening that gave us and our guests the opportunity to reflect on the bold bounds The Glenlivet has made in two centuries, while still honouring the roots of our brand.

By also incorporating water ripple lighting projections into the dining area, an ambient moodiness was infused into the space whilst still staying true to the overarching river theme. 

Crockery provides the base for meals and is one of the largest visual elements on the table. With a menu that uses the best of local Scottish produce, it seemed only fitting to choose plates that allowed the food to take centre stage in the moment. However, the crockery also conjures imagery of standing on the banks of the River Livet, watching its clear waters babble by and taking in the rich flora and fauna of Speyside.  

Our artists’ choices were refined, yet evocative of the River Livet’s ambience, striking a balance between simplicity and poetic elegance. Neutral tones paired with scalloped ceramics representing the gentle ripples that adorn the river’s surface.

For an event to mark 200 years of whisky, there was never any doubt that the spirit was going to be a core component of our celebration cocktails. The renowned Head Bartender of Gleneagles, Emilio Giovanazzi, curated iconic serves inspired by each Glenlivet expression for our guests to enjoy throughout the evening.

As cut crystal glassware is known for its beauty–just like the Livet–and is synonymous with sophistication, it was the perfect choice for our event, even more so as this style of glassware is traditionally used for some of the world’s favourite whisky cocktails.

In the dining space, nestled between the copper stills, product display plinths stand proudly. Showcasing The Glenlivet’s history, each Perspex plinth houses a chosen whisky expression, almost like capturing a moment in time. 

Abundant floral backdrops accompanied every whisky bottle, drawing the eye and corresponding to the tasting notes of each. A cornucopia of citrus fruits, berries, and spices echoed complex yet balanced flavours while lobed oak leaves represented whisky casks, and vibrant purple heather captured the essence of the Highlands.

For The Glenlivet’s event, copper coasters engraved with whisky age profiles acted as the perfect resting spot for the evening’s cocktails while also matching the cutlery and water decanters. Not only did these coasters fit seamlessly within the colour scheme which married the hues of the river with the distinctive shades of The Glenlivet whisky, but they also embedded the importance of the copper stills in the process of how our scotch is made.

Our two centuries of producing scotch whisky wouldn’t have been possible without the River Livet, which is why we knew it had to be the beating heart of our anniversary event. Everything from the bespoke table and whisky bottle displays to the locally sourced menu and whisky cocktails were designed to represent the source from which The Glenlivet originated, where we have been and the future that we ebb towards.

We are incredibly proud of our heritage but now look forward to the years ahead and the exciting whisky innovations that are to come. We hope that you’ll continue to be a part of The Glenlivet story.

With our 200th anniversary tablescape as inspiration, yours is sure to be just as meaningful and leave a lasting impression on your guests. The only thing left to do is decide which whisky cocktails will complement your celebrations.