The 26-cover Glenturret Lalique Restaurant opens ‘early summer’ and will be tasting menu-only showcasing the area’s terroir and produce.
The venue is being positioned as the first of its kind, with no other Scottish whisky brands currently home to a fine dining restaurant.
Born in Glasgow, Donald has a star-studded international cooking CV that includes a season at Noma and senior roles at Claude Bosi’s Hibiscus and Sydney restaurant Bentley.
He returned to Scotland in 2018 to take over kitchen at Edinburgh’s Number One at The Balmoral, retaining the restaurant’s Michelin star.
Details on the seven course menu are currently under wraps with Donald set to start developing dishes later this month but the cooking at Glenturret Lalique Restaurant will blend ‘contemporary Scottish culinary innovation’ with ‘a foundation of classic French gastronomy’.
"The opportunity to cook in Perthshire is incredibly exciting and a luxury myself and the team do not take for granted," says Donald.
"I have a well-travelled palate, as does the rest of the team, so drawing on our travels and flavour memories will feature. We want to make people happy with the dishes we serve them and the team need to be happy doing it."
Whisky will play a key part of the experience with Donald and team currently working with the distillery to understand how the raw ingredients of malted and peated barley are turned into new make spirit.
"Mirroring these century-old practices that The Glenturret still does by hand within a gastronomic playground is incredibly exciting," adds Donald.
Founded in 1763, The Glenturret is located near the Perthshire town of Crieff about half an hour’s drive north of Stirling.
The restaurant is being opened in partnership with high-end French glassware maker Lalique, and joins other Lalique-branded venues including the two Michelin-star Villa René Lalique in Alsace and the one Michelin-star Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey near Bordeaux.