GALLERY: Take a look inside revamped Glenkinchie Distillery experience ahead of reopening

A new multi-million pound distillery and garden visitor attraction will open to the public later this week.

The Glenkinchie single malt distillery in East Lothian has undergone a major transformation as part of a £185million investment in Scotch whisky experiences by Diageo.

It will be the lowland home of Johnnie Walker, and the first of four corner distilleries around Scotland that will form a network of visitor experiences linked to Scotch whisky brand.

There will also be a new global centrepiece Johnnie Walker Princes Street attraction in Edinburgh, planned to open next summer.

Ramsay Borthwick, Distillery Manager and his dog Skyelar mark the opening of the new Glenkinchie Distillery visitor experience in East Lothian

Diageo’s Barbara Smith officially declared the new visitor experience open with the ceremonial planting of a tree to complete the garden and to represent the future growth of Scotch whisky and tourism.

She said: “The opening of the wonderful new visitor experience and garden at Glenkinchie is the first step in our long-term £185million investment in whisky tourism in Scotland.

“We are acutely aware of the difficult times many people are going through, particularly our colleagues in the tourism and hospitality sector across Scotland. We know there’s a long way to go and a lot of uncertainty ahead. Still, we believe in the resilience of our business and our communities, and we will be doing all we can through our investment to sow the seeds of recovery and future growth.”

Barbara Smith, Managing Director, Brand Homes for Diageo in Scotland, planting a ceremonial tree

The Glenkinchie Distillery attraction is centred around a beautifully landscaped garden, which has been curated to reflect the stunning local rural environment.

The immersive guest experience is centred in the distillery’s traditional Victorian red brick warehouses.

Ramsay Borthwick, Glenkinchie Distillery Manager, said: “Glenkinchie will give people a thrilling first taste of the new visitor experiences we are creating across Scotland.

“We will be offering people an experience like no other distillery in Scotland at Glenkinchie and that will be followed as we transform Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila over the coming months, and as we build towards the opening of our global Johnnie Walker Princes Street attraction in Edinburgh next summer.”

Subject to government guidance on COVID-19, Glenkinchie will open to the public on Thursday 29th October. Tours can be booked at: www.glenkinchiedistillery.com