CABINET Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, visited Glen Ord Distillery, the home of the Singleton single malt, in Muir of Ord to mark the reopening of the visitor experience as part of Diageo’s phased reopening of whisky brand homes.
Led by managing director of Diageo’s Brand Homes, Barbara Smith, and Glen Ord Brand Home manager, Alastair Orr, Mr Ewing received a tour of the reopened visitor experience where new comprehensive safety measures have been implemented in response to COVID-19.
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Mr Ewing said: “It’s great to be able to get back out and enjoy visits like this again, and I very much welcome the opportunity to mark the reopening of Glen Ord distillery for visitors. It is an example of some of the fantastic attractions that Scotland has to offer as our tourism sector slowly and carefully starts to resume activity across the country, with the vital economic benefits that brings.
“However, it is worth noting that visitor attractions, like this one, will look different as businesses implement safety measures to protect visitors and staff, which includes limiting the number of people inside at any one time. If people are planning to visit an attraction they should make sure they contact them or check their website first, so they are aware of all the measures in place and can plan accordingly.”
The reopening of Glen Ord Distillery is part of the global drinks company’s phased approach to welcoming back visitors to 12 of its Scotch whisky distillery brand homes across Scotland.
The company is also the leading private sector investor in whisky tourism with a £185m investment programme to transform its Scotch Whisky visitor experiences. This includes a new global visitor attraction for Johnnie Walker, the world’s leading Scotch whisky, in Edinburgh, as well as investment in its 12 distillery visitor centres and the revival of the iconic distilleries of Port Ellen and Brora.
