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Johnnie Walker’s ‘Highland home’ Clynelish reopens

Diageo has opened the renovated Clynelish Scotch whisky distillery in Scotland, which has been rebranded as the ‘Highland home of Johnnie Walker’.

Clynelish-16
Clynelish has been rebranded as the ‘Highland home of Johnnie Walker’

Clynelish was given an extensive overhaul as part of Diageo’s £185 million (US$258) investment in its Scotch whisky visitor experiences.

Situated on Scotland’s North Coast 500 route, Clynelish has a new visitor centre with an interactive story room, ‘modern’ retail space, and a new terrace bar overlooking Brora’s hills.

The multi-sensory, interactive visitor experience will feature secret rooms, accessible using hidden keys, designed to help visitors ‘unlock’ the story of Clynelish and Johnnie Walker.

Barbara Smith, managing director of Diageo’s Scottish brand homes, said: “We are delighted to be able to open the doors to Clynelish and celebrate the return of whisky tourism as we begin our phased return to life pre-Covid.

“We have always had an international audience and it will be incredibly exciting to see people from all over the world walking through our doors once again when global travel permits and it’s safe to do so.

“Clynelish has always had an air of mystery. Its flavour is completely unexpected, with tropical notes, citrus and the unmistakable waxy finish.

“It is not what you’d expect from a Highland distillery and the new visitor experience will take people on a journey of exploration and discovery. We can guarantee that Clynelish won’t disappoint.”

Furthermore, Diageo has worked with Euan’s Guide, the disabled access charity that allows users to review, share and discover accessible places to visit.

Improvements include dedicated parking bays, improved signage and a new lift.

Clynelish is the second of the ‘four corners of Johnnie Walker’, the single malt distilleries that make up the blended Scotch whisky brand. Its reopening follows Glenkinchie in October last year.

Speyside distillery Cardhu will reopen next month, while the new Johnnie Walker Princes Street visitor experience in Edinburgh is scheduled to open this summer.

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