First look at new GlenDronach visitor centre

GlenDronach has unveiled the renovated 'visitor experience' at its Aberdeenshire distillery which celebrates a whisky heritage dating back almost 200 years.

The revamped visitor centre aims to pay homage to the hospitable nature of James Allardice, who founded the distillery in 1826. It includes a new tasting room, whisky bar, lounge area and retail space and displays a collection of rare and historic GlenDronach expressions, including its oldest whisky, bottled in 1913.

The new tasting bar will offer a selection of GlenDronach flights and drams alongside non-alcoholic refreshments, while a distillery-exclusive hand fill will give connoisseurs the chance to fill, seal, label and sign their own cask-strength bottle of The GlenDronach from a choice of two sherry casks.

Designed by home designers 1751 and Ross McNally, from Glasgow's Scarinish Studio, it is the visitor centre's first refurbishment since Brown-Forman bought the Huntly-based distillery in 2016 and is expected to create six new jobs.

Jennifer Proctor, the GlenDronach Distillery's homeplace manager, said: "James Allardice was both a visionary entrepreneur and a warm and welcoming host, often inviting friends and neighbours into his home to share a dram of his 'guid GlenDronach'. Our vision was to carry forth his hospitality and to bring the traditional craftsmanship of The GlenDronach to life."

The GlenDronach visitor centre is open from 10am to 4.30pm seven days a week. Guided tours are also available at the distillery.