Speyside Distillery creates new visitor experience

Based at the Aviemore Retail Park, it aims to bring alive the distillery’s history by sharing its heritage and the art of the distilling process behind its range of whisky and gin.

At least two full-time and four part-time jobs will be created at the centre.

A percentage of the sales generated from The Snug will be donated to local community transport scheme, Where 2 Today. The organisation aims to address the issue of social exclusion in rural areas by providing free accessible transport in conjunction with Cairngorm Business Partnership.

David Taylor, HIE account manager, said:

“Speyside Distillery is recognised as one of the best exporting companies in Scotland.

“This new, innovative development will give the distillery an anchor in Aviemore, creating jobs, supporting the local community and providing a visitor attraction that brings a new dimension to the tourism offering in the area.”

Speyside Distillery is home to the SPEY and Beinn Dubh single malt Scotch whisky brands, along with the recently launched Byron’s Gin – a project carried out in partnership with The Botanical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The distillery has gained a reputation as a hidden gem because of its remote location and although The Snug will give it a high-profile presence, the distillery will still provide very limited visitor access by arrangement.

Speyside Distillers chief executive officer John Harvey McDonough said:

“We describe Speyside Distillery as the secret distillery because it’s hidden from the public, but all that is going to change now. The Snug will allow us to have a presence in Aviemore, and the distillery itself will continue to welcome a very limited number of people in pre-organised visits.”