Visit Scotland has awarded Five Star Attraction accreditation to The Cairn Distillery, located just outside Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park.
Owned by family business, Gordon & MacPhail, the distillery doubtless benefits from that stunning location – but it was what was on offer inside that impressed VisitScotland.
Inspectors were particularly impressed by the welcome and attentiveness of staff, the tour, and the overall experience, all scoring high and earning The Cairn a spot on that exclusive list of Scotland’s Five Star Attractions.
Visitors to The Cairn can choose from a selection of three different tours; The Explorer, The Adventurer and The Voyager, all of which take them on a journey to discover how the staff’s experience, unique location, sense of community, and environment inspire the distillery’s approach to Scotch whisky.
Each tour culminates with a tasting in The Discovery Room. With floor-to-ceiling windows, this provides a suitable backdrop for visitors as they ‘taste the future today’ – blended malt whiskies created to give a sense of the notes, flavours and aromas that will be seen in the character of single malts that will be released from The Cairn Distillery in the 2030s.
Tapas-style plates of Scottish produce is also available in The Gathering restaurant on site, which has also been awarded a ‘Taste Our Best’ certification in recognition of its locally sourced, high-quality food and drink offering.
Senior visitor experience manager, Susan Colville, said: “To be recognised as one of the top visitor attractions in the country by being awarded five stars by Visit Scotland in our first operational year having opened in 2022 is a fantastic achievement.
“Having secured such a beautiful location overlooking the river Spey, we wanted to ensure the distillery complements the majesty of the landscape, every detail of The Cairn Distillery has been considered to create a remarkable structure that is reflective of its environment.
“Together, the team has crafted a truly unique experience which leaves guests feeling inspired. I’m thrilled at what we have achieved so far and excited to see what the future holds.”
