PR90142

LONDON, June 17, 2021, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Speyside Home of Johnnie Walker opens ahead of Johnnie Walker Princes Street

launch in Edinburgh as part of £185 million Diageo investment

Today, Diageo continues its commitment to whisky tourism in Scotland with the

opening of the reimagined Cardhu Distillery in Speyside. All roads now lead to

the Johnnie Walker Princes Street whisky experience in Edinburgh - the

centre-piece attraction in the company's visionary ambition for whisky tourism

in Scotland - that will launch this summer.

The distinctive flag used by Helen Cumming of Cardhu's founding family – one of

whisky's most famous female pioneers - to warn illicit distillers of the

approaching 'excise man' in the 1800s now flies proudly above the distillery

once again.

This is the latest move in a journey across the Johnnie Walker 'four corners'

distilleries of Glenkinchie in the Lowlands and the Highland distillery of

Clynelish, which opened their doors to the public after being transformed into

world-leading tourism destinations.

The new visitor experience celebrates the distillery's 200-year history and

legacy as a pivotal part of the Johnnie Walker story, it was sold by the

Cummings' family to Johnnie Walker and Sons in 1893 and became integral to the

Johnnie Walker success story over the coming decades. The state-of-the-art

space includes a re-designed immersive story-telling experience with a

projection story room, whisky tasting kitchen and updated whisky experience

tours.

Cristina Diezhandino, Diageo Chief Marketing Officer, said: "We are delighted

to be raising the flag at Cardhu to mark the opening of the new visitor

experience just as our distilling pioneer Helen Cumming did two centuries ago.

When Helen raised her flag, it was to warn her neighbours and the local

community, but today we raise the flag in a symbol of confidence and ambition

for the future of Scotch whisky and tourism in Speyside and throughout Scotland.

"Cardhu is a special whisky, a special distillery with a special history and

heritage, and the investment we have made creates an exciting and engaging

experience that will surprise and delight visitors whether they are local

staycationers in the UK or tourists from around the globe when they are able to

travel."

Cardhu is the third of the 'Four Corner' Johnnie Walker distillery experiences

- which are single malt distilleries that represent Scotland's four whisky

making regions and contribute to the world's number one Scotch whisky - to be

transformed as part of Diageo's Scotch whisky investment. Following on from the

launch of Johnnie Walker Princes Street later this Summer, Caol Ila Distillery

on Islay will be next to reopen in 2022 after its own reimagining, to complete

the 'four corners' story. Most recently, the iconic "ghost" distillery of Brora

was also reawakened after 38 years and is producing whisky once again as part

of the Diageo investment.  

Ewan Andrew, President of Global Supply Chain and Procurement, said: "Cardhu is

the latest step in our £185million investment journey to transform Scotch

whisky tourism and to create truly world-class visitor experiences at our

distilleries, and at Johnnie Walker Princes Street when it opens later this

summer.

"Everyone involved in this project is incredibly proud of the visitor

attractions we are creating, and  of the contribution they will make to the

economic recovery of Scotland. This is not just an investment in Scotch whisky

tourism, but an investment in the future growth of Scotch whisky by engaging

new generations of whisky consumers both at home and around the world."

At Cardhu visitors will be invited to discover the incredible story of Cardhu

in the brand home's new story room where guests can watch a captivating

animation retelling of the whisky's origins by Scottish production studio

Eyebolls. The projected film will tell the story of the distillery's beginnings

and how the tale of Helen Cumming waving the now iconic red flag to warn fellow

distillers of approaching tax collectors has gone on to be one of the most

acclaimed stories in whisky.

Guests will also be able to explore the distillation and maturation process of

Cardhu's signature whisky, bursting with notes of orchard fruits and freshly

cut grass, as part of a selection of updated interactive tours and experiences,

and enjoy a dram or delicious highball at the brand home's new modern Tasting

Kitchen.

Cardhu Distillery will initially welcome UK visitors in accordance with the

latest safety guidelines and look to host international tourists when it is

deemed safe to travel by the Scottish Government.

Diageo has worked closely with Euan's Guide, a Scottish Charity that works to

improve accessibility at all visitor attractions, to make the brand home more

accessible for visitors. Diageo has also introduced new sustainability measures

as part of its redevelopment to help drive its ambitious Society 2030: Spirit

of Progress action plan, such as reducing overall light pollution, conserving

water with landscaping and site implementations systems and safeguarding local

pollinators and wildlife with a new biodiversity protection programme.

Recently the Lowland and Highland homes of Johnnie Walker, Glenkinchie and

Clynelish, received Scotland's most prestigious Green Tourism Gold award and

Cardhu will open as a Green Tourism Gold accredited site. Green Tourism's

certification programme provides a framework to achieve a sustainable tourism

business and recognises the commitment of businesses which are actively working

to become more sustainable. With the award recognising the full breadth of each

distillery's green operating credentials - from sending zero-waste to landfill,

to the sustainability of its distillation process and the high standards of

water efficiency and stewardship.

For more information and to book a tour at Cardhu Distillery, please visit

https://www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries

Full details of the distilleries and Johnnie Walker Princes Street

redevelopment can be found in this downloadable press pack.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1534862/Cardhu_Distillery.jpg  

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1534863/Cardhu_Distillery.jpg

SOURCE: Diageo