A Highland distillery has recently been named the World’s Leading Whisky Distillery tour at the prestigious World Travel Awards. The Singleton of Glen Ord, located in Muir of Ord near Inverness, took home the award at a ceremony in Madeira, solidifying its reputation as a top-notch visitor destination.
This accolade comes on the heels of The Singleton winning Scotland’s Best Whisky Distillery Tour earlier in the year. The distillery, which reopened in 2022 as part of a significant investment by Diageo into Scotch tourism, has seen a significant increase in visitors, with 78,000 people touring the facility in 2024, up almost a third from the previous year.
Guests from Scotland, the UK, and beyond have been treated to a unique and immersive experience at The Singleton of Glen Ord. The distillery, situated on the popular North Coast 500 route, offers a range of tours and experiences for visitors to enjoy. From the Malt to Cask tour, which allows guests to explore the drum maltings and sample award-winning malt straight from the cask, to The Singleton Distillery Tour, which delves deep into the distillery’s signature ‘Slow Craft’ process, there is something for every whisky enthusiast.
In addition to its recent World Travel Awards win, The Singleton Distillery has garnered several other accolades over the past couple of years. The distillery was named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland and World Whiskies Awards in 2024, and has consistently received top ratings from visitors on Tripadvisor.
Leigh Aitken, Brand Home Manager at The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, expressed her excitement at receiving the prestigious award, emphasizing the hard work of the team in providing guests with an unforgettable experience. Aitken highlighted the various offerings at the distillery, from exclusive whisky tastings to live music sessions at Singleton Sessions, ensuring that visitors leave with lasting memories and a desire to return.
Furthermore, Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, a key part of Diageo’s investment in whisky tourism in Scotland, was also recognized at the World Travel Awards, winning the title of World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience for the second consecutive year.
The World Travel Awards are highly regarded in the travel and tourism industry, recognizing excellence across various sectors. Since its establishment in 1993, the awards have celebrated outstanding contributions to the global travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. The accolades received by The Singleton of Glen Ord and Johnnie Walker Princes Street underscore Scotland’s position as a premier destination for whisky enthusiasts and tourists alike.
