A MULTI-MILLION-POUND investment in a distillery’s visitor centre has been recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

Diageo unveiled the new visitor experience, which allows people to find out all about Lowland Whisky, at Glenkinchie earlier this month.

Already, the visitor centre, south of Pencaitland, has been visited by a number of local politicians, as well as members of the public.

Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, was among those to have toured the facility and highlighted its importance at the Scottish Parliament.

He said: “As one of only six remaining Lowland distilleries, Glenkinchie has always been a popular attraction, welcoming thousands of visitors to the site each year.

“I’m delighted that Diageo has invested in the distillery in this way, which underlines the importance of Glenkinchie to the company and its plans.

“The new visitor centre takes the experience of visiting the distillery up to a different level, by enhancing the way the history of the site and the process of making the whisky is presented.

“It’s a very welcome development that will undoubtedly help bring even more tourists to East Lothian.”

Mr Gray’s motion at Holyrood has also received the backing of a handful of his parliamentary colleagues.

The motion reads: “That the Parliament welcomes the newly opened multi-million-pound visitor centre at Glenkinchie Distillery, which includes a new statue of Johnnie Walker’s Striding Man icon, which was created by the Edinburgh-based artist Angela Johnston, along with Bruce, a Scottish deerhound, who was the distillery mascot and champion pest catcher; understands that, as well as telling Glenkinchie’s story and the rich history of whisky production on the site, the new visitor centre also celebrates Lowland whisky and Glenkinchie’s important role as one of four corner distilleries around Scotland, taking in Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila, as well as Glenkinchie, which will form a network of visitor experiences linked to the new global centrepiece, Johnnie Walker Princes Street, in Edinburgh, which is due to open in 2021; commends Diageo for its significant investment in Glenkinchie and the visitor centre, which it is believed will help to further enhance its status as one of East Lothian’s most popular visitor attractions, and wishes all the staff at the distillery well for the future.”