Scotch Whisky Experience facts for kids
The Scotch Whisky Experience is a popular visitor attraction located in the historic Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is right next to the famous Edinburgh Castle. This center offers exciting tours and learning sessions about Scotch whisky. It also has a shop, event spaces, and a restaurant called Amber.
History of the Building
The Scotch Whisky Experience opened its doors in 1988. It is located in what used to be the Castlehill School. This school was for both boys and girls. However, they used separate stairways to keep them apart. This interesting design is still part of the building today. The school closed in 1951 because fewer students were attending. After that, the building was used for different things. It was a cooking school, a city study center, and even a general store.
How it Started
In July 1987, 19 different Scotch whisky companies worked together. They invested £2 million (about $2.5 million US dollars) to create something special. They wanted to build a permanent place to learn about Scotch whisky. This new attraction was called The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre. It first opened on May 5, 1988. Later, in 2006, its name was changed to The Scotch Whisky Experience.
Visitors and Popularity
Many people visit The Scotch Whisky Experience every year. In 2013, about 300,000 people came to the attraction. More than 155,000 of them took the tour. These numbers grew even more in 2014. That year, 308,000 people visited, and 157,000 went on the tour. Most visitors came from countries that traditionally enjoy whisky. But many also came from new whisky markets. These included countries like China, Brazil, and India.
Awards and Recognition
The Scotch Whisky Experience has won several awards. These awards show how good it is as a visitor attraction:
- Scottish Tourist Board (VisitScotland) – It received a 5-star rating.
- Green Tourism Business Scheme – It earned a Silver award for being eco-friendly.
- Distillery Experience Awards – It won "Best Educational Experience" in 2014.
- British Travel Awards – It won a Bronze Medal for "Best Leisure Attraction" in 2014.
- Icons of Whisky – It was named "Best Whisky Attraction" in 2013.
- Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions – It was voted "Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction" in 2011.
