Stirling Distillery Awarded Prestigious AA Gold Award for Visitor Attractions
Stirling, Scotland – 5th December 2025. Stirling Distillery, situated at the foot of Stirling Castle within the historic Old Smiddy building, has been awarded the AA Gold Award for Visitor Attractions following its first-ever AA Quality Assured Visitor Attraction assessment.
Located in a beautifully renovated Victorian building known locally as the ‘old smiddy’, the site has served as a church, a temperance hall, and a blacksmith’s forge since 1888. Renovated by husband-and-wife team June and Cameron McCann, the distillery opened its doors in 2019. Stirling Distillery holds the distinction of being Stirling’s first legal distillery on the castle rock and reintroduced whisky production for the first time in 170 years in 2023. A family run business, they celebrate the city's rich heritage through their product range and offer a visitor experience that is both authentic and deeply rooted in local history and folklore.
The distillery has earned a strong reputation for excellence, currently ranking as the number one thing to do in Stirling on Tripadvisor and holding multiple awards for Stirling Visitor Attraction of the Year, further cementing its position as one of Scotland’s standout tourism destinations.
During the assessment, particular focus was placed on the Stirling Distillery Gin Driver’s Experience, delivered on this occasion as an intimate one-to-one session. Although alcohol tastings were not possible for the assessor on the day, the experience was thoughtfully adapted to maintain the highest level of hospitality. The visit began with a freshly prepared alcohol-free mocktail, and the assessor was offered a gin sample to enjoy later.
Stirling Distillery achieved an exceptional 94% rating, securing the AA Gold Award and placing the attraction among the top-performing visitor experiences recognised by AA inspectors. The accolade reflects excellence across every stage of the visitor journey - from the warmth of the welcome to the quality of storytelling, interpretation, and the distinctiveness of the experience.
In its report, the AA praised the distillery’s consistently high standards and highlighted the award as recognition of its commitment to delivering memorable, high-quality experiences.
Elle McCann, distillery manager, said:
“We’re delighted to receive the AA Gold Award, especially on our very first assessment. As a family-run distillery, we pride ourselves on offering a warm welcome and an experience that reflects Stirling’s history as well as our passion for craft distillation. This recognition is a real testament to our wider team who feel like family and the care they put into every tour, tasting and event.”
To celebrate the award, Stirling Distillery is offering 2-for-1 on distillery tours booked between now and March 2026, giving visitors even more reason to discover what makes the attraction one of Scotland’s most distinctive and welcoming craft distilleries.
Visit https://stirlingdistillery.com/pages/distillery-experiences for more information and use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout.
The AA Gold Award marks another significant achievement for Stirling Distillery as it continues to develop its visitor offering, produce award-winning spirits, and showcase the heritage of one of Scotland’s most historic cities.
