WHISKY veteran Billy Walker has launched a new visitor centre and shop at his GlenAllachie Distillery in Speyside.

It means the distillery will offer tours to visitors for the first time since it opened more than 50 years ago.

Mr Walker acquired GlenAllachie with Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson from Pernod Ricard in 2017, after his family sold the BenRiach Distillery Company for £285 million.

The new shop at GlenAllachie offers branded merchandise, plus two single cask whiskies exclusives: a 12 year old and 29 year old, both hand-selected by Mr Walker.

It shop and visitor centre have opened its doors in time for this month's Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Mr Walker said: "The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is a highlight of the year with whisky fans from all the over the world flocking to the region.

"For many, this will be the first chance they’ve had to visit our distillery, visitor centre and shop and sample our single malt. I wanted to make the best possible first impression so I’ve personally selected two casks, which I believe provide wonderful examples of the type of single malt whisky we’re producing here.”

The new visitor centre will be managed by Karen McWilliam, previously worked at the GlenDronach Highland distillery in Aberdeenshire.