They are two of the most striking new buildings in Scotland.
And now The Macallan Distillery and V&A Dundee have been acclaimed as must-see destinations for international travellers.
American magazine TIME has revealed the venues are included on its list of ‘The World’s Greatest Places 2019’.
Only one other UK attraction – the University Arms Hotel in Cambridge – gains entry to the 100-strong global list.
V&A Dundee, an international centre for design, was opened last September and has already attracted more than 750,000 people.
Around a quarter of these visitors are reported to have come from the rest of the UK or overseas.
Designed by internationally renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, it stands at the centre of a £1 billion transformation of Dundee’s waterfront and has been credited with driving visitor numbers and providing a significant economic boost to the city.
The Macallan Distillery Experience in Speyside, which also opened in 2018, is the first such building developed by internationally-renowned architects Rogers, Stirk, Harbour + Partners and has already received a number of accolades for its innovative design.
Echoing its countryside setting, its rolling roof conceals an ingenious fusion of architecture, whisky technology and links between the past and present.
The Scottish Government’s Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is a fantastic achievement for both the V&A Dundee and The Macallan Distillery.
“Both attractions represent the very best of Scotland’s tourism experience.
“Whisky tourism continues to grow and, last year, visitor numbers to distilleries hit two million for the first time ever. The Macallan Distillery is an architectural wonder.
“The city of Dundee, meanwhile, has seen enormous benefit from the opening of the world class V&A museum.
“Since it opened, the museum has attracted more than half-a-million visitors from all over the UK and throughout the world and has been part of the rejuvenation of the waterfront in Dundee.”
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland’s chief executive, added: “Their inclusion in this prestigious list of the top 100 places to see in the world this year is testament to both attractions’ stature in the UK.
“I don’t think anyone could go to either location and not stand back in awe at these amazing feats of architecture, bringing their surroundings to life, as well as being drawn in to the experiences they offer visitors.
“Both attractions have been ground-breaking for their respective city and region.
“They have forged reputations for innovation, creativity, learning, community engagement and unforgettable experiences, helping to elevate the unique characters of both Dundee and Moray Speyside and put them on the map as must-see places.”
