On September 9, 2025, the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, visited Mount Vernon to promote the Scotch whiskey sector. When he arrived at Mount Vernon, Swinney signed the guestbook marking his visitation. He was then shown to the tombs of George and Martha Washington where he laid a wreath to commemorate the General and his wife.
Because his trip was oriented towards promoting the Scotch whiskey industry, the staple of Swinney’s visit was his tour of the Distillery & Gristmill, where he sampled George Washington’s famous whiskey alongside representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Together, they held a meeting about whiskey tariffs between the U.S and the U.K, with Swinney stating that the group, “Discussed the zero for zero approach on tariffs, which would help the industry to flourish on both sides of the Pond.”
Afterwards, Swinney was presented with an engraved wooden plaque commemorating his visit and the partnership between Scotch whiskey and Kentucky bourbon.
Swinney receives an engraved wooden plaque. (MVLA)
The First Minister of Scotland Promotes the Scotch Whiskey Sector
