Port of Leith Distillery: Edinburgh's Vertical Distillery
Updated: 7 hours ago
The Port of Leith Distillery is Scotland's first vertical distillery, a nine storey building in Edinburgh's historic whisky district of Leith.
In this guide
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Port of Leith at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Region | Lowland, Scotland |
Ownership | Port of Leith Distillery |
History | Visitors since 2023; own spirit from 2024 |
Whisky and production | These are sourced or blended products, not mature single malt distilled on site |
Named expressions | Port of Leith Table Whisky, Port of Leith Perpetuity |
Visits | Verify public access, current tours and opening times with the distillery before travelling. |
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Quick facts
Location: Leith, Edinburgh, close to Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia
Opened: October 2023, per Whisky.com
Founders: Paddy Fletcher and Ian Stirling, two Edinburgh whisky fans
Cost: about 12 million pounds per Wikipedia
Visits: a 90 minute tour and tasting, plus a top floor bar, Wednesday to Sunday
A distillery built upwards
Wikipedia describes it as the first vertical distillery in the United Kingdom. The layout came from the small plot of land, which caused significant design and construction challenges. Production stages sit on different floors, and the top floor bar has panoramic views of the city.
Visiting and the community
Tours include filling a miniature bottle of the spirit. The distillery also runs a founders club called the Quality Control Division and a private cask programme.
Scotland's first vertical distillery
Master of Malt reported in October 2023 that Port of Leith Distillery had opened its vertical distillery in Edinburgh, with production starting that week. Plans first emerged publicly in 2017. The Times describes it as a 14 million pound project billed as the UK's first vertical distillery.
Founders: whisky enthusiasts Ian and Paddy from Edinburgh, per the distillery website
Address: 11 Whisky Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6FH
Site: close to Ocean Terminal in Leith
Sources
Port of Leith Distillery official website (leithdistillery.com)
Wikipedia, Port of Leith distillery
Whisky.com distillery database
If you would like us to add more information about this distillery, please contact us.
Further source read on 21 October 2026: Master of Malt report (11 October 2023), Port of Leith Distillery website and The Times review.
Verified producer details and recent milestones
The Port of Leith distillery opened its Edinburgh visitor building in 2023 and began producing its own single malt spirit in 2024. Spirit produced in 2024 must mature for at least three years in oak before it can legally be sold as Scotch whisky.
The Table Whisky and Perpetuity labels documented in this guide are sourced or blended bottlings rather than an already mature official single malt distilled at the vertical Edinburgh site. Its unusual building arrangement uses gravity to move material between production floors.
What makes Port of Leith distinctive?
These are sourced or blended products, not mature single malt distilled on site
Port of Leith whisky bottle and expression comparison
These earlier brand bottlings should not be presented as mature single malt produced at Edinburgh's newer vertical distillery.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Port of Leith Table Whisky | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Sourced/blended brand bottling, not mature distillery-made single malt |
Port of Leith Perpetuity | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Sourced/blended whisky associated with the wider Port of Leith brand |
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Port of Leith
Where is Port of Leith based?
Lowland region, Scotland; see article details.
Who owns Port of Leith?
Port of Leith Distillery
What is an important date in Port of Leith's history?
Visitors since 2023; own spirit from 2024
Which whiskies are associated with Port of Leith?
Port of Leith Table Whisky, Port of Leith Perpetuity. Release status changes.
Can you visit Port of Leith?
Confirm tour availability, visitor rules and hours with the distillery; production-only sites may not offer public visits.
Sources and editorial checks
Original historical research and source notes are preserved in this guide. Producer details, distillery access and releases may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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