The founders of the Port of Leith Distillery, have today announced that construction on their new £12 million pound distillery has begun.
Foundations have been laid for the new Scotch whisky distillery, which will rise 40 metres above the quayside, a stone’s throw from the Royal Yacht Britannia.
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| Construction begins on the Port of Leith Distillery |
Port of Leith Distillery, which is the brainchild of boyhood friends and distillery co-founders Patrick Fletcher and Ian Stirling, will have two copper stills and the capacity to produce up to million bottles of single malt a year.
The £12 million project is being funded by a range of international private investors, including two unnamed drinks industry CEOs, and is being built by specialist Scottish firms including constructors Colorado Group, who built the Raasay and Kingsbarns distilleries.
Historically Leith harbour was one of the key landing points for sherry from Spain and port from Portugal, and it was here that whisky merchants had the idea of using the newly emptied barrels to store their whisky in the bonded warehouses that lined the shore.
Commenting on the news, Ian Stirling, Co-Founder of the Port of Leith Distillery, said: “We have always been passionate about whisky and it’s been a long-held dream for us to create an amazing, modern Scotch whisky distillery in our home city. It began ten years ago as a mad idea over a dram when we were working together in London and it grew from there.”
He went onto say: “Our ambition is to create an outstanding new style of Scotch using a modern approach, based on years of research we have already undertaken – and building on the remarkable heritage of the historic whisky district of Leith.”
The Port of Leith Distillery, which is due to open in 2022, will also feature a top floor double height whisky bar, with views to Edinburgh Castle. It is also create around 50 long-term jobs once complete.
Posted by Steve Rush