‌

Explore the famous Port of Leith Distillery in Edinburgh

Set along Edinburgh’s historic waterfront, the Port of Leith Distillery is the city’s first vertical whisky distillery. This architectural landmark redefines traditional Scotch-making, stacking every stage of production within a bold, modern tower. What makes the Port of Leith truly special — and a must-visit on Edinburgh whisky tours — is its gravity-led design, where whisky flows naturally from floor to floor, blending innovative engineering with centuries-old craftsmanship.

How to enter the Port of Leith Distillery?

The Port of Leith Distillery is located in Edinburgh’s Leith district along the historic waterfront near Ocean Drive. Entry is through the main ground-level reception inside the distinctive vertical tower.

Access is granted through pre-booked guided tour tickets, as production areas are not open for independent exploration. A tour ticket includes entry to the building, a guided walkthrough of the whisky-making process, and a tasting experience at the top-floor bar.

Keen to delve into Edinburgh’s top whisky experiences?

While tickets for the Port of Leith Distillery are not currently available, you can still discover exceptional whisky tours across Edinburgh, from immersive tastings to guided distillery experiences.

Whiskey being poured into tasting glasses at Middleton Whiskey Distillery.
View Edinburgh whisky tours!

Why is the Port of Leith Distillery a must-visit attraction?

Mixology expert demonstrating whiskey blending at Midleton Distillery, Ireland.
  • Scotland’s first vertical whisky distillery: As the UK’s first vertical whisky distillery, the Port of Leith's entire production process is arranged across nine levels in a tower designed to use gravity, allowing the spirit to move from one stage to the next.
  • Reviving Leith’s whisky legacy: Located in Edinburgh’s historic port district, the distillery brings whisky production back to Leith, an area once central to Scotland’s export trade.
  • Full production insight: One of the most interesting aspects is that the distillery showcases milling, mashing, fermentation, and distillation within a single urban site, making it easy to understand how modern Scotch whisky is crafted.
  • Top-floor whisky bar: That’s not all. The experience culminates at the upper-level bar, where modern architecture meets time-honoured distilling traditions. From here, views over the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh’s waterfront create one of the most distinctive tasting settings in the city.

Things to know before visiting the Port of Leith Distillery

  • Exclusive tour ticket: The Port of Leith Distillery operates via pre-booked guided tours. Each ticket includes access to the production floors and a curated whisky tasting at the top-floor bar.
  • Age restrictions: Children aged 7–17 may join tours but must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Guests under 18 are not permitted to consume alcohol and will receive a soft drink during the tasting portion.
  • Timed entry: Entry is granted only at the exact time slot booked. Late arrivals may not be accommodated once a tour has started, so arriving 10–15 minutes early is strongly recommended.
  • Accessibility considerations: The building is equipped with lift access. However, as a vertical working distillery, access to certain areas may occasionally be limited during operational hours.

What to see and do at the Port of Leith Distillery?

The Nine Storey Vertical Distillery

The first thing you’ll notice is the building itself. Admire Port of Leith’s purpose-built nine-storey distillery, with each floor dedicated to a stage of the whisky-making process.

Working Production Areas

Explore the heart of the distillery, passing through the spaces where barley is milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled, and watch the whisky-making process unfold from start to finish.

Milling and Mash Tun

Observe where it all begins: the malt mill, where barley is crushed to the right consistency. From there, it moves to the mash tun, where hot water extracts sugars, creating wort, the first step in making whisky.

Fermentation Vessels

Next up are the stainless steel washbacks. This is where yeast is added to the wort to create alcohol, producing a liquid called wash. Watching the washbacks gives a real sense of how whisky begins to take shape.

Copper Pot Stills

The distillation floor features shiny copper pot stills, where heat separates alcohol from water and solids. The vapours rise and condense, creating the new-make spirit, a key step in producing whisky.

Spirit Safe

The spirit safe is where the distillate is carefully monitored and collected, ensuring only the right portions move forward, keeping production consistent and precise.

Quality Control Lab Tasting

The tour includes a tasting in the Quality Control Lab, featuring several samples, including new-make spirit. It’s a great chance to experience the flavours straight from the distillery before bottling.

Fill Your Own New Make Bottle

One of the highlights of the tour is filling and labelling a miniature bottle of new make spirit at the on-site bottling machine. It’s hands-on, fun, and gives a little keepsake to remember the experience.

Top Floor Distillery Bar

The tour wraps up at the top-floor bar. Here, you can enjoy views over the Firth of Forth and the Leith waterfront while sampling a selection of whiskies and drinks.

Historical significance of the Port of Leith Distillery

The Port of Leith Distillery opened to the public in October 2023 after several years of planning and construction by co‑founders Paddy Fletcher and Ian Stirling. It is the first vertical whisky distillery built in the United Kingdom, located on a compact waterfront site in Leith, Edinburgh.

What’s interesting is that the original plan did not include a vertical design, but the limited size of the site made stacking production floors the most practical solution.

In addition to whisky production, the distillery features tours, tastings, a shop, and a bar. The project was created to serve as a modern landmark for the city while supporting whisky production and tourism in Edinburgh’s historic port district.

Architectural highlights of the Port of Leith Distillery

Vertical design and engineering

The distillery’s nine‑storey vertical layout was developed to accommodate all production stages on a compact urban site. The floors are stacked, with grain milling and mashing at the top and fermentation and distillation below.

Waterfront location and modern form

The building sits on Edinburgh’s Leith waterfront, next to Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Its industrial design combines production areas with visitor facilities and a top-floor bar, making the tower a contemporary harbour landmark.

Know before you go

Barrels aging whiskey in Midleton Distillery maturation warehouse, Ireland.
  • Bar hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 12 pm to 8:30 pm. Friday to Saturday, 12 pm to 10:30 pm. Sunday, 12 pm to 8:30 pm.
  • Tour hours: Tours generally run between 11 am and 9:30 pm on weekdays with similar or slightly later times on weekends.
Edinburgh Whisky Tours timings
Visitors enjoying a tasting session on a distillery tour in Tasmania, departing from Hobart.
  • For atmosphere: Late afternoon or early evening allows for a tour followed by drinks as the sun sets over the Firth of Forth.
  • For a quieter visit: Weekdays, especially Tuesday or Wednesday, offer a more relaxed experience compared to Friday and Saturday.
  • Peak season: Summer months and the Edinburgh Festival season in August are the busiest times.
  • Low season: Late autumn and winter, excluding holiday periods, tend to be quieter and less crowded.
  • Seasonal tip: Spring through early autumn provides the clearest 60-mile views from the top-floor bar.
Plan your visit

Address: 11 Whisky Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6FH.

The distillery is a short walk from Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

  • By tram: Stop at Ocean Terminal with frequent services from the city centre.
  • By bus: Lothian buses 10, 34, 35, 36, 200, and 16 stop nearby.
  • By train: Edinburgh Waverley station is 15–20 minutes by tram or bus.
  • By car: Free parking is available at Ocean Terminal with drop-off points near the entrance.
Restroom sign with male, female, and sink symbols illuminated on a wall.
  • Step-free access is available to public areas with lifts connecting each level.
  • Accessible toilets are located on multiple floors.
  • Sensory packs and hearing loop systems are available on request.
  • Shop and bar areas are accessible and welcoming. Assistance dogs are allowed.
  • Seating is available in public areas and on the tour route for comfort.
No smoking sign at Whales of Iceland Museum entrance.
  • Children aged 7 to 17 may attend tours with an adult.
  • Only guests aged 18 and above are served alcoholic drinks. Guests below 18 are only served soft drinks.
  • Babies and children under 7 are not permitted on the tour.
  • Sensible footwear is required, such as flat shoes. High heels, cycling shoes, or open-toe shoes are not allowed.
  • Photography is permitted following the guide's instructions.
  • The distillery is non-smoking throughout.
Person tasting whiskey at Zaanse Schans distillery tour.
  • Tours move through active industrial areas, so caution is advised for anyone with balance issues or certain health conditions.
  • Groups follow the guide at all times to ensure safety and clarity.
  • Arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled tour to check in and start on time.
  • Designated drivers or non-drinkers are offered soft drinks and can take home tasting samples if preferred.

Frequently asked questions about Port of Leith Distillery and its tours

Most guided experiences, including tastings, last around 90 minutes.

More reads

Holyrood Distillery

The Johnnie Walker Experience

Glenkinchie Distillery