Friends Paddy Fletcher and Ian Stirling grew up together in Edinburgh, later sharing a flat in London where they developed a mutual passion for whisky. Though their careers diverged—Paddy becoming an accountant and Ian working as a wine merchant—the idea of creating a distillery in their hometown never faded. In 2014 they formed Muckle Brig to raise investment for the Port of Leith Distillery, which entered construction in 2020.
© Sam Christie
Glasgow-based architecture firm ThreeSixty described designing Scotland’s first vertical distillery as a highly rewarding collaboration with their client, the Port of Leith Distillery. The project responds to the constraints of a compact city plot while creating a striking new addition to Leith’s built environment.
Leith, on the edge of Edinburgh’s city centre, is known for its lively arts and culture scene and a diverse selection of restaurants and bars along Leith Walk. The distillery’s location within this energetic neighbourhood makes it easy to visit and helps cement its role as a social as well as industrial destination.
The finished building was conceived to present a contemporary face for the Scotch whisky industry and to reflect the company’s values: innovation, education and openness. Its vertical arrangement is driven by the limited site footprint, producing a gravity-led production process that shapes both operation and visitor experience.
© Sam Christie
“Building a distillery of our own has been an ambition of Paddy Fletcher (Co‑Founder and CEO) and myself for over ten years, so to see the project finally come to fruition is a surreal moment for us,” said Ian Stirling. He added that the vertical form was not an original aim but a practical solution to the tiny site they secured in Leith’s historic harbour area.
The compact tower sits close to the water, making the distillery highly accessible. Fletcher and Stirling put significant thought into designing a public tour that would be memorable and engaging, and they now welcome visitors from around the world to “a whisky experience like no other.”
Rising nine storeys and standing 131 feet high, the Port of Leith Distillery is organised so production flows downward by gravity. Visitors move through the process as the whisky does: from the mashtun on the fifth floor, down to the washbacks on the third, and finally to the gleaming copper stills at ground level. This vertical layout both supports efficient production and creates a distinctive interpretive route for guests.
© Sam Christie
The rooftop mezzanine houses a bar and restaurant where visitors can enjoy cocktails, small plates and an extensive tasting menu while taking in views west toward Edinburgh and east across the Firth of Forth to Fife. The combination of production space, visitor facilities and panoramic outlooks helps make the distillery a compelling destination.
Opened to visitors in October 2023, the Port of Leith Distillery has quickly become a notable landmark in the city and a welcoming sight for the cruise ships that call at Leith’s harbour.