Port of Leith Distillery Tour and Tasting: Edinburgh

Fill your own bottle of New Make spirit inside the world's tallest distillery

The Port of Leith Distillery Tour and Tasting is a 90-minute guided experience at the UK's first vertical whisky distillery in Edinburgh, where you explore the building's architecture, fill a miniature bottle of New Make spirit, and taste samples of New Make, port, sherry and Table Whisky in the QC Lab. Children from age 7 are welcome with an adult; the tour moves through a production facility with open grate flooring, so sensible footwear is required.

The Experience

The Port of Leith Distillery sits in Edinburgh's historic Leith whisky district and is built unlike anything else in the world — a vertical distillery that rises as a landmark on its own. Over 90 minutes, a guide walks you through the company's story: two whisky fans from Edinburgh who went from dreaming on a sofa to operating this structure. You'll move through the incredible architecture of the building itself, seeing how it was designed to work as a production space from the ground up.

The core of the experience is hands-on. You fill your own miniature bottle of New Make spirit — the unmatured whisky that comes straight off the still — so you leave with something you've made yourself. Then you sit in the QC Lab, the quality control space where the distillery's own team works, and taste your way through an extensive selection: New Make spirits, port, sherry and Table Whisky. The guide takes you through production and maturation as you taste, so the samples show you what happens at each stage instead of just telling you about it.

The tour moves through a working production facility with open grate flooring and plated walkways. Wear sensible shoes — high heels, cleated cycling shoes and open-toe shoes aren't permitted. Children from age 7 can join with a responsible adult; babies and children under 7 aren't allowed for health and safety reasons. The tour is conducted in English, and scripts in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Polish are available (printed and QR formats); Braille and Large Print scripts are also on hand.

What’s included

• 90-minute guided tour of the distillery building and production process.
• miniature bottle of New Make spirit that you fill yourself.
• guided tasting of New Make spirits, port, sherry and Table Whisky in the QC Lab.
• tour conducted in English with scripts available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Polish.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Port Of Leith Distillery

Is this one for you?Fill your own bottle and taste in the working QC Lab where the distillery's team operates — you'll understand whisky production through hands-on experience rather than observation alone.

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Top questions

What exactly is New Make spirit and why do I get to fill my own bottle?

New Make is unmatured whisky that comes straight off the still before it goes into casks for aging. You fill a miniature bottle of it during the tour, so you take home the spirit at its youngest stage and can taste how it changes as it matures — a tangible way to understand the production process.

How does the QC Lab tasting work and what will I taste?

You sit in the distillery's own quality control lab where the team works day-to-day, and the guide takes you through a tasting of New Make spirits, port, sherry and Table Whisky. Each sample shows you a different stage of production and maturation, so you're tasting the actual progression rather than isolated samples.

Can children come on this tour, and what's the age rule?

Children from age 7 can join with a responsible adult. Babies and children under 7 aren't permitted on the tour for health and safety reasons, since it moves through a working production facility.

What's special about the Port of Leith building itself?

It's the world's tallest distillery and the UK's first vertical whisky distillery — nothing quite like it has been built anywhere else. The architecture is part of the experience; the building was designed to work as a production space from the ground up, and you explore that design during the tour.

What should I wear, and are there any physical considerations?

Wear sensible footwear — high heels, cleated cycling shoes and open-toe shoes aren't allowed because the tour moves through a production facility with open grate flooring and plated walkways. The distillery advises caution if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or balance impairment. The building is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.