Edinburgh: Port of Leith Distillery Tour & Whisky Tasting

Summary

Edinburgh’s tallest distillery tour with tasting, stories and hands-on moments

You’ll climb through Edinburgh’s Port of Leith Distillery with a local guide, taste your way from raw spirit to finished whisky in their QC LAB, and even fill your own miniature bottle to take home. Expect stories behind each sip and small moments that stick with you long after you leave—especially that view across Leith from halfway up.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re not scared of heights, right?” our guide grinned as we stepped onto the grated floor. I hadn’t really thought about it until then — you can see straight down to the bottom level, and the air inside the Port of Leith Distillery smells sharp and a little sweet, almost metallic. The building itself is tall and kind of futuristic, jutting up from old Leith like someone dropped a whisky spaceship here. We started climbing, stopping every so often while our guide (Jamie? Or was it James? He had that Edinburgh accent that makes everything sound friendlier) pointed out bits of machinery I’d never seen before. Pipes everywhere. It’s actually the UK’s first vertical whisky distillery — which sounds like marketing but when you’re in it, you get why they brag.

I liked how Jamie didn’t rush us. He told us about the two founders who started this whole thing after too many late-night chats — apparently on a sofa somewhere nearby. At one point he handed me a tiny bottle and said “Go on then,” so I filled my own miniature with New Make spirit (which smells way more raw than finished whisky — almost bready). Everyone laughed when I nearly overfilled mine. There was this moment in the QC LAB where we sat around a table under bright lights, tasting samples lined up in little glasses: New Make, then port, sherry, and finally their Table Whisky. The sherry surprised me — sweeter than I expected. Someone asked if they could try again; Jamie just nodded like he gets that all the time.

I kept noticing small things: condensation on the windows from the stills below, the way everyone leaned in closer during the story bits. There were printed scripts for people who wanted them — French, Spanish, even Mandarin (I tried to read one line out loud; Li laughed at my pronunciation). The whole thing took about 90 minutes but honestly felt quicker. When we left, there was this salty tang in the air from Leith docks outside and my hands still smelled faintly of malted barley. I keep thinking about that view from halfway up — city rooftops stretching away under grey sky. Not what I pictured when I booked a day trip whisky tasting in Edinburgh, but maybe better for it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Port of Leith Distillery tour and tasting

• Hear company inception story
• Explore tallest whisky distillery
• Fill miniature New Make bottle
• Sit in QC LAB for tasting
• Taste New Make, port, sherry, whisky

Top questions

How long is the Port of Leith Distillery tour?

The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Is there a whisky tasting included in the tour?

Yes, there is a guided tasting session featuring New Make spirits, port, sherry, and Table Whisky.

Can children join the Port of Leith Distillery tour?

Children aged 7-17 can join if accompanied by an adult; children under 7 are not permitted.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Are tours available in languages other than English?

Tours are conducted in English with printed or QR scripts available in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese Mandarin & Polish (printed only).

Do you get to bottle your own whisky during the tour?

You’ll fill your own miniature bottle of New Make spirit as part of the experience.

Are service animals allowed on the tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed at Port of Leith Distillery.

What should I wear for the distillery tour?

Sensible footwear is required; high heels or open-toe shoes aren’t permitted due to open grate flooring.

What’s included

Your visit includes entry to Edinburgh’s Port of Leith Distillery for a 90-minute guided tour with tastings of New Make spirit, port, sherry and Table Whisky; plus you’ll get to fill your own miniature bottle during your time inside their unique vertical building before heading back out into Leith’s salty air.