#19 Ian Stirling - Building a Vertical Distillery, Port of Leith, Fermentation, Regeneration, Sherry, Legacy

Ian Stirling is the co-founder of the Port of Leith Distillery, located in the historic port of Leith, Scotland. He’s also the co-founder of Lind & Lime Gin and runs a wine and spirits bottling and import business.

The Port of Leith Distillery is one of the most remarkable in the world — a vertical distillery built like a tower block in an urban landscape. It holds the unique distinction of being the tallest distillery in the world. Whisky production began there about a year ago, but there’s so much more to explore in this conversation.

We dive into the architectural challenges of building a distillery vertically, the sustainability and energy-saving benefits (or lack thereof), and the economics of building a distillery from scratch. We also discuss the process of designing a whisky character before you truly know how it will mature.

The episode touches on the fascinating history of Leith — its regeneration, its legacy as a major trading port, and its role as a former global powerhouse of whisky blending. We also discuss why Scotch whisky is traditionally aged in sherry casks, and along the way, we chat about sherry and port too.

This episode is sponsored by Fever Tree Mixers