Scotch Whisky Delivering Across Lothian
WHISKY MAKES...
SCOTCH WHISKY IN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES IN LOTHIAN
- Almond Valley
- Starlaw Distillery
- Alba Campus, Bottling Facility
- Clyde Cooperage
- Aceo, Support & Administration
- Livingston Warehouse
- Muirhall Bond, Warehouse
- Nettlehill Road Bond, Warehouses
- Edinburgh Central
- Holyrood Distillery
- North British Distillery
- Atholl Crescent, Support & Administration
- Leith Street, Support & Administration
- Manor Place, Support & Administration
- Melville Crescent, Support & Administration
- Johnnie Walker Princess Street, Visitor Experience
- Scotch Whisky Experience, Visitor Experience
- Edinburgh Eastern
- Edinburgh Northern & Leith
- Bonnington Distillery
- Port of Leith Distillery
- Coburg Street, Support & Administration
- Commercial Street, Support & Administration
- Jane Street, Support & Administration
- The Vaults, Support & Administration
- Leith Facility, Warehouse
- Edinburgh Pentlands
- Edinburgh Southern
- Edinburgh Western
- Newbridge, Bottling Facility
- Edinburgh Park, Support & Administration
- Elizabeth Yard, Warehousing
- Elizabeth Yard, Warehousing
- Linlithgow
- Broxburn Bottlers
- Russell House, Support & Administration
- Linlithgow Bond, Warehousing
- Westerton Road, Warehousing
- Broxburn Warehouse
- Midlothian North & Musselburgh
CASE STUDIES IN LOTHIAN
PORT OF LEITH DISTILLERY
Opened to the public in October 2023, the Port of Leith Distillery is Scotland’s first vertical distillery and a great case study of innovation and collaboration. The founders received funding research into yeast and fermentation in Scotch Whisky production through the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme, run by Innovate UK. This in turn gave them access to the expertise and experience of the International Centre for Brewing & Distilling (ICBD), at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. The distillery sources its barley from Upper Bolton Farm just outside Edinburgh and the round trip from the farm to the stills is one of the shortest of any distillery in the UK, significantly cutting the food miles and carbon impact of its barley. Port of Leith is the biggest tourist attraction to be built in Leith for decades, supporting 50 long-term local jobs and expecting 25,000 visitors in its first year, increasing to 160,000 by 2025. The bottom half is for production and the top is hospitality, with full tours offered or the option to head straight to the shop and/or bar. The bar offers panoramic 360 views over the city. The opening of the distillery was followed by news that redevelopment proposals for Ocean Terminal had been approved, marking an exciting time for the area to bring in tourism and economic growth.
SCOTCH WHISKY ASSOCIATION
The Scotch Whisky Association, Scottish Quality Crops, National Farms Union Scotland, Scotland’s Rural College and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society all have a common goal of reducing the use of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser to make malting barley production more environmentally and economically sustainable. The Going with the Grain research project is assessing the viability of lower-emitting inorganic fertilisers. The project’s aim is to pave the way for other decarbonising initiatives which involve supply chain partnerships. The project is supported by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership Net Zero Fund.
JOHNNIE WALKER PRINCES STREET
Johnnie Walker Princes Street opened in September 2021, following Diageo’s announcement of £150m investment over three years to transform its Scotch whisky visitor experiences. The building also aimed to become a new hub for Diageo’s business in Scotland linking to wider social investment and creating opportunities in the hospitality sector for young unemployed people, through increased investment in the company’s Learning for Life programme. Diageo also said it would leverage its export and innovation expertise with the venue becoming a destination to mentor Scotland’s next generation of entrepreneurs and exporters. As of December 2023, the experience had welcomed over 700,000 visitors, from 131 countries across the world. It has been awarded Europe’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience at The World Travel Awards in October; Transform Magazine’s Best Brand Experience in Europe, and Visitor Attraction of the Year as part of Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky programme.
COMMUNITY ALCOHOL PARTNERSHIPS IN LOTHIAN
CAPs are partnerships between police, local authorities, schools, and retailers who work together to highlight the risks of underage drinking and improve the health and wellbeing of local children and young people. There are 9 CAPs in the Lothian region, two covering Midlothian North & Musselburgh, Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale, one covering Edinburgh Northern & Leith, one covering Edinburgh Western, Edinburgh Northern & Leith, three covering Edinburgh Southern & Edinburgh Eastern, and two covering Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western.
Edinburgh - a city-wide approach
Key to CAP’s success is that we support local communities to create strong partnerships that identify local problems of underage and young adult drinking and design and manage their own action plans.
In Edinburgh, CAPs covering the whole of the city have made great connections with retailers, schools, the local authority and councillors, MPs, community groups, youth clubs and even the army.
A new report by CAP published this week has reported a 56% reduction in weekly drinking by 13-15 year olds in Edinburgh and Orkney since local partnerships were established. The report was shared with MSPs at a CAP Reception at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 28 February 2023.