Port of Leith New Make Spirit

Smell: Gentle floral and honey notes with subtle malt underneath. A hint of the sea, but mostly sweet. Taste: Starts dry then quickly turns sweet. The main taste is light grain with some alcohol burn present. Ending: Brief and fleeting. Grain flavors vanish into alcohol. The distillery is situated in Leith, an area on the water in a repurposed industrial and docklands part of Edinburgh. It's quite unique, being one of the few distilleries built vertically that I've encountered. This design is partly due to the limited area in a costly neighborhood and partly due to the company's commitment to energy conservation. All distilleries require moving large volumes of product constantly, which typically uses a lot of energy. Port of Leith opted for a vertical (eight stories high) structure to utilize gravity for moving materials as much as possible. Having only produced their first new spirit recently, it will be a long time before they have whisky available. In the interim, they are offering tastings of their new spirit, which is undergoing significant experimentation. The variety I sampled was fermented with Voss Kviek yeast, but you might encounter a different type if you visit. We also tried a new spirit fermented with a yeast strain called “BE-256,” which was considerably different, having a much stronger grain character and noticeably less sweetness. The sample I had was somewhat like new spirit mixed with vodka, likely because it was diluted to 40% alcohol by volume. Earlier new spirits I've sampled from other distilleries were at cask strength or only slightly reduced, making this one seem simpler, yet it was very pleasant and drinkable straight. I believe Port of Leith has a promising future, and I'm eager to sample their whisky once it's finally released. Their tour is also among the finest I've experienced, and it's the only way to taste the new spirit, so if you're in Edinburgh, don't miss the chance. Tasted during a distillery visit. “Above Average”: 82/100 (3.25 stars)