Edinburgh’s first single malt in 100 years launches

Scotch whisky maker John Crabbie & Co has released the first single malt to be produced in Edinburgh in nearly a century.

The new whisky is the first to be released from the brand’s Chain Pier Distillery in Edinburgh.

The Granton-based site was set up by Halewood Artisanal Spirits as an ‘experimental’ pilot distillery, while the larger Bonnington distillery for Crabbie Whisky was still under construction.

The expression, called Chain Pier Single Malt, was matured in heavily charred virgin American oak casks.

The resulting liquid offers notes of berries, forest fruits and green apples on the nose, with rich caramel, sweet malt and ginger spice on the palate.

James Stocker, marketing director at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “The Chain Pier distillery was operational for just a year (between 2018 and 2019), yet it gave our team a great opportunity to continue John Crabbie’s legacy of innovation – handcrafting unique distillations and trialling everything from malt types to custom casks.

“The launch of the Chain Pier Single Malt is an incredibly exciting step in the John Crabbie & Co journey, as the malt whisky that we have crafted from start to finish at a site of our own.

“The quality of the liquid is really a testament to our distilling team and master blender Dr Kirstie McCallum, and a great preview of what’s to come from the Crabbie whisky brand.”

The 57% ABV expression was distilled on site using a 500-litre copper pot still, and is limited to 234 bottles.

Chain Pier Single Malt is available to buy from specialist whisky shops and The Drop’s online store, priced at RRP £65 (US$88).

In February last year, Halewood Artisanal Spirits released 260 bottles of Crabbie 1992 Speyside Single Malt whisky in the UK.

The Spirits Business named Crabbie as one of its Scotch whisky brands to watch in 2022.