Rising Spirits: Whisky Specialist Vaibhav Sood Joins Port of Leith Distillery
The soon-to-be-launched Port of Leith Distillery, situated in Edinburgh, has recently appointed a whisky specialist as it readies for operation.
Vaibhav Sood, who previously served as the operations manager at The Lakes Distillery in England, will be taking the reins at the state-of-the-art £13 million distillery spanning nine storeys. Upon its inauguration, the Port of Leith Distillery is projected to have the capability of manufacturing up to a million whisky bottles annually, with ambitious plans to innovate with yeast strains, fermentation techniques, and maturation programs.
Sood expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “To be a part of the renowned Scotch whisky industry was always a vision of mine, and engaging with a unique distillation process such as Port of Leith’s has been a remarkable journey so far. Being able to work alongside such a devoted, passionate, and progressive team is a privilege, and I am thrilled to be in charge of every aspect of whisky production as we strive to introduce our top-notch single malt to consumers worldwide.”
The Port of Leith Distillery
The Port of Leith Distillery, a pioneer in the UK with its vertical design, is anticipated to commence operations later this year, supporting around 50 job roles once fully functional. Beyond whisky production, the distillery plans to offer tours and tastings, and will also feature a top-floor mezzanine bar that provides panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Founders Iain Stirling and Paddy Fletcher
The founders of this venture are Iain Stirling and Paddy Fletcher, who are also at the helm of the Lind & Lime Gin Distillery in Leith. Their gin business relocated to a new headquarters in Leith in May 2022.
Fletcher, discussing Sood’s appointment, remarked, “With Vaibhav coming on board, we’re taking a significant step as we gear up for production in the coming months. He has already played a crucial role in refining our production process, leading our wood management program, and assembling our whisky operations team, and we are excited to see his contributions in crafting our extraordinary new whisky.“
