Bonnington distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, owned by Halewood Artisanal Spirits.
 | |
| Region: Lowland | |
|---|---|
| Location | Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Owner | Halewood Artisanal Spirits |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Status | Active |
| Water source | Local aquifer |
| No. of stills | 1 wash 1 spirit |
| Capacity | 500,000 L |
| Website | crabbiewhisky.com |
| Map | |
  Bonnington Bonnington (Edinburgh) | |
History
editThe Bonnington distillery project began in 2017 on Graham Street, close to the original John Crabbie premises.[1][2] Construction commenced in 2018, during which the ruins of historic Bonnington House, once a military headquarters during the siege of Edinburgh Castle, were uncovered and documented by archaeologists.[1][2][3] The site was chosen to retain the same postcode (EH6) as the original Crabbie building.[4]
The distillery was commissioned in 2019 and began production in March 2020. The initial set‑up included a two‑tonne mash tun, six 10,000‑litre washbacks, and two stills, later expanded in 2023 with nine additional washbacks to enable a 24‑hour, five‑day production cycle.[4]
In January 2024, Bonnington launched its first single malt expression — the Bonnington Inaugural Release Single Malt — a single cask Lowland whisky aged in ruby Port casks. Only 500 bottles were produced, each hand‑signed by distillery manager Jamie Lockhart. Bottled at 52.3% ABV, it was described as having notes of dessert wine, dried pears, citrus, and rich oak.[3]
In May 2024, the distillery unveiled a limited Sherry Cask Release Single Malt, fully matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Just 250 cases were made, with tasting notes of sweet sugar, fresh oak, red fruit, and a tannic, slightly salty finish.[5]
In August 2025, Bonnington’s new range included a 47% ABV non‑peated spirit and a 51% ABV peated spirit, both matured in Muscat casks.[4]
Production
editThe distillery produces whisky entirely on site, from mashing to maturation, using copper pot stills and a variety of cask types including ruby Port, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and Muscat.[4] Malted barley is sourced from Pencaitland and Alloa, with casks filled on site and sent to warehouses in Kirkcaldy before returning to Edinburgh for bottling.[4]
Chain Pier distillery
editChain Pier was a pilot distillery in Granton which was operated whilst construction of Bonnington was delayed due to the archeological dig on the remains of Bonnington House. The pilot distillery operated for a single year, between 2018 and 2019, and filled only 39 casks.[6] The site operated one 500 litre pot still.[7].
An inaugural bottling of Chain Pier single malt was released in 2022.[8] This was promoted as the first single malt to be distilled within the boundaries of the City of Edinburgh in over a century.[7]
References
edit- 1 2 "Scottish whisky is enjoying a rejuvenation in Leith". The National. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- 1 2 "The Bonnington Distillery". Crabbie Whisky. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- 1 2 "Bonnington reveals inaugural single malt". The Spirits Business. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Bonnington has rekindled Crabbie connection to the Port of Leith". Scottish Licensed Trade News. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "Bonnington commits to small batch releases under its historic name". Scottish Licensed Trade News. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ↑ "John Crabbie & Co announces limited release from its Chain Pier Distillery". Whisky Magazine. 10 February 2022.
- 1 2 Carruthers, Nicola (11 February 2022). "Edinburgh's first single malt in 100 years launches". The Spirits Business.
- ↑ "A century of waiting". Scottish Grocer. 1 March 2022.