North British Distillery
A major Edinburgh grain whisky distillery whose spirit is principally supplied for blended Scotch whisky and other grain-spirit applications.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
North British Distillery is a large grain whisky distillery in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 1885 by a consortium of independent distillers and whisky blenders, the business was created to provide reliable, high-volume grain spirit for the expanding Scotch whisky trade. Its location was selected for industrial and logistical advantages: the site had access to railway infrastructure, was close to the Port of Leith for imported grain, and stood near Edinburgh’s developing sewer network, which simplified the handling of industrial effluent. Production began in 1887. The distillery rapidly became an important supplier of grain spirit, producing millions of litres annually within its first year and expanding substantially before the First World War. Unlike a single malt distillery, North British primarily makes grain whisky using grain-based production methods. Its output is generally not sold as a highly visible consumer brand of single-distillery whisky; instead, it is used as a component in blended Scotch whisky and, at times, as a source of neutral grain spirit for other products. The distillery has supplied spirit for blends associated with both of its present-day owners, including Johnnie Walker for Diageo and Famous Grouse for Edrington. The site’s history has been shaped by interruptions and reorganisations in the wider economy. Grain shortages brought production to a halt in 1917, and the distillery was considered for conversion to acetone manufacture for wartime munitions before returning to whisky production in 1920. During the Second World War it again ceased distilling; the premises were used first for grain storage and later as a depot for supplies connected with the D-Day effort. Production resumed after the war, and the installation of Scotland’s first Saladin maltings at the site in 1948 supported the post-rationing recovery. North British expanded its physical footprint during the 1950s and 1960s, including the acquisition of adjacent land and facilities for warehouses, offices, and production-related activities. In the 1970s it developed a substantial warehousing and filling operation at Addiewell in West Lothian. Heavy investment enabled annual output to reach approximately 36.4 million litres in 1979. The subsequent downturn in Scotch whisky during the late 1970s and early 1980s exposed the risks of overcapacity, resulting in job losses and a sharp reduction in production. The closure of Edinburgh’s Caledonian grain distillery in 1988 helped North British recover volume during the following years. Ownership was consolidated in 1993 when Robertson & Baxter and International Distillers & Vintners formed Lothian Distillers and acquired the other shareholders. Lothian Distillers later became jointly owned by Diageo and Edrington Group. A major investment programme after the ownership change increased capacity and enabled production of grain-neutral spirit, including spirit used to support Diageo’s Smirnoff vodka business. The company also rationalised its estate, selling the Slateford Road maltings and warehouse site in 2002 and the Westfield Road warehousing site in 2003, while concentrating most maturation warehousing at Addiewell. Today, North British remains an important industrial-scale supplier within the Scotch whisky industry. Its production is linked to international demand for blended Scotch, particularly in fast-growing markets such as India, China, and South America. The distillery imports maize through the Port of Leith, together with smaller quantities of malted barley, and processes the residual grain husks into cattle-feed pellets. Its strategic importance comes less from consumer-facing brand recognition than from its role in the supply chain of major whisky companies and blended-spirit portfolios.
History
North British Distillery was founded in 1885 during a period when industrialisation, railway expansion, and rising whisky consumption were increasing demand for dependable grain spirit. Andrew Usher, William Sanderson, John M. Crabbie, and other independent distillers and blenders formed the North British Distillery Company Limited. The company acquired a former pig farm occupying roughly ten acres on Edinburgh’s western side, near Gorgie and Dalry. Rail access supported the movement of grain and finished spirit, while proximity to Leith enabled the import of raw materials. Distilling began in 1887, and output expanded rapidly. By the beginning of the First World War, annual production had risen to roughly nine million litres. Grain shortages then forced a shutdown in 1917. The site was considered for acetone production for munitions, but whisky production resumed in 1920. Prohibition in the United States and the Great Depression subsequently reduced demand, bringing output to a historic low. The distillery suffered another wartime suspension during the Second World War, when its buildings were used for storage and military logistics. Post-war recovery included the installation of Saladin maltings in 1948 and further expansion after rationing ended. The company enlarged its Edinburgh facilities and added warehousing capacity, including use of an adjacent former tramways depot. In the late 1960s, local building and quarry resources were used for additions to the site. During the 1970s, the business established a major storage and filling complex at Addiewell in West Lothian. Production investment increased capacity substantially, reaching approximately 36.4 million litres in 1979. The whisky downturn of the late 1970s and early 1980s led to excess capacity and employment reductions. Output fell considerably before recovering as the Scotch industry consolidated. The 1988 closure of the Caledonian grain distillery, also in Edinburgh, contributed to North British’s later recovery. By 1991, annual output had risen to approximately 41.7 million litres. In 1993, Robertson & Baxter and International Distillers & Vintners created Lothian Distillers and bought out the other shareholders. Following replacement of the distillery’s No. 4 still, an expansion programme raised maximum capacity and broadened the plant’s role to include grain-neutral spirit for applications such as Diageo’s Smirnoff vodka. Lothian Distillers is now jointly owned by Diageo and Edrington Group, each with a 50% share. During the 2000s, the company rationalised its property portfolio by selling the Slateford Road maltings and warehouse site and the Westfield Road warehousing site. Addiewell became the principal maturation-storage location, with additional warehouses constructed there. In the modern period, North British has benefited from international growth in Scotch whisky consumption. It imports maize through the Port of Leith, uses smaller amounts of malted barley, and converts husks into cattle-feed pellets. Its principal commercial role remains the production of grain whisky and related spirit for blended Scotch and other group-level products.
- 2003
Westfield Road warehousing site is sold
[1]Warehousing on Westfield Road is sold while storage is increasingly concentrated at Addiewell.
- 2002
Slateford Road site is sold
[1]The former maltings and warehouse site on Slateford Road is sold as part of estate rationalisation.
- 1993
Lothian Distillers acquires the company
[1]Robertson & Baxter and International Distillers & Vintners create Lothian Distillers and buy out the other shareholders.
- 1991
Output recovers
[1]Annual production reaches approximately 41.7 million litres after the industry downturn.
- 1988
Caledonian grain distillery closes
[1]The closure of Edinburgh’s other grain distillery contributes to the subsequent recovery of North British production.
- 1979
Expanded production reaches a new peak
[1]Investment in production facilities enables annual output of approximately 36.4 million litres.
- 1970
Addiewell warehousing development begins
[1]Land at Addiewell in West Lothian is acquired for racked warehouses and a filling store.
- 1948
Saladin maltings installed
[1]Scotland’s first Saladin maltings are installed at the site during the post-war recovery.
- 1920
Post-war production resumes
[1]The distillery returns to operation after its wartime interruption.
- 1917
Production is suspended during the First World War
[1]Insufficient economic supplies of grain bring distilling to a halt.
Products and positioning
A high-capacity, business-to-business grain whisky producer serving major Scotch whisky groups rather than a primarily consumer-facing bottled whisky brand.
Grain whisky · 1887
North British grain whisky
The distillery’s core output is grain whisky produced at industrial scale in Edinburgh. Rather than being marketed chiefly as a standalone consumer label, this spirit is supplied as a blending component for Scotch whisky portfolios. Its production infrastructure is designed for consistency, volume, and integration into the operations of large whisky groups.
Neutral grain spirit · 1993
Grain-neutral spirit
Following capacity expansion in the 1990s, North British was able to produce grain-neutral spirit in addition to whisky spirit. This broadened the plant’s role beyond blended Scotch and allowed it to support other applications within its ownership structure, including spirit associated with Diageo’s Smirnoff vodka business.
Brand decisions
2002
Estate rationalisation and concentration of warehousingStrategyBackground
The company operated several historic Edinburgh storage and production-related sites while developing Addiewell as a larger dedicated warehousing location.
Action taken
The Slateford Road maltings and warehouse site was sold, followed by the sale of the Westfield Road warehousing site in 2003.
Aftermath
Most maturation warehousing became concentrated at Addiewell, where further warehouses were subsequently built.
1993
Ownership consolidation through Lothian DistillersM&ABackground
The distillery had multiple shareholders, while the Scotch whisky industry was moving toward greater consolidation and larger integrated production groups.
Action taken
Robertson & Baxter and International Distillers & Vintners formed Lothian Distillers and acquired the remaining shareholders.
Aftermath
The business became part of a jointly owned operating structure that later came to be held equally by Diageo and Edrington Group. Subsequent investment increased capacity and enabled grain-neutral spirit production.
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