Bonnington distillery

Bonnington distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, owned by Halewood Artisanal Spirits.

1. History

The Bonnington distillery project began in 2017 on Graham Street, close to the original John Crabbie premises. 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. The site was chosen to retain the same postcode (EH6) as the original Crabbie building, underscoring its connection to Leith’s whisky heritage. 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. 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. 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. 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.

1. Production

The 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. 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.

1. References


1. External links

Official website

Nearby Places View Menu

Bonnington railway station

Bonnington railway station served the district of Bonnington, Edinburgh, Scotland from 1846 to 1968 on the Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Railway.

Historic Site Landmark

201 m

Bonnington Chemical Works

The Bonnington Chemical Works was a pioneer coal tar processing plant established in Edinburgh. It was perhaps the first successful independent facility established for the integrated treatment of gasworks waste, and manufactured the residues of the Edinburgh gasworks into useful products for over half a century.

Historic Site Industrial

North Leith Parish Church

North Leith Parish Church was a congregation of the Church of Scotland, within the Presbytery of Edinburgh. It served part of Leith, formerly an independent burgh and since 1920 a part of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Church Landmark

Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce

Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce (English: Parkside Primary School, referring to the adjoining Pilrig Park) is a Gaelic medium primary school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Administered by the City of Edinburgh Council, the school is open to any parents in the city or surrounding areas who wish to have their children learn and be educated through Scottish Gaelic. The opening of Edinburgh's first dedicated Gaelic school on 16 August 2013, after many years of campaigning by parents and supporters, was hailed as a "landmark day" for the Scottish capital. Situated in the south of the district (and former municipal burgh) of Leith, Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce is housed in the refurbished former Bonnington Primary School building. The original 2-storey T-shaped school was built between 1875 and 1877 to the plans of James Simpson (1832-1894), then architect of the Leith School Board, and subsequently extended in 1907 by Simpson's old apprentice and eventual successor, George Craig (1852-1928). As of March 2021 Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce has a pupil roll of 418 pupils across 16 classes, as well as provision for a 40:40 Nursery. The school originated in the highly successful Gaelic unit within Tollcross Primary School. The unit opened in 1988 as a single class with seven children and subsequently grew in size and stature. The majority of children in Gaelic-medium education at Tollcross Primary School transferred to Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce at its opening. The school feeds into James Gillespie's High School, which has a Gaelic language unit for 120 pupils, for Secondary education. The City of Edinburgh Council are currently considering options for a replacement, standalone Gaelic Medium secondary school. Sites which have been considered include on a shared campus with Liberton High School or on vacated sites at the former Lothian and Borders Police headquarters in Fettes Avenue or the Royal Victoria Hospital in Craigleith.

School