The first single malt whisky to be produced in Edinburgh for almost 100 years has just been released.

John Crabbie & Co has announced the inaugural release from its Chain Pier Distillery in the capital, with just 234 bottles available.

Dubbed the Chain Pier Single Malt, it will be the first release from the Granton-based site, which was set up by owners Halewood Artisanal Spirits as an experimental pilot distillery whilst the larger Bonnington distillery for Crabbie Whisky (which they have since moved to) was still under construction.

It was in operation for just a year before moving to the purpose-built Bonnington site in Leith.

Priced at £65 a bottle, it's been matured in heavily charred virgin oak casks and is bottled at a whopping 57%.

The Crabbies Chain Pier bottle

The Chain Pier Single Malt is described as light and fruity on the nose with hints of berries, forest fruits and green apples, boasting rich caramel and sweet malt and ginger spice on the palate, rounded off with a long, sweet and spicy finish.

Over the year that the Chain Pier Distillery was operational, there was a yield of just 39 casks, making this release one of the scarcest launches to date.

Distilled on-site using a 500-litre copper pot still, it will soon be available to order from specialist whisky shops and thedropstore.com.

James Stocker, Marketing Director at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “The Chain Pier distillery was operational for just a year (between 2018 and 19), 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."

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