Raising Spirits Vertically: Olivia McIntosh on Life, Laughs, and Whisky at Port of Leith
This week brought a real highlight — catching up with Port of Leith’s Olivia McIntosh! I first met Olivia last year when she visited us at Bunnahabhain during her trip to Islay, and it’s been wonderful to follow her journey ever since.
Our conversation this week reminded me just how much creativity and collaboration exist within the Scotch whisky world. Olivia shared updates from Port of Leith’s incredible work in Edinburgh — their team’s modern approach and dedication to quality are so inspiring.
Hi, I’m Olivia!
I’m a tour guide at Port of Leith Distillery! I’m one of a team of guides that show folk round our distillery. Being based in Edinburgh currently, working at Port of Leith gives me the chance to be in a distillery whilst living in the city - along with that, it’s a new distillery & fairly new company with lots of exciting prospects. I started at PoLD in April 2024, so I've been there for about a year and a half now! (Time has flown by, but that's a good sign, I suppose).
If you were to describe your personality as if it were a dram, what would you choose?
Woven Homemade - it’s sweet and approachable (as am I 😉). It’s a love letter to Leith’s history as a blending hotspot in the past, finished in a sherry cask as Leith is were sherry cask maturation originated. Woven is proud of its hometown, just as I am too!
Is there another aspect of the industry you would want to work in?
Not at the moment - right now I love being a guide, I get so much out of meeting people from all parts of the world and walks of life. Maybe in the future blending could be fun… but for right now I’m happy with what I do.
What’s a misconception you often hear about whisky/your distillery that you’d like to clear up
That blended whisky is bad! Or at least that it’s not as good as single malt. I’m not saying blends are better, and I do love a single malt, but it’s all on a spectrum… and some blends are really tasty 😋currently at Port of Leith whilst we are waiting for our own whisky to be ready, we blend and bottle under the name of Leith Export Company.
If you could, what is something you would want to change about the industry?
I would love it if the question “do you even like whisky” was banned haha. Of course this is more from guests than other industry folk but I get asked this every single day pretty much, whereas my male counterparts don’t. Over time it does start to get pretty old.
If you weren’t working in this industry, what do you think you’d be doing?
My background and training is in acting, and that’s something I’m trying to pursue alongside whisky, so ideally that or just something creative with theatre/music/art.
Where is a place in Scotland that you would recommend everyone to go, and why?
Loch lomond & the trossachs! So easy to get to and is just absolutely gorgeous.
And finally, what is your desert island whisky and why?
Ledaig Hebridean moon (10yr), it’s smoky, spicy and fruity… up at 58.8% so would help me get a fire going too 🔥
I always leave conversations like this feeling energised and inspired. There’s so much innovation, creativity, and collaboration happening across Scotland’s whisky scene right now — it’s exciting to think about what the next few years will bring. I’m so looking forward to seeing what’s next for Olivia and the Port of Leith team — the future is in very good hands. Here’s to keeping those connections strong and celebrating each other’s successes along the way!
All My Love,
T x
