Home Insights The unique funding strategy of a vertical whisky distillery

The unique funding strategy of a vertical whisky distillery

Paddy Fletcher, co-founder and co-CEO of The Port of Leith whisky brand, shares his personal business advice, explaining why he built a vertical distillery

In this instalment of our video series, My Business Leader Secret, we talk to Paddy Fletcher, who along with co-founder Ian Stirling, is scaling a successful alcoholic drinks company in Scotland.

How do you fund a business if your product will take several years to be ready for market?

That's the key question the founders posed themselves when they started on their business journey.

It's a challenge all new Scotch whisky brands face. This is because a whisky must mature for at least three years before it can be certified as a Scotch.

The entrepreneurs' answer to this problem takes the form of a 40-metre-tall, vertical distillery in Edinburgh.

Paddy Fletcher shared the insights he’s gained from maturing a whisky business.

Watch the rest of the My Business Leader Secret series.

Related and recommended

Ranked: Billion-pound British bosses

Ranked: Billion-pound British bosses

From Rolls-Royce to Marks & Spencer, these CEOs show how decisive leadership can transform Britain’s biggest companies

Transforming a British icon

Transforming a British icon

Rolls-Royce is one of the most famous names in British business, but its financial performance has rarely matched its reputation. Until now. Tufan Erginbilgiç is our CEO of the Year

Has the tide turned for UK flotations?

Has the tide turned for UK flotations?

Years of decline have hollowed out London’s listing market, but founders, banks and ministers are quietly pushing for a revival

Tough decisions must be made to get the UK growing

Tough decisions must be made to get the UK growing

Healthcare and income tax require radical reform, but the Budget revealed little ambition to tackle the big issues

Apply to become a member

Click here to review our privacy policy.

Explore membership