Caledonian Distillery

Founded in 1855 by Menzies, Bernard, and Craig, the historic Caledonian Distillery was a major player in Edinburgh's whisky industry, strategically located at the west end of Princess Street with its own expansive railway yard adjacent to the Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line. Renowned for producing high-demand grain whisky essential for the burgeoning whisky blending sector, Caledonian supplied pioneering figures like Andrew Usher, a key innovator in blended Scotch whisky. At its peak, the distillery was a massive enterprise contributing significantly to Scotland’s whisky heritage. Although it closed in 1988 and the site was subsequently redeveloped for housing and business use, the Caledonian Distillery remains a pivotal part of Edinburgh’s whisky history, reflecting the city's rich industrial past and enduring legacy in the global whisky market.