From back garden to the harbour
In 2014 Stirling and Fletcher founded Muckle Brig, the Leith drinks firm behind the distillery.7 After losing a first site in 2015, they won Ocean Terminal's permission to build on its land and in 2017 sent Edinburgh Council plans for a 40-metre tower.1,7,8
Yeast research
In 2016 the founders began devising a study of yeast and fermentation with the International Centre for Brewing & Distilling at Heriot-Watt University.6 Researcher Victoria Muir-Taylor joined in 2018 to run it and trialled 24 yeast strains, none used for whisky before as far as the team knew.6,7,9 In June 2021 the two most promising, a Norwegian strain and a Belgian ale yeast, went into commercial trials at .