An Edinburgh bespoke whisky firm has been named Scotland’s top new startup after recording a turnover of £2.35m.
Tailored Spirits Co, based in Leith, claimed the overall trophy for Scotland’s Overall StartUp of the Year 2026 at the UK StartUp Awards. The firm also walked away with the title of Scotland’s Food & Drink StartUp of the Year, completing a highly successful evening for the local business which launched in January 2024.
The startup, founded by local entrepreneurs Adam Harding, Carl Johnstone, and Tom Costello, enables private individuals, hospitality groups, and luxury brands to design their own single-cask Scotch whiskies. The company manages all stages of the process, including cask sourcing, wood maturation, label design, and bottling.
Judges praised the firm’s distinctive business model and its rapid expansion. The company now employs a team of eight in the city and exports custom-made spirits to 14 countries around the world.
Carl Johnstone, co-founder of the firm, praised the team’s efforts.
Mr Johnstone said: “To receive this recognition among so many innovative and ambitious businesses is a proud milestone for our team. When we founded the business, our vision was to create a leading bespoke whisky company, offering access to exceptional single-cask whiskies through a truly personalised experience.”
Co-founder Tom Costello highlighted the quick growth of the company since its early days.
Mr Costello said: “We started out in the back of my wife’s plant shop, with our newborn son being passed between us in between feeds and naps. None of this would have happened without the support of our families, staff, and partners. Now we are genuinely excited to represent Scotland at the national finals.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, founder of the UK StartUp Awards, noted that the winners are building businesses with real purpose and commercial credibility.
The Edinburgh firm will go on to represent Scotland at the UK-wide national awards final in September.
