Last Updated on January 29, 2024 by Leah Hall

The first single malt distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland in almost a century, Holyrood Distillery makes whisky and gin!

Holyrood Distillery is the first whisky distillery in the city of Edinburgh for almost 100 years. The last distillery closed in 1925, known as Glen Sciennes or Newington distillery. Holyrood is in a 180 year old building that was a shed for St Leonard’s railway station. Until 2019, the nearest whisky distillery was Glenkinchie, which is about 15 miles from the center of Edinburgh.

We made a visit while on our trip to Scotland! Make sure to check out our posts about Killiecrankie House, and all about Scotch whisky regions, too!

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Holyrood Distillery says it has taken inspiration from Edinburgh’s identity, landscapes and the brewing and distilling heritage to create their products. Established in 2019, Holyrood knows established Scotch Whisky distilleries build upon their traditions, but this new wave Scotch whisky maker unrestrained by traditional long term production.

They want to create incredible spirits that reflects the historic city and put Edinburgh back on the Scotch whisky making map. We heard about the city’s brewing past, in which the distillery is surrounded by. They take inspiration from the surroundings and brewing heritage, which means exploring recipes, malts, and fermentation ideas from the past, to give Scotch whisky an interesting future.

Many breweries and distilleries once existed in the area Holyrood Distillery is in, because of its’ water source; underground springs that became known as the “charmed circle.”

Holyrood Distillery Beginnings

Holyrood Distillery was started by Canadian Rob Carpenter. Rob had the idea for a distillery and visitor experience in central Edinburgh in 2013. He founded the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society with his wife Kelly, and has partnered with David Robertson, who has 25 years’ experience in the whisky industry.

David Robertson was born into Scotch whisky. His father, Ricky, was assistant manager at Royal Brackla distillery. Ricky then became manager of Aberfeldy in 1973, then to Glendullan in Speyside.

David earned a Heriot-Watt University’s Brewing & Distilling degree, did an apprenticeship at Benrinnes distillery and became the industry’s youngest distillery manager at 26, when he took over as manager of The Macallan distillery. Two years later he was Macallan’s Master Distiller. Now, he has established his own distillery, Holyrood.

Holyrood Distillery Whisky

Holyrood Distillery is still deciding on the flavor profiles of their whisky will be. From our tour and tasting, we would assume that at least one of their whiskies will be heavily peated and others little or no peat influence, but so much flavor.

Our tasting with their distiller led to some interesting flavors that they will have coming down the pipeline. There were different malts, yeast strains and flavors that were so exciting in their new make spirits. None of the New Makes have been aged, so already the flavors are exciting, so we cannot wait to try them after aging.

New Make spirit is taken right off the still, and is the spirit that will be matured to become Scotch whisky. Each of them have different ingredients not commonly seen in modern distilling, including heritage barleys, specialty malts, and an interesting range of yeast strains.

They also have other options to make the products that they want: longer fermentation, faster or slower distillation and using their tall stills, triple distillation can also be an option, these can all give a refined or oilier or sweeter spirit and higher or lower alcohol content.

Holyrood will be using different casks and cask sizes: new oak, ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, ex-wine and even mizunara, Japanese oak. The length of aging also impacts flavor. All of these different variations will have different and varying influences.

Holyrood Distillery Location

The building it is located in has been restored, the former Engine Shed building, dates back to 1835.

Distillery Tours, Tastings and Info

Holyrood Distillery is open to all, locals and visitors. Their tours are fun and informative tailored to whisky and gin lovers, as well as those who just want to learn more for the first time.You will learn more about the importance of wood, how it effects the characteristics of whisky and find out about the Angel’s Share in a whisky cask.

With tours and tasting experiences, the distillery a great visitor attraction in Edinburgh. Bookings for the tours which focus on exploring flavor, can be made on their website with tickets for adults starting at £14. The distillery is also available for private events and corporate events like drink receptions or dinner.

In their distiller’s lab hangs a yellow neon sign with four words: “Test, Learn, Improve, Repeat.” This is their whisky mindset in producing their products. They want to explore, learn and continue to create liquid that excites and inspires others. You will definitely see this while touring the working distillery.

Tours can accommodate up to 22 guests, are about an hour and available 11:00 am until 4:00 pm daily. The distillery tour tells of both Gin and Whisky and gives a sample of both. There are more in depth Gin or Whisky experience tours available, as well as a head distiller masterclass.

The tour also offers an chance to sample their New Make spirits and sample malts that the distillery is striving for when their own whiskies come to maturation. This tasting is done in their bar with fabulous views of Arthur’s seat and Holyrood Park.

New Make Spirit

There are many iterations of New Make, so we will go over them quickly. Brewer’s X Distiller’s Yeast: using brewer’s (American Ale) yeast and distiller’s yeast together. This has some pine and rosemary notes, plus tropical fruit.

Crystal Malt is a lightly toasted malt and used in the brewing of bitters. This makes for caramel and toffee sweetness to the New Make. Malty note of digestive biscuits and tropical fruits.

Chocolate Malt is a heavily toasted malt, adding dark and rich cocoa. Used in brewing dark beers like porters and stouts. Has hints of bitter coffee and dark chocolate, rich. Made in Edinburgh is a heritage exploration. Using the Edinburgh Ale Yeast, with a mash bill inspired by 80 Shilling Ale recipe, is a combination of distilling malt and two specialty malts: Crystal and Chocolate malts.

There are others – we brought home a Japanese sake yeast New Make that screamed of strawberries and malt biscuits. Almost like strawberries and cream (honestly, it’s a trip), and we tried some others in our tasting. We were blown away by them all. Even their lightly and heavily peated options that they are working on.

Spirit Drinks – Strong Waters

They are offering two new varieties of spirit drinks, named the Charmed Circle, as part of their Strong Waters collection. These are available just in the UK. (We did bring some home, though!) It;s a new take on vodka inspired by Edinburgh’s brewing past. These are both made with heritage barley varieties.

The first variety, Golden Promise, is a mix of 15% Golden Promise new make spirit, 85% grain neutral spirit and water. There are notes of lemon zest and orange blossom in the nose, tasting notes of lemon blossom and a clean drinkable finish.

Chevalier, the second variety, has similar ingredients – 15% Chevalier new make spirit, 85% grain neutral spirit and water. It has a creamy, digestive biscuit scent, with a rich cream flavor.

Holyrood Distillery’s objective with these is to bring flavor back to the clear spirit arena, to be enjoyed neat and not needed in a cocktail. Although they would be delicious in a cocktail.

The bottles were designed with the environment in mind. The labeling uses 100% recyclable paper and uses waste from brewing to create the sustainable labels. The name “Strong Waters” is an term coming from a bunch of natural wells around Arthur’s Seat, which is an ancient volcano and is the main peak of Edinburgh’s surrounding hills.

Gin at Holyrood Distillery

Holyrood has many tasty gins that they have produced. Here we will detail them below.

Height of Arrows is a London Dry style gin that created with whisky in mind. They used the idea that the flavor of whisky relies on just a few ingredients (barley, water and yeast), this gin is bare, just featuring juniper, beeswax and salt. These ingredients give layers of texture and flavor. Fresh pine and citrus combine on the nose. Tasting notes present an oily mouth coating with juicy orange and lemon zest, then bold black pepper and cardamom. There are spicy notes and a dry finish. Perfect in a Negroni or Gibson.

The next expression is Bright. This variation is made using multi-shot, a gin distilling technique that concentrates botanical flavors. Bright uses triple juniper, beeswax and sea salt as the original Height of Arrows. This makes a bright gin with tons of flavor. The scent is bold juniper, citrus, pepper and clove notes. It tastes earthy with some sweet baking spices. It finishes clean and dry. Perfect for Gin and Tonics.

Next up is their Heavy Gin. This Heavy recipe includes roasted juniper, like a dark malted barley. Roasting the juniper extracts more flavor to build a robust gin variety. Heavy has been sweetened with a little sugar post distillation to achieve an Old Tom style of gin. It is powerful but beautifully balanced. We came home with a bottle. On the nose you will smell citrus, vanilla and some floral aromas. More vanilla and spicy juniper present itself on the tongue. The juniper will linger after sipping. Perfect for sipping, in a gin sour or a martini.

Height Of Arrows gin is named for Arthur’s Seat. The phrase is a literal translation of the mountain’s Gaelic name, Àrd-Na-Said; its height was said to be the furthest distance an archer could shoot a bow.

Elizabeth Yard Rum

Featuring rums from some of the most prestigious rum producers in the world, Elizabeth Yard Rum is where they explore maturation and cask finishes. Their whisky bond was once a naval rum store so they sourced rum to age in their sherry and bourbon barrels. Making fun combinations of Demerara and oloroso sherry or Jamaican rum funk with Islay peat for some great flavors.

Their whisky bond, Royal Elizabeth Yard was built in 1946 in West Lothian and was a Royal Naval Victualing Depot. Unit 9, where they keep their casks, was the former rum store for the fleet’s daily rum ration. The last regulation issue of rum in the Royal Navy took place on July 31, 1970. Unit 9 has been empty until Holyrood started using it.

They have many different expressions of the Elizabeth Yard rums, so you will just have to try what is available. We tried one before our tour, and it was light, slightly sweet and amber colored!

Holyrood Distillery was started in 2019.

Holyrood Distillery was founded in 2019 by David Robertson and Rob Carpenter. More info on them above.

Tips & Tricks

Holyrood Distillery has started an interesting Custom Cask Program. This involves a cask purchase for customers where the buyer can literally dictate the flavor of the whisky to be distilled.
The Holyrood Distillery stills are 7 meters tall, which is very tall in proportion to still volume, they are some of the tallest stills in Scotland. Glenmorangie may have that title, though.
The distillery does host various tasting events. This includes tours of the distillery and walking tours that explore Edinburgh whisky history with tastings along the way.
Holyrood started a whisky festival the Mash Up in June 2022.
Reservations: make sure to schedule ahead of time as times do fill up. Plus, this way you can make sure you get the time you want!
After you do the tour and tasting, get a cocktail at the bar, too. They will tailor it to suit your flavor profile, or anything that you want to try!
They do have an outside bar as well, when it is warmer!
Parking: there is NO parking available at the distillery, but there is street parking nearby.
Accessibility – The ground floor is level, with access to upper floors via wheelchair-accessible lifts. Wheelchair accessible toilets are located on the ground floor and 2nd floor. All public rooms are accessible.

Holyrood Distillery Information

Pre-booked tours are available online at Holyrood Distilling. If you have inquiries about a group of 10+, contact them before booking.

19 St Leonards Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH

Tours from £20 – many different options.

outside of Holyrood Distillery, stone and metal building

Places to Eat or visit in the Area

Blonde – modern European food
Macau Kitchen – Macanese and Malacca Portuguese Food
The Auld Hoose Pub – best Nachos in Edinburgh
The Royal Dick – Bar at Summerhall Distillery
Royal Commonwealth Pool – public pool indoors
Queen’s Hall – Live music venue
Innocent Railway Tunnel – an old underground railway tunnel that is now a bike and walking path
Arthur’s Seat – tallest hill in Edinburgh – can be hiked
Escape the Past – escape room
Pleasance Courtyard – performing arts center
John Knox House – museum
National Museum of Scotland
Surgeon’s Hall Museum

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Other Distilleries to Visit

Holladay Distillery – Weston, Missouri
Humboldt Distilling – Humboldt, California
KoHana Rum Distillery – Oahu, Hawaii
Hotaling Distilling – San Francisco, California
St George Distillery – Oakland, California
Prohibition Spirits – Sonoma, California
Lindores Abbey Distillery – Newburgh, Fife, Scotland
Trail Distilling – Oregon City, Oregon

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Killiecrankie House – Pitlochry, Scotland

Dampfwerk Distillery – Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Holyrood Distillery – Edinburgh, Scotland