The Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh

Reviving Edinburgh's Distilling Heritage

Edinburgh's relationship with brewing and distilling stretches back to the 12th century when Augustinian monks at Holyrood Abbey took advantage of the local spring water to brew their ale. At its peak, the city was home to as many as 38 breweries, earning it the nickname "Auld Reekie," partly due to the aromas created by the brewing process. This concentration of breweries was located in the "Charmed Circle" — an area valued for its wells with mineral-rich water from the aquifer around Arthur's Seat, the formerly volcanic hill that dominates Edinburgh's skyline.

Despite this rich history, Edinburgh's distilling industry gradually declined, with the last single malt distillery in the city center closing its doors in 1925. It would be nearly a century before whisky production returned to the heart of the capital.

Holyrood Distillery was founded by Canadian couple Rob and Kelly Carpenter, who were members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, along with Scot David Robertson, a former master distiller at The Macallan. Their vision was to create a modern distillery that would both honor Edinburgh's brewing past and push the boundaries of what Scotch whisky could be.

A Historic Setting for Modern Innovation

The distillery is housed in a former railway goods shed that dates back to the 1830s, once part of the terminus of the "Innocent Railway" — Edinburgh's first railway line. The restoration of this historic building presented both challenges and opportunities, requiring the team to work within the constraints of the long, narrow structure while creating a state-of-the-art production facility and visitor center.

The location itself is significant, situated in Edinburgh's Southside district, just a short walk from the historic Royal Mile and adjacent to Holyrood Park. This puts the distillery in close proximity to many of the city's major attractions, making it an accessible destination for both locals and tourists eager to explore Scotland's national drink.

An Innovative Approach to Whisky Making

What sets Holyrood Distillery apart from many of its Scottish counterparts is its deliberate departure from traditional approaches to whisky making. While respecting the regulations that define Scotch whisky, Holyrood embraces experimentation and innovation at every stage of the production process.

The distillery's approach is perhaps best encapsulated by their motto: "test, learn, improve, repeat." This philosophy reflects their commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new flavor possibilities within the framework of Scotch whisky regulations.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Holyrood's production method is its inspiration from craft brewing. The distillery makes its whisky washes using a variety of brewing malts, including heritage varieties such as Chevalier and Maris Otter, as well as specialty malts like amber, chocolate, and crystal. This connection to brewing is a deliberate nod to Edinburgh's history as a brewing center.

Equally innovative is Holyrood's approach to fermentation. The distillery experiments with a wide range of yeasts, including American and British ale strains, as well as yeasts traditionally used in the production of sake, wine, rum, and tequila. Fermentation times can vary dramatically, from a standard 48 hours to extended periods of up to 380 hours, with each variation producing distinct flavor profiles in the resulting spirit.

As distillery manager Calum Rae noted in an interview, "We will use anything we are allowed to use by the Scotch Whisky Association." This experimental spirit extends to the distillation process itself, where the team can vary the speed and intensity of distillation to further influence the character of their whiskies.

The Visitor Experience

Holyrood Distillery has been designed with the visitor experience as a central consideration. The distillery welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually and offers a range of tours and tastings to suit different levels of interest and knowledge.

The visitor route includes four key spaces: the welcome room, spirits lab, still room, and cask room, with expert guides leading guests through each area. Unlike traditional distillery tours that might focus primarily on production details, Holyrood places flavor at the forefront of the experience. The tour begins in the Nosing Room, immediately engaging visitors with the sensory aspects of whisky appreciation.

Several tour options are available to visitors:

1. The Holyrood Distillery Tour: An ideal introduction that takes guests behind the scenes to learn about the production of both whisky and their award-winning Height of Arrows gin. This signature guided tour includes tastings of their spirits.

2. Journey to Whisky Tour: A more in-depth, tasting-led experience designed for whisky enthusiasts, taking visitors through the detailed processes of single malt whisky production.

3. Stills & Staves Tours: A condensed option for those with limited time, offering 15 minutes with an expert guide in the still room, followed by a 15-minute tasting session.

4. Self-guided Tasting Flight: For visitors who prefer to focus on tasting, this option offers a flight of four spirits, including award-winning gins and whiskies.

5. Holyrood Gin Tasting Experience: A behind-the-scenes look at the award-winning gin range and production journey, complete with gin chocolate truffles.

6. Behind the Cask: Whisky Tasting Experience: An intimate, conversational tasting focusing on the distillery's finest expressions, including exclusive bottlings not available elsewhere.

The distillery is open seven days a week, with Edinburgh residents holding an EH postcode eligible for free tours on Thursday evenings (with some restrictions). The facility is fully wheelchair accessible, with level ground floor access, lifts to upper floors, and accessible toilets on multiple levels, reflecting the distillery's commitment to inclusivity.

After the tour, visitors can explore the bar and shop. The bar offers a relaxed space to sample a wider range of Holyrood's products, with enviable views of Holyrood Park. The shop stocks the distillery's complete range of spirits, including limited editions and exclusive bottlings not available elsewhere.

From Spirit to Bottle

Since its opening, Holyrood Distillery has released several notable products, with its first single malt whisky, "Arrival," debuting in October 2023. This was followed by "Embra" (a colloquial pronunciation of Edinburgh) in 2024, the distillery's first whisky with smoky notes.

What makes Holyrood's approach to releases distinctive is their focus on small-batch, limited editions rather than establishing a core range. This allows the whisky makers to create interesting flavor profiles and continue pushing the boundaries of production. Each release showcases different combinations of malts, yeasts, fermentation times, and cask types, reflecting the distillery's experimental philosophy.

For example, "Embra" incorporated three types of malt (heavily peated, distiller's malt, and chocolate) and utilized seven different yeast strains, including two distiller's strains, three ale strains, and two wine strains. The whisky was matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels, new American oak barrels, and quarter casks that previously held Islay whisky.

The distillery's commitment to transparency is another notable aspect of their approach. Detailed information about the production process, including specific malts, yeasts, fermentation times, and cask types, is made available to consumers, allowing whisky enthusiasts to understand exactly how each expression was created.

In addition to whisky, Holyrood produces an award-winning range of gins under the Height of Arrows brand and acts as a rum bottler, sourcing rare and exciting rums from across the world under their Elizabeth Yard brand.

Recognition and Future Directions

Holyrood's innovative approach has earned it recognition within the industry. The distillery was voted Visitor Attraction of the Year 2021 at the Icons of Whisky awards, and in 2025, it received the prestigious global Icons of Whisky "Distiller of the Year" award at the World Whiskies Awards.

The future vision for Holyrood includes continuing to expand their experimental approach, with plans to eventually offer up to 20 different whiskies in their tasting room at any given time. As with craft breweries, visitors will be able to sample flights of different expressions, with each limited release available only until it sells out.

This taproom model represents yet another way Holyrood is bringing brewing inspiration to the whisky world, creating a space where enthusiasts can regularly discover new expressions and engage with the brand's evolving story.

The Whisky Experience Beyond Holyrood

For visitors looking to extend their whisky journey beyond Holyrood, Edinburgh offers several complementary experiences. The Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile provides an overview of Scotch whisky from all of Scotland's regions, while the recently opened Port of Leith Distillery in Edinburgh's historic port area offers another perspective on the city's whisky revival.

The proximity of Holyrood to Edinburgh's major attractions makes it easy to incorporate a distillery visit into a broader exploration of the city. After touring the distillery, visitors might continue to nearby Holyrood Park to climb Arthur's Seat, visit the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse, or explore the exhibits at the Scottish Parliament Building.

A New Chapter in Edinburgh's Whisky Story

Holyrood Distillery represents more than just the return of whisky production to Edinburgh's city center; it embodies a forward-thinking approach to Scotch whisky that honors tradition while embracing innovation. By drawing inspiration from the city's brewing heritage and combining it with modern distilling techniques, Holyrood has created a distinctive identity within Scotland's whisky landscape.

For visitors, the distillery offers an accessible and engaging introduction to the world of Scotch whisky in the heart of Scotland's capital city. Whether you're a dedicated whisky enthusiast or simply curious about Scotland's national drink, Holyrood provides an experience that balances education with enjoyment, technical detail with sensory pleasure.

As Holyrood's whiskies continue to mature and new expressions are released, the distillery will undoubtedly play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of Edinburgh's whisky scene. In doing so, it adds a new chapter to a story that stretches back centuries, ensuring that Edinburgh's connection to "the water of life" continues for generations to come.

Holyrood Distillery is located at 19 St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH. For more information or to book a tour, visit holyrooddistillery.co.uk or call 0131 285 8977.