Holyrood Distillery is tucked away just behind St Leonard’s Police Station (AKA Inspector Rebus’ station) in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat. The building is the original St Leonard’s Station warehouse for Edinburgh & Dalkeith railway line - or the ‘Innocent Railway’ line - before it closed in 1968. This was Edinburgh’s first railway, opened in 1831. It was built to carry coal and agricultural goods by horse and rope until 1846 when a steam engine began to carry passengers. There was also a brewery on this site.
I took a tasting tour of Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh’s first malt whisky distillery since 1925. Founded in 2019, this is no traditional malt whisky producer and they’re doing great things to bring whisky production into a new era where taste trumps age. Much like wine, the best one is the one you like the taste of. As Courtney explained on the tour, the reason old whisky is more expensive is due to its reduction in volume over the years of ageing making it more expensive to produce - the Angel’s Share in Scotland and the Devil’s Cut in USA (where it is taxed). This loss of volume is also the reason why hot climate countries struggle to make aged whisky, the cost loss through evaporation is too much.
In 2023, the first ever single malt was available at Holyrood Distillery. It has now sold out. There are three malts currently available. Ambir, due to the colour, Embra, another using sherry barrels giving it a sweeter taste and their first smoky whisky, designed to the taste of those who don’t like really peaty whisky.
The flavours are created by using different types of malt (including heirloom barley varieties) and yeast and then using different types of casks. The staff motto below encourages experimentation with the emphasis on flavour optimisation.
This ethos will certainly appeal to those not steeped in whisky tradition or a more rebellious whisky drinker. It can also appeal to those who perhaps have not been all that interested in whisky culture. Making small batches of limited quantity, the distillery takes inspiration from small breweries craft beer production to innovate and perhaps appeal to a younger or more experimental drinker.
They also have an array of New Make baby whiskies, not yet aged in their casks. I can testify that it tastes good in a cocktail. Of course they also have gin, which is made from juniper berries harvested in Inverness, mixing it with beeswax and sea salt for texture and flavour. I enjoyed their Height of Arrows gin (after the Gaelic name for Arthur’s Seat àirde nan saighdean) and I don’t even like gin.
They also have collaborated with local artists and art students to create special limited edition artworks for sale in the shop. There are two bars, one for nips and one for whisky flights and cocktails - with a great view of the Crags in Holyrood Park.
It’s easy to walk there from Holyrood Park itself - just take the stepped path up from Queens Drive on the Salisbury Crags side of the park and you’re right there. Any bus that goes towards Newington along South Bridge will get you close too.
19 St Leonard’s Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9SH
Do also have a wee visit to The Innocent Railway tunnel nearby (now a pedestrian and cycle path) and Edinburgh’s first ever railway tunnel. You can spot one of Helen Miles’ street mosaics at the mouth of the tunnel.