our whisky
single malt release #3
The mindset for Ambir was to create a deliciously sticky and sweet single malt expression, using our knowledge of specialty malts and yeasts. A harmonious balance of sweet malts, and fruity yeasts, wrapped in a blanket of warming, spicy vanilla from bourbon barrels.
for the whisky drinker that wants something different
Exciting, delicious, and complex whisky – at any age.
Designed and crafted in Edinburgh.
“We’re revisiting what was once common place in Scotch Whisky distilleries; putting our brewing recipe at the heart of our whisky making process. At Holyrood, we put just as much emphasis on the malt and yeast as we do on our cask selection, as we believe all three of these aspects contribute to creating unique and exciting flavour. Casks will always play a large part in whisky, but we believe that heritage barley, specialty malts, brewer’s and speciality yeasts, are our building blocks of flavour, which we can build on when our spirit enters the cask.”
brewing heart,
whisky soul
“We’re revisiting what was once common place in Scotch Whisky distilleries; putting our brewing recipe at the heart of our whisky making process. At Holyrood, we put just as much emphasis on the malt and yeast as we do on our cask selection, as we believe all three of these aspects contribute to creating unique and exciting flavour..
Casks will always play a large part in whisky, but we believe that heritage barley, speciality malts, brewer’s and speciality yeasts, are our building blocks of flavour, which we can build on when our spirit enters the cask.”
we focus on brewing
Our mission is to create flavour at every stage of the whisky making process, focussing on the brewing process, exploring new ideas, recipes and ingredients. Everything starts with brewing, and we focus our process on 3 building blocks of flavour:
Heritage Malts,
Specialty Malts,
& brewer’s, wine and specialty Yeast.
WE MAKE THE spirit,
THE city MAKES US
THE PAST INSPIRES US, BUT IT NEVER DICTATES.
Holyrood Distillery was established in 2019 in the centre of Edinburgh’s historic old town. We pride ourselves on our innovative approach to distilling, inspired by Edinburgh’s rich brewing history.
We are uniquely placed, in a city once the brewing capital of Scotland. Our production harks back to a time when the distilleries and breweries in Edinburgh were intricately linked, sharing ingredients and knowledge.
We take inspiration from our city’s rich brewing heritage exploring recipes, malts and fermentation ideas that time left behind, giving them a new purpose for today.
We Test, Learn, Improve, Repeat
We are continually discovering more heritage barley varieties that were once part of Edinburgh’s rich brewing heritage and giving them a new purpose:
- Plumage Archer
- Chevalier
- Golden Promise
- Maris Otter
By introducing speciality malts into the distilling process we impart new and unique flavours to our spirits, with nearly all of them still used in brewing today:
- Chocolate Malt
- Crystal Malt (150:light/ 240: Medium/ 400:Dark)
- Brown Malt
- Vienna Malt
- Black Malt
- Biscuit Malt
- Light and Dark Munich Malt
- Amber Malt
- Caramalt
- Cara Gold
- Dextrin
- Chit
Just like our choice of malts, yeast strains offer another avenue of flavour creation. To date, we have used brewer’s, distiller’s, wine and even sake yeast strains:
- Pinnacle M/MG+
- DY379
- DY502
- Edinburgh Ale Yeast (EAY)
- Hefeweizen
- S-04
- US-05
- Kviek Ale (Sigmund)
- S-33
- Brux (like) Trois
- Fresh Nottingham Ale yeast
- N379 (Belgian)
- Tetley 70
- Sherry flor
- Pepenero
- Toronero
- BP725 (Bordeaux)
- MaurivinPDM (Champagne)
- MaurivinB (Burgundy)
- Mirtillo Rosso
- Bollicine champagne
- tropical sym wine yeast
- rose wine yeast
- passion fruit wine yeast
- apple/pear wine yeast
- Grand zin
- BC10 Bayanus
- le more yeast
- Pinnacle S (Rum)
- Black Death Yeast
- Sake
- Heff 4
Our New Make Spirit
Discover our New Make Series
BREWER’S X DISTILLER’S YEAST
Crystal Malt
Chocolate Malt
Made By Edinburgh
shop all whisky
FAQ's
New Make is the first stage of making whisky, and comes straight off of the still. It is unaged and so cannot legally be called Scotch Whisky, but it is the spirit that is put into our barrels for maturation, to become Holyrood’s future whisky. Our New Makes offer whisky drinkers the opportunity to experience how flavour is created before any cask influence.