Our whisky making process

We are
made by Edinburgh

We are made by Edinburgh

Holyrood exists to create incredible spirit that reflects our city, and whiskies that put Edinburgh back on the Scotch Whisky making map. At the heart of Edinburgh is the interplay between the past, present and future. The city’s brewing past hides in plain sight, and centres of innovation like Heriot Watt continue to push brewing and distilling onto new horizons. We take inspiration from our distillery’s surroundings and the city’s rich brewing heritage, exploring recipes, malts, and fermentation ideas that time left behind, giving them a new purpose for today, to shape the Scotch Whisky legacy of tomorrow.

A new approach to tradition

In our distiller’s lab hangs a big, yellow, neon sign with four words: Test, Learn, Improve, Repeat. This is our whisky mindset, and it underpins all of our liquid thinking at Holyrood. It is an iterative approach that pushes us to explore, learn and continue to create liquid that excites and inspires. Whether it be gin, rum, or whisky, our whisky mindset lays the foundations for everything that we make.

What we Make

New Make

Charmed Circle

Height of Arrows

Elizabeth Yard

Our New Make Spirit showcases our whisky vision and enables whisky drinkers to fully appreciate spirit before it enters a cask. It demonstrates the influence of our iterative, holistic approach, who we are as distillers, and where we are going as whisky makers.

A new take on vodka inspired by Edinburgh’s brewing past, we create Charmed Circle with heritage barley varieties; Chevalier and Golden Promise, showcasing each of their unique characteristics.

A new approach to gin making, inspired by our whisky thinking and grounded in simplicity. Our Height of Arrows gins feature a singular botanical; juniper, with a focus on flavour and texture.

Featuring rums from some of the most prestigious rum producers in the world, Elizabeth Yard is where we geek out on rum, exploring maturation and cask finishes.