Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh: A Visit to a Scottish Whisky and Gin Distillery

Holyrood Distillery is a modern distillery in the heart of Edinburgh, opened in 2019 as the first whisky distillery in the city centre in almost 100 years.

Housed in a historic former railway warehouse from 1831, it blends traditional Scottish craftsmanship with innovative techniques.

Founders Rob and Kelly Carpenter, together with David Robertson, created a space where different malts, yeasts and production techniques are experimented with to create distinctive whiskies, gins and rums.

The distillery offers interactive tours and tastings that bring the distillation process and the history of Scottish distilling to life. Holyrood Distillery is an ideal destination for spirit lovers and for anyone looking to discover the modern face of a traditional Scottish craft.

Distillation tour

During the tour you'll first get a general introduction to the distillery's history and the secrets behind making whisky, gin and other spirits.

You'll then be shown the magic of the stillrooms, visit the lab where gins are developed, and receive a detailed explanation of how the entire production process works.

During the tour you can also enjoy the scent of juniper from the samples that give gin its characteristic flavour.

Adult visitors can look forward to tasting quality whisky or gin.

At the end you can buy delicious products directly from their shop to take a piece of Scotland home with you.

What to look for in the shop:

• Embra Whisky: The distillery's second single malt whisky, gently peated with notes of fruit and smoke.

• Height of Arrows Gin: A simple, traditionalScottish gin made with minimal botanicals. It contains, for example, beeswax and sea salt from the Isle of Skye, which create a full, complex flavour. The gin is named after a hill near Edinburgh.

• New releases: An experimental series featuring products such as Chocolate Malt, Made by Edinburgh and Crystal Malt, which combine different types of barley and yeasts to create unique flavour profiles

Distillery website Holyrood Distillery.