Holyrood Distillery is the product of Canadians Rob & Kelly Carpenter and Scot David Robertson, who collectively share a love for Edinburgh, Scotch Whisky and interesting challenges.
Holyrood Distillery is situated next to Holyrood Park, in the heart of Edinburgh’s distilling history, on St. Leonard’s Lane. The 180 year old building has been thoughtfully renovated to include the distillery and a hands-on, sensory, educational visitor experience.
With the opportunity to bring single malt distilling back to the centre of Edinburgh after almost 100 years, Holyrood Distillery does so with flavour at the forefront. Unconstrained by heritage, category and tradition, they aim to be a distinctively different spirits company. Their focus will be on experimentation alongside a commitment to produce high-quality, full-flavoured spirits for anyone with an open mind and an open mouth.
Height of Arrows is a gin that has been created with whisky in mind. Drawing on the idea that whisky’s myriad of flavours rely on a handful of ingredients, Height of Arrows is stripped back to the core, featuring juniper, beeswax and salt, lending layers of texture and full bodied flavour to the gin. On the nose, a balance of clean fresh pine and resin coupled with light citrus. On the palate, oily mouth coating with juicy and rich orange zest and lemon then a bold emergence of black pepper and cardamom, tempered with tapered herbaceous smoothness. On the finish, long, smooth and dry finish with effervescent spicy notes.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Beeswax, Sea Salt
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: In a classic gin cocktail, such as a Gibson or Negroni.
All expressions in the Height of Arrows Gin range are stripped back to the core, featuring only juniper, beeswax and salt, lending layers of texture and full bodied flavour to the gin. This Bright expression is multi-shot, which is a gin distilling technique that concentrates botanical flavour. Bright uses triple the amount of juniper, beeswax and sea salt as the original Height of Arrows Gin, which makes for a hugely flavoursome, bright gin. On the nose, bold juniper with citrus, pepper and clove notes. On the palate, earthy with touches of sweet baking spices. On the finish, clean and dry.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Beeswax, Sea Salt
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 48% vol
Goes great with: Tonic and ice.
All expressions in the Height of Arrows Gin range are stripped back to the core, featuring only juniper, beeswax and salt, lending layers of texture and full bodied flavour to the gin. Roasting spices has long been known to add more complex flavours in cooking. This Heavy recipe includes roasted juniper, likened to dark malted barley, extracting more flavour to build a robust juniper-heavy expression of Height of Arrows. Heavy has been sweetened with a little sugar post distillation to achieve an Old Tom style of gin that is powerful yet beautifully balanced. On the nose, white blossom, citrus and vanilla aromas. On the palate, more vanilla with a prickle of spicy juniper. On the finish, a final hint of spice with herbaceous juniper lingering.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Beeswax, Sea Salt
Gin Style: Old Tom
Strength: 46% vol
Goes great with: Serve neat straight from the freezer or in a Martini or Gin Sour.
Holyrood Distillery sits under the watchful eye of Arthur’s Seats, the main peak that forms the Holyrood hills that dominates Edinburgh’s skyline. Lovingly and sympathetically restored, the former Engine Shed building, now Holyrood Distillery, dates back to 1835. With a shop, bar and tours available, visitors can expect a visual and sensory experience which covers both gin and whisky production and tastings. Learn more about the importance of wood and how it effects the characteristics of whisky and see what the Angel’s Share does to a full whisky cask over a period of time.
Tour: Yes
Bar: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book tours here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
