Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery Launches First Whisky Arrival

Holyrood Distillery’s inaugural whisky, Arrival, was recently released. Created in Edinburgh’s Old Town, the whisky is distilled in a refurbished engine shed (once part of the terminus of the Innocent Railway). Arrival is one of the first single malt whiskies produced in Edinburgh in a century.

“This year Edinburgh has been well and truly placed back on the whisky-making-map and we’re incredibly proud to be part of this revolution,” said Rob Carpenter, Founder of  Holyrood Distillery, in a prepared statement. “Arrival embodies our story-so-far as whisky makers and marks the beginning of a journey of progression, innovation and experimentation.

“The name ‘Arrival’ is inspired by Holyrood Distillery’s iconic location in the former Innocent Railway terminal, this name not only gives a nod to Edinburgh’s pioneering past but also invokes a sense of achievement in the release – we made it!.”

“This spirit has been matured in Oloroso Butts, Pedro Ximénez Hogsheads, Bourbon Barrels and Rum Barriques,” Calum Rae, Distillery Manager, added “We selected this whisky as our inaugural release, to reflect the first stage of all Holyrood recipe development, whilst  showcasing the incredible and complex flavours which can be achieved by Holyrood at any age.

The distillery’s first release uses traditional Scotch pot still malt and distilling yeast, the raw materials which form the flavor foundation of all Holyrood single malt whisky recipes. Each future release will be unique and will evolve from this recipe by layering in heritage and speciality malts, alongside a range of yeasts not typically used within scotch whisky production.

Just 8,188 bottles of Arrival have been produced. The whisky is available in the Holyrood Distillery shop, on their website and in specialist retailers such as Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange. RRP is £67

Official tasting notes are as follows.

• NOSE – Dried fruit, tropical fruit, raisins, hint of butterscotch, fresh baked cake, sticky toffee pudding, soft leather, biscuit.
• PALATE – Toffee, caramel, vanilla, digestive biscuits, ginger spice, butterscotch, tablet, slight savoury salinity, raisins.
• FINISH – Long lasting, mouth-watering, juicy, sweet spice, delicate, fruity, spice, apple pie, red fruit.
• ABV 46.1%