Holyrood Distillery
With a flavour-first approach, Holyrood is a modern distillery in the heart of historic Edinburgh that is never afraid to experiment. It brings together the best of tradition and innovation to create whiskies not seen anywhere else.
Awarded Global Distiller of the Year 2024 at the World Whisky Awards, Holyrood Distillery has gone from strength to strength since opening its doors in 2019. The brand portfolio now includes multi-award-winning gin and rum ranges, an innovative collection of new make spirits and, since October 2023, sell-out releases of Single Malt and Single Cask whiskies.
Holyrood released its first single malt whisky ‘Arrival’ in 2023, followed by Ambir, Embra and Pitch as the ‘Founding Series’. 2025 saw the release of Holyrood’s experimental ‘Noir Trilogie’ - an exploration of French wine yeasts and Scottish malt, matured in French wine casks from Burgundy and Bordeaux.
Alongside the Distiller of the Year at the World Whisky Awards, and the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award in 2025, Holyrood has also won multiple highly-coveted awards for its spirits and Brand Home offering.
Holyrood is open for whisky & gin tours and tastings daily, and offers experiences to suit all levels of knowledge and enthusiasm. Guests are also welcome to come and enjoy a drink in the cosy public bar - a relaxed space with stunning views of Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat.
Address:
19 St Leonards Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SH
This distillery is included as part of our Edinburgh Tour.
Directions:
Holyrood Distillery is conveniently located in the centre of Edinburgh:
- 15 minutes walk from both the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace
- A two minute walk from main bus routes on Clerk Street and St Leonards Street
- On National Cycle Network number 1
- A 10 minute walk from the Edinburgh Bus Tours Stop at National Museum Scotland
Opening Times:
- Sun-Thurs 11:30am-5:30pm
- Fri-Sat 11:30am-6:30pm
Pets and animals are prohibited, with the exception of guide dogs, hearing or other registered assistance dogs.
Podcast:
In the May 2023 edition of the Distillery Tours podcast we speak to Holly Aynsley and Calum Rae, Distillery Manager at Holyrood Distillery.
Calum explains their approach to distilling and the experimental work they have been doing using different casks and yeasts.
Tours:
Whether you are visiting a distillery for the first time, want to learn something new about modern whisky production, or simply try some of our delicious spirits – come and discover how we make our spirit with our range of tours and tastings, with experiences available for all levels of knowledge and interest.
HOLYROOD DISTILLERY TOUR £25
Our signature guided tour will take you through our gin and whisky production spaces, explaining the processes behind making our award winning Height of Arrows gin and our single malt whiskies. Get to know our spirits with sample tastings throughout your tour.
Duration: 1hr
JOURNEY TO WHISKY £30
Conversational and tasting-led, your tour takes you through the detailed processes of our single malt whisky production. Learn how we push the boundaries of what it means to be a modern whisky producer with our experimental approach to flavour, with samples provided throughout.
Duration: 1hr
DISTILLERY AFTER DARK EXPERIENCE £35
Edinburgh retold and reimagined. We invite you to an evening of dark tales of our city's past, alongside our finest spirits...
You’ll be accompanied throughout our production areas by an expert story teller, and learn to mix and enjoy a bespoke cocktail. Your journey also features a spooky 'Bothy Session', where we'll share tales of the Wizard of the West Bow, Deacon Brodie, Bald Agnes and the Wee Red Cap.
Other tours, experiences and events can be found regularly updated on the Holyrood Distiller website - including seasonal celebrations, Distiller-Led Tours and product launches.
