THE first single malt whisky distillery in the centre of Edinburgh for almost 100 years has revealed its opening date.
Holyrood Distillery will throw open its door on July 30 and is now taking bookings for its tours, available via their website, with tickets for adults starting at £14.
The distillery, which will produce single malt whisky alongside a range of gins and gin liqueurs, has been built in a former railway goods shed dating back to 1831. Located on the edge of Holyrood Park and close to popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues The Pleasance and George Square, the new distillery is the first operational single malt distillery in central Edinburgh since 1925 when The Edinburgh Distillery (aka Glen Sciennes) closed.
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Holyrood Distillery was the vision of Canadian Rob Carpenter who, in 2013, who founded the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society together with his wife Kelly. He has brought his idea to life in partnership with co-founder David Robertson, who has 25 years’ experience in the industry.
Spirit production will be handled by distillery manager Jack Mayo, previously of The Glasgow Distillery, alongside distillers Ollie Salvesen and Elizabeth Machin. All three are graduates of Heriot-Watt University’s renowned brewing and distilling course. In total, the project has already created 30 new jobs.
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Carpenter said: “It’s been an incredible journey to get to this point and bring back single malt whisky back to the heart of Edinburgh.”
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