Opening date for Edinburgh whisky distillery

Author: Max SteelePublished 17th Jul 2019

The first single malt whisky distillery in Edinburgh city centre for nearly 100 years will open at the end of this month, bosses have announced.

The ribbon will be cut at the £6.7 million Holyrood Distillery on Tuesday, 30 July.

There hasn't been an operational single malt distillery in the area since 1925 when The Edinburgh Distillery (aka Glen Sciennes) closed.

As well as whisky, the new business will produce a range of gins and gin liqueurs.

It has been built in a former railway goods shed in the St Leonard's area.

Holyrood Distillery is the notion of Canadian Rob Carpenter who, in 2013, first had the idea for a distillery and visitor experience in central Edinburgh.

He said, "It’s been an incredible journey to get to this point.

"A big thank you is also owed to our neighbours who have been patient with the build over the past year.”

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 Brewing and Distilling course.