Holyrood Distillery Embra

 

 

 

43,6°

Distillery : Holyrood Distillery - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon, Islay Peated Whisky Quarter Casks ans Virgin American Oak

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Lightly Peated

After The Arrival in 2023, Embra is the 2nd expression to come out of the vats of Holyrood Distillery, founded in 2019. It is a lightly peated whisky, made from 56% peated Mash. The two varieties of barley used are Vienna and Cloud, and maturation is triple, but the majority comes from first-fill Bourbon casks. The distillery's website even gives the recipe for the yeasts used, which is interesting even if you don't understand anything about it.

Let's Taste It : 

Light and very controlled peat, coated in fudge, speculoos, sponge cake, apple crumble. Mirabelle plums, greengages, hints of herbs and vanilla. A pinch of iodine, gravel. It's quite earthy. Velvety, well-crafted palate, though a little clear. White yoghurt. The pepper rises. Vegetal finish, with a touch of bitterness, suitably long but not explosive. Bark and oak leaves. Foresty notes, acorns, pine cones. Limestone and gypsum. Mint leaf, cola nuts. Coconut cream.

 

In Short, 

It's very well made overall, but still young, and I find it lacks a bit of personality. It's a fine piece of work, but I can't see the character of the distillery. The price is too high at the moment, which is normal, as young distilleries can't afford to compete with the older ones.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zoe Sparks - The Fakeup Song

Holyrood Distillery Ambir

 

 

 

49;8°

Distillery : Holyrood Distillery - Lowlands

Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original bottling

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

The Holyrood distillery was born in 2019. It is located in the very heart of Edinburgh, close to the city centre, so it is easy to find. It produces gin, vodka, rum and whisky. After a first limited edition called Arrival, which was the first Single Malt produced in the city itself for nearly a hundred years, two expressions were born this year. This one is the more common, unpeated, and aged for 3 to 5 years in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks. It aims to bring out the fruity character of the distillery. Ambir means ‘amber’ in Gaelic.

Let's Taste It : 

Malty hints, a red cherry, pearlescent with chocolate. Like the Mon Chéri brand. Gooseberries, raspberries, but still light. Creamy fudge, shortbread biscuits, buttered rusks, Swedish bread. A drizzle of caramelised vanilla. A few drops of lemon. On the palate, it's solid, with fairly strong vegetal notes, softened by molasses and melting chocolate. Pepper on the tip of the tongue, then an honest, relatively long finish, with orchard fruits, juicy pears, muscat grapes.

In Short, 

There are some qualities here, the palate and finish hold their own. On the other hand, I found the nose a little shy, the Oloroso Sherry not asserting itself enough for my taste, and the Bourbon struggling to bring out the fruit. I found it more vegetal than fruity. It's quite good nonetheless, given its very young age. A few more years will do it good. 

Score : 84

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                     Cody Fry - Better