Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh’s Old Town

Holyrood Ambir

Holyrood Distillery, nestled in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, is a unique player in Scotland’s whisky landscape. Founded in 2019, Holyrood brings the city’s rich brewing and distilling heritage into the modern age with a fresh, experimental approach. Unlike traditional distilleries, Holyrood emphasizes the artistry of ingredient selection and the impact of different malts, yeasts, and fermentation techniques on flavor. This commitment allows them to create whiskies and gins with profiles that are distinctively their own.

One of Holyrood’s defining features is its ingredient-driven philosophy. Rather than relying solely on age or cask selection, Holyrood designs its spirits around specialty malts and varied yeasts to bring out complex layers of flavor. This approach is evident in their New Make spirit and their Cuvée and Ambir releases, where each expression explores unique taste dimensions influenced by these carefully chosen ingredients.

Holyrood’s openness to experimentation is also reflected in their Cask Programme, where they invite enthusiasts to actively participate in the whisky-making journey, from grain to glass. In a landscape where tradition often dictates process, Holyrood stands apart by reimagining how whisky can evolve through a focus on the raw ingredients and their interaction with Scotland’s environment. With a mission to push boundaries while honoring Edinburgh’s heritage, Holyrood Distillery brings a refreshing and modern twist to Scotland’s whisky tradition, offering spirits that are both innovative and deeply rooted in place.

Now available

Waterford Koffi – A Whisky of Depth and Character

Waterford Koffi

Waterford Koffi is an exceptional whisky with an intense and robust flavor profile, part of Waterford Distillery’s renowned Cuvée series. This unique whisky reveals rich notes of roasted coffee beans, warm spices, and a hint of dark chocolate, creating a complex and full-bodied tasting experience.

With Koffi, Waterford brings the character of Irish soil to life through its terroir-driven production process. Using single-farm barley sourced from carefully selected Irish farms, this whisky captures the essence of each unique terroir.

For the true whisky aficionado, Waterford Koffi is an invitation to discover the authentic taste of Ireland – a whisky that reflects not only the craftsmanship of distillation but also the soul of the landscape where the barley was grown.

Waterford Koffi
Waterford Koffi

Heritage: Goldthorpe – A Century-Old Flavor, Reborn

Waterford Goldthorpe

Heritage: Goldthorpe isn’t just whisky; it’s a tribute to a lost taste from the past. Crafted from the iconic Goldthorpe barley, a variety that hasn’t been used in Irish whisky since 1923, this exclusive release brings back the pure flavors of a century-old tradition. With intense notes of granola, honey, dried fruit, and subtle spices, this single malt delivers a flavor profile found nowhere else in the world.

Experience the taste of history: Heritage: Goldthorpe is a journey back to a time when flavor diversity and intensity were in every sip, aged through the ages and revived for true whisky connoisseurs.

Available now in limited quantities – taste the past, relive tradition.

Waterford Goldthorpe
Waterford Goldthorpe

Springbank Angels 19y

Drouin Springbank Angels label

The latest release in the Christian Drouin Experimental Series, Drouin Springbank Angels 19y, has arrived at Thistle! Aged in lightly peated Springbank whisky casks, this exceptional Calvados offers whisky lovers a chance to explore a bold, new dimension of flavor. If you’re ready to break out of your usual whisky routine, this is your chance to try something truly unique.

Other available Experimental Series include:

  1. Drouin Foursquare Angels 19yo – Rich, matured in Barbados rum casks.
  2. Drouin 10yo JM Angels – Delicate, rounded profile from Martinique rum barrels.
  3. Drouin Hine Angel – Aged in Hine Cognac barrels for smoothness and depth.
  4. Drouin 13yo Arran Angels – Fruity and balanced, aged in Arran whisky barrels.
  5. Drouin Long Pond Angels – Deep and sweet, finished in Long Pond rum casks.
  6. Drouin Calle 23 Angels – Finished in tequila barrels with agave notes.

In addition to these Experimental editions, Thistle also offers other Christian Drouin products, including:

Only on demand: Glenfiddich 31y Grand Chateau

An exceptionally impressive addition to Glenfiddich’s prestigious Grand Series, this release marks the distillery’s first whisky matured in red wine casks from France’s Bordeaux region. This limited edition single malt was initially aged in American and European oak casks before undergoing an extended nine-year finish in Bordeaux red wine barrels, completing its 31-year maturation. The result is a whisky with a striking reddish hue and indulgent layers of rich candied cherry, warming spices, and toasted oak.

Tasting Notes by the Producer

  • Nose: Warm, enveloping vanilla gradually reveals fruity, floral notes of perfectly ripe cassis berries, alongside a hint of nutty aromas.
  • Palate: Luxuriously rich, with flavours of slowly caramelised cherries and apples mingling with warming spices and toasted oak.
  • Finish: A lingering, deep finish with lasting character.