Holyrood Ambir

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49.8% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Ambir puts speciality malts at the heart of Holyrood's third single malt release. Its name is the Scots word for amber. The recipe combines classic Distillers Malt with Chocolate Malt, Vienna, Crystal 240 and Caramalt, alongside peated Highland malt. Ten yeast strains are used in total. The whisky matures mainly in first- and second-fill bourbon casks, with a smaller proportion of Oloroso Butts and Hogsheads.

At 49.8%, Ambir combines a sweet, creamy style with caramel, fudge and Demerara sugar. Red fruit and vanilla complement the sweetness, while cornflakes and biscuit add cereal and bakery notes. The bourbon casks contribute a warming, spicy vanilla note. A subtle touch of smoke rounds out the character. Ambir is bottled without chill filtration or added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose offers caramel, creamy fudge and Demerara sugar, along with notes of Scottish Tablet, a traditional Scottish sugar confection. A vanilla note recalls vanilla ice cream.
• Palate: On the palate, red fruit and vanilla combine with a note of cornflakes.
• Finish: Biscuit notes and a velvety texture linger on the finish. The mouthwatering aftertaste ends with a subtle savoury nuance. Gentle smoke accompanies the warming finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Holyrood Distillery opened in 2019 and was the first new single malt distillery in central Edinburgh since 1925. It occupies a converted railway building dating from 1835 at St Leonard's, drawing on the city's brewing and distilling history. Rather than relying on a single standard recipe, Holyrood deliberately experiments with speciality malts and different yeasts. These include yeasts used in beer, wine, sake and champagne production, helping shape the spirit's character before cask maturation. Ambir comes from this distillery and is an official bottling.

Facts: