Holyrood Distillery Embra, 43.60% ABV (700 ml)

From Whisky Advocate – 92 points

“A peated expression from this urban distiller, founded in 2019 and just a short walk from Edinburgh’s historic center. This has dryness, minerality, sea shells, and salinity on the nose. The palate is peated but sweet and light with a background of peat that leads with honey, vanilla, poached pear and apricot. Smoke returns on the finish, melded beautifully with sweetness of pears and vanilla. Unusually light for a peated expression but very good.”

ABV: 43.6%

Cask Type: Triple Cask Maturation – First Fill Bourbon, Peated Islay Quarter Cask & American New Oak

Bottle Size: 700ml

Nose: Lemon zest, horse chestnut pith, hints of peppermint and light hickory smoke

Palate: Wafer biscuits, dark chocolate mousse, notes of earthy Highland peat smoke

Finish: Light stewed pears, with a well rounded clean finish

Natural color, non-chill filtered.

Embra is the second flagship release from Holyrood Distillery, awarded 96 points by the IWSC.

A gateway to the world of peated whisky, capturing classic bold smoky flavours and textures of while still being accessible to a new whisky drinker.

“The mindset for Embra was to set the stage for an exploration into peated whisky. Edinburgh is the gateway to Scotland for many people and this is the idea at the heart of this spirit. We wanted to find the perfect balance of bold smoky flavours and textures of peated whisky while still being accessible to a new whisky drinker. When someone says they don’t like peated whisky, this is the whisky to hand to them. That doesn’t mean there isn’t something for the seasoned peated drinkers as we have all of the hallmark flavours and textures of a great whisky.” Calum Rae, Distillery Manager