Holyrood Distillery has announced the launch its inaugural single malt whisky, Arrival.

The Edinburgh distillery's new single malt – one of the first produced in the Scottish capital in 100 years – will be available from 6 October in a limited run of 8,188 bottles.

Holyrood opened in 2019 in a former railway building in Edinburgh's Southside area, near the famous natural landmark Arthur's Seat. Founded on an ethos of experimentation and pushing the boundaries of traditional spirit making, it has so far released the Height of Arrows gin range, the grain-based Charmed Circle 'strong waters', and a number of new-make spirits showcasing different yeast and malt varieties.

The spirit for Arrival was matured in oloroso butts, Pedro Ximénez hogsheads, bourbon barrels, and rum barriques. It was produced with a traditional distilling malt and distillers' yeast, which Holyrood says will form the “flavour foundation” of its single malt recipes going forward, layered with heritage and speciality malts and yeasts not traditionally used in Scotch whisky production.

Rob Carpenter, co-founder of Holyrood Distillery, said: “This year Edinburgh has been well and truly placed back on the whisky-making map and we’re incredibly proud to be part of this revolution. Arrival embodies our story so far as whisky makers and marks the beginning of a journey of progression, innovation, and experimentation. 

“Just as the distillery is a part of Edinburgh, our city and its people, heritage, and culture are what we draw inspiration from every day. Our bottle avoids whisky cliché and leans into something a little more local, putting the Holyrood hourglass front and centre. The distinctive beer bottle silhouette and brown glass also pay tribute to a once-bustling glassworks located not too far from our distillery. 

“The name ‘Arrival’ is inspired by Holyrood Distillery’s iconic location in the former Innocent Railway terminal. This name not only gives a nod to Edinburgh’s pioneering past but also invokes a sense of achievement in the release – we made it!”

“Just as Edinburgh is made up of contrasting elements – modernity and heritage, the Old Town and the New Town – ‘Arrival’ brings sweet and spice together in a banging dram,” said distillery manager Calum Rae. “We selected this whisky as our inaugural release to reflect the first stage of all Holyrood recipe development whilst  showcasing the incredible and complex flavours which can be achieved by Holyrood at any age.”

The first bottle of Arrival is to be sold on 5 October as part of the Distillers One of One charity auction, of which Holyrood Distillery is a founder member. The whisky will then go on general sale from 6 October with specialist retailers including Royal Mile Whiskies, Master of Malt, the Whisky Shop, and the Whisky Exchange, as well as in the Holyrood Distillery shop and at holyrooddistillery.co.uk (RRP £67).