Edinburgh’s first distillery in 90 years to open

Single malt Scotch production may return to Edinburgh for the first time in 90 years after The Macallan’s former master distiller was granted a lease to open a micro-distillery in the city.

David Robertson has been granted a lease to open Holyrood Park Distillery is Edinburgh

David Robertson has applied to the City of Edinburgh Council to open the Holyrood Park Distillery – a £2 million micro-distillery and visitor experience at the Engine Shed building in the city centre.

While the council has agreed to enter into a lease with the distillery, the proposal is now subject to planning permission.

“We are very excited by the prospect of resurrecting the proud tradition of distilling single malt whisky in Edinburgh, following a 90 year absence of whisky distilling in the capital,” said Robertson, who is set to become master distiller at Holyrood Park Distillery if plans are approved.

“It seems to us that the one place missing a single malt distillery is Edinburgh, the capital of the country known for the world’s most famous whisky – Scotland.

He continued: “Most importantly, our goal is to create beautiful, hand-crafted single malt whiskies which will stand shoulder to shoulder with the other great single malts that are now being produced in Scotland and elsewhere.”

Robertson added that the Engine Shed building, dating back to the 1830s, will provide an “ideal location” to base the distillery.

Tourist attraction

The site will feature a “fully integrated” visitor experience where people can view the distillation process “from start to finish”, as well as an education facility to be used as a community and school resource for learning about whisky distilling and the history of the area.

An on-site restaurant and bar will also serve locally sourced food and drink, while there are also hopes of establishing a weekend market for local crafts and produce in the courtyard.

If plans are approved, Holyrood Park Distillery will employ up to 25 people and is aiming to commence distillation by summer 2016, releasing its first single malt within four years.

The distillery will produce 100,000 litres of alcohol per year, resulting in around 250,000 bottles of mature single malt in eight to 12 years’ time.

While there are distilleries in Edinburgh that produce other spirits, such as the Spencerfield Spirits Company which released its first batch of gin last year, the city’s last malt whisky distillery, Glen Sciennes, closed in 1925.

The Engine Shed building, previously used as a goods warehouse for the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, is owned by Lothian Regional Council and was recently renovated before its lease to a social enterprise.

David Robertson teamed up with investment banker Andy Simpson last year to launch rare whisky index, valuation and brokerage website, RW101. Also in 2014, he co-founded Platinum Whisky Investment Fund – the world’s first private equity fund for rare whiskies.

Artist’s impression of Holyrood Park Distillery