Holyrood Pitch

Profile: Holyrood Pitch at a glance

• Fruit and nut bars in liquid form: Holyrood Pitch made from dark malt and red wine yeasts
• Distilled in Edinburgh: Matured in Oloroso hogsheads
• Natural: Bottled without colorings and without chill filtration!

Portrait: What makes the Holyrood Pitch special

Whisky owes 80 percent of its flavor to the cask? Not if it's up to the Holyrood Distillery. The young distillery from Edinburgh takes a different approach: To create the flavor diversity of its Lowland whiskies, it deliberately relies on different malt and yeast varieties - thus putting the spotlight on ingredients that are otherwise often overshadowed by cask aging.

For their new single malt pitch, the craft distillers have turned to unusual materials: Scottish pot still malt and brown malt, which are traditionally used in dark porter beers.This combination gives the distillate intense aromas of chocolate and hazelnut right at the base.

But the team goes one step further - and with Pitch, they are exploring the previously underutilized potential of red wine yeasts in whisky production. The varieties Pepe Nero and Toro Nero are used, which enrich the whisky's profile with deeper chocolate notes and a fuller mouthfeel. This characterful raw spirit is rounded off by maturation in Oloroso sherry casks, which underline the nutty notes and give the whisky a harmonious sweetness. The result? A whisky reminiscent of a liquid fruit and nut bar - complex, round, and unmistakable.

Tasting Notes: This is what Holyrood Pitch tastes like

• Nose: inviting aromas of dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts are in the foreground - accompanied by nuances of malt coffee, dried Figs and a subtle spice reminiscent of cloves and cinnamon
• Palate: full-bodied and deep - the whisky unfolds rich chocolate tones, accompanied by nutty notes and a hint of dark berries - the special yeast brings a round, almost creamy texture, while subtle roasted aromas are reminiscent of cocoa beans and espresso
• Finish: long and pleasantly warming - the aftertaste is characterized by lingering chocolate, light oak, sweet dried fruits, and a subtle hint of sherry - like a bittersweet chocolate bar with a fruity core