Single Malt Sake Yeast 'Full Cask' No 894
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to be enjoyed immediately.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
sushi and sashimi, roasted pork belly, mature cheddar
✨ Technical Specifications
Representing a bold frontier in spirits production, this release from Edinburgh's Holyrood Distillery showcases their radical, flavor-first philosophy. By fermenting 100% malted barley with sake yeast rather than traditional distiller's yeast, Holyrood bridges the gap between Japanese brewing artistry and Scottish distilling heritage. This experimental fermentation introduces an abundance of stone fruit, melon, and delicate floral esters alongside a distinct, savory umami backbone. Cask No 894 captures this unique chemical synergy in a single, unadulterated expression, offering a fascinating glimpse into how yeast selection can fundamentally redefine the Lowland single malt style.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2019 by Rob and Kelly Carpenter alongside former Macallan master distiller David Robertson, Holyrood Distillery marked the return of single malt whisky distillation to central Edinburgh after nearly a century of absence. Housed within a restored 1830s railway goods shed beneath Arthur's Seat in the Lowlands, Holyrood operates with an innovative, flavor-first distilling ethos deeply informed by Edinburgh's historic brewing heritage. Rather than conforming to traditional regional conventions, the distillery experiments extensively with diverse malt varieties—including heirloom, chocolate, and crystal barleys—along with an array of specialty brewing, wine, and sake yeast strains. Utilizing washbacks with extended fermentations and tall copper pot stills, Holyrood captures distinct ester and phenolic profiles before aging spirit in meticulously selected casks. Benchmark expressions include their inaugural single malts Arrival, Ambir, and Embra, alongside singular single-cask trials showcasing red wine, sake yeast, and peated variants.
🍇 Base Material
Malted Barley