Holyrood Ambir (70cl, 49.8%)

Ambir is Holyrood's third single malt release, from the Edinburgh distillery, bottled in 2024 at 49.8% in a 70cl bottle. The name is the Scots word for amber. It is not chill-filtered and has no added colour. The recipe puts speciality malts forward: distillers malt with chocolate malt, Vienna, Crystal 240 and Caramalt, plus some peated Highland malt, and ten yeast strains. It matured mostly in first- and second-fill bourbon casks, with a smaller share of Oloroso butts and hogsheads. The nose has caramel, creamy fudge, Demerara sugar, Scottish tablet and vanilla ice cream. On the palate, red fruit and vanilla meet cornflakes. The finish brings sponge biscuit, a velvety texture and a gentle smoke.