This Distillery Experiments With Unexpected Kinds of Yeast for Whisky

Wednesday, 03 December 2025 at 12:02

Holyrood Distillery has unveiled a new whisky trilogy: the Noir Trilogy. It’s a bold experiment in which the distillery has used distinctive yeast strains typically reserved for French winemaking. So what did that yield?

Distilleries generally use different yeast strains than winemakers. But what happens if you go your own way and choose yeasts used by winemakers? That’s the experiment Holyrood Distillery showcases in the new Holyrood Noir Trilogy.

FAQ

Where is Holyrood Distillery located?
In Edinburgh.
What kind of whisky does Holyrood Distillery usually make?
Single malt whisky.
What is the Holyrood Noir Trilogy?
A trio of whiskies born from a yeast-driven experiment.

What is the Holyrood Noir Trilogy?

The distillery created three distillates using pot still malt and special yeast strains commonly found in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and sparkling wines.

The resulting spirit was then matured in casks selected specifically to complement each yeast profile, amplifying the aromas Holyrood set out to highlight.

Each whisky then matures in casks chosen to enhance the yeast profile, further elevating the aromas Holyrood’s master distillers want to bring to the fore.

Which whiskies are featured in the Holyrood Noir Trilogy?

The experiment produced the following three expressions. We’ve noted the yeast used and the cask types.

Holyrood Noir Premier Cru Yeast

The first whisky is made with 60% Pinnacle M and 40% Maurvin yeast. The spirit matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, Chardonnay, and white wine casks, and was bottled at 47.2% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Expect flavors of tarte tatin, toffee, buttercup, and pear.

Holyrood Noir Burgundy Yeast

The Burgundy Yeast whisky is crafted with 60% Pinnacle M and 40% Maurvin B yeast. It was matured in ex-bourbon casks and Burgundy barriques, then bottled at 47.4% ABV. On the nose: biscuits with raspberry jam; on the palate: brandy tones with pomegranate.

Holyrood Noir Bordeaux Yeast

The third whisky in the trilogy is made with 60% Pinnacle M yeast and 40% BP725 yeast. This elixir matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and Bordeaux barriques, and was bottled at 47.1% ABV. Tasting notes highlight fruity layers of cherry, strawberry, and blackcurrant with a whisper of Scottish wine.

Where can you buy the Holyrood Distillery Noir whiskies?

Holyrood Distillery has set the price at £57 per bottle. The whiskies haven’t been officially released yet, but can already be pre-ordered directly from the distillery. More information is available on Holyrood’s website.