Holyrood Distillery Embra, 43.6%

A peated expression from this urban distiller, founded in 2019 and just a short walk from Edinburgh’s historic center. This has dryness, minerality, sea shells, and salinity on the nose. The palate is peated but sweet and light, with a background of peat that leads with honey, vanilla, poached pear, and apricot. Smoke returns on the finish, melded beautifully with sweetness of pears and vanilla. Unusually light for a peated expression, but very good.