Charmed Circle

LIKE VODKA BUT BETTER

At Holyrood we created Charmed Circle, to give heritage barleys a new lease of life. As whisky distillers we use barley everyday and wondered if we could create a spirit that utilises barley in a totally new way.

When we make whisky, we create a New Make Spirit which is what is we put into barrels for ageing.

To create Charmed Circle we create a New Make Spirit using special heritage barleys, however instead of placing this spirit into barrels for ageing, we blend it with neutral grain spirit and water. This process intensifies the barley’s natural flavours and unveils their unique characters. The resulting spirit is reminiscent of vodka, but with sweet creamy flavours of malted barley. We call it Strong Waters.

MADE WITH HERITAGE BARLEY

Chevalier Heritage Barley

Chevalier was cultivated in 1820 by English labourer John Andrew when he planted the seeds from a fine ear of barley he found in his shoe. From this humble start the varietal would go on to dominate the British brewing crop for the next sixty years.

Golden Promise Heritage Barley

Golden Promise is a classic British Spring barley that made its name as the varietal favoured by Scottish single malt distillers during the late 1960s for its rich flavour.

Strong Waters & The Charmed Circle

‘Strong Waters’ is an archaic name, referring to any alcoholic liquids that were not being set aside as aqua vitae. ‘Strong Waters’ is also a reference to a collection of wells situated around Arthur’s Seat. Known as the ‘Charmed Circle,’ this cluster of wells supplied the flourishing brewing community the city once held, with some of the wells and water aquifer still in use underneath the distillery today.

Charmed Circle Strong Waters: Chevalier

Iconic Golden Promise, a barley famed for its rich flavour, became the darling of Scotch whisky distillers during the malt whisky producing heyday of the Sixties.

Charmed Circle Strong Waters: Golden Promise

Chevalier was cultivated from the seeds of a ‘fine ear of barley’ that an English labourer found in his shoe.

Discover our Charmed Circle Walking Tour

FAQ's

How should I drink Charmed Circle?

How you want to! Charmed Circle is incredibly versatile. It makes a great substitute for rum, vodka and whisky in classic cocktails, but can also be enjoyed ice cold on its own or paired with your favourite craft beer.

Why is it called Strong Waters?

‘Strong Waters’ is an archaic name, referring to any alcoholic liquids that were not being set aside as aqua vitae (whisky). ‘Strong Waters’ is also a reference to a collection of wells situated around Arthur’s Seat, which sits just behind the distillery.

What is Charmed Circle?

Charmed Circle is a unique spirit drink made using heritage barley. To create Charmed Circle we create a New Make Spirit using special heritage barleys, however instead of placing this spirit into barrels for ageing, we blend it with neutral grain spirit and water. This process intensifies the heritage barley’s natural flavours and unveils their unique characters. The resulting spirit is reminiscent of vodka, but with unique flavours of malted barley.

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Other Brands

New Make

Charmed Circle

Height of Arrows

Elizabeth Yard

Our New Make Spirit showcases our whisky vision and enables whisky drinkers to fully appreciate spirit before it enters a cask. It demonstrates the influence of our iterative, holistic approach, who we are as distillers, and where we are going as whisky makers.

A new take on vodka inspired by Edinburgh’s brewing past, we create Charmed Circle with heritage barley varieties; Chevalier and Golden Promise, showcasing each of their unique characteristics.

A new approach to gin making, inspired by our whisky thinking and grounded in simplicity. Our Height of Arrows gins feature a singular botanical; juniper, with a focus on flavour and texture.

Featuring rums from some of the most prestigious rum producers in the world, Elizabeth Yard is where we geek out on rum, exploring maturation and cask finishes.