Height of Arrows – Holyrood Distillery Gin Review

We’ve been on a bit of a bender recently. If it’s not Aldi red wines, it’s trying new and interesting gins. 

After a recent trip into the city, we realised that Edinburgh is home to some of the best Gin distilleries in the UK, if not the world. The city is fast becoming a fine dining destination, and cocktails are a huge part of that renaissance. 

Today, we’re trying one of the up-and-coming stars of Edinburgh, the Height of Arrows by Holyrood Distillery. This brand seems to have mostly flown under the radar of online recommendations (particularly when compared to the likes of Lind & Lime Gin), but it has a cult following and is available across the UK in supermarkets. 

Let’s dive in and cast some arrows of our own. 

After reading this review, we’ve broken down what we think are the best Scottish gins. It is a comprehensive guide, including our favourites, of all the gin we’ve tried (and that is a lot).

About the Height of Arrows Gin. 

The Height of Arrows is a gin distilled by Holyrood Distillery, in the heart of Edinburgh’s southern city centre. Cast in the Shadow of Arthur’s Seat, the distillery has built their gin around this iconic landmark. The story goes that Arthur’s seat is the same height that an archer could fire an arrow. The idea is that they are breaking boundaries with an innovative way of distilling gin, and they could fire an arrow from the distillery, and it would land upon Salisbury’s crag. 

Originally a whiskey distillery, they took the lessons learned from whiskey and applied them to gin. That means simple, bold classic flavours that should be showcased and elevated. 

The gin landed on shelves in September 2021 and has gained a reputation as one of the finest gins produced in Edinburgh. 

The Review. 

Height of Arrows focuses on one ingredient: juniper berries.

Combined with salt and beeswax, they have managed to make the classic gin botanical sing on its own.

That is the direction – this is a very juniper-heavy gin with elevated flavours of juniper. I can tell you, it works, and works very well. 

Nose

Pure juniper. But not juniper at the same time. The gin gives off a winey citrus top note, a floral, fruity middle and spicy warmth. All the elements for a gin are there, yet achieved with only one ingredient. It’s brilliant. 

The Taste

The gin is smooth, oily and coats your mouth with the wonderful fruity, complex flavours of Juniper. The addition of beeswax allows the gin to coat your mouth and create a wonderful mouthfeel. 

While some juniper gins can be bitter or potent, the Height of Arrows draws out the sweet, umami elements that Juniper offers.

It’s classic food science. The makers have used salt to bring out the nuance of juniper and create a nuanced foundation. They have used fat in the form of beeswax to carry the flavour and add texture.

This is a fantastic gin. Really, very clever. 

Best pairing. 

This gin could be easily enjoyed neat, like a whiskey. So, in a cocktail, we need to let it shine. We need to make the most of the bold, powerful flavours.

We’d suggest a simple martini, with a shot of good-quality vodka, and a dash of lime. Ensure the martini is gin-heavy, and you’re onto a winner. 

With the Height of Arrows, what really sets the gin apart is the texture and mouthfeel. So, don’t spoil it by making your tipple too complex. Lean into the philosophy, and create something that is so simple, it brings its own complexity. 

Final Thoughts. 

The Height of Arrows is one of the best gins we’ve tried.

Maybe ever.

It is simple and bold, yet complex, elegant, floral and fruity. It is amazing to taste one ingredient and how it can be made to shine in a way that you never expected. It is a stunning example of ingenuity and, indeed, breaks boundaries. 

We highly, highly recommend this gin to all gin lovers.