‘Whisky Express’ launches a new partnership between Lumo and Holyrood Distillery

Lumo is proud to reveal a new partnership with Holyrood Distillery. The popular Edinburgh distillery has co-branded a specially commissioned single malt scotch whisky, which will be served from this week exclusively onboard Lumo services operating between Edinburgh, Newcastle and London King’s Cross.

The very first bottles of the specially distilled whisky were served onboard Lumo’s 19:58 Edinburgh to London King’s Cross service on Tuesday 13th August with the train attracting large crowds at Edinburgh Waverley before departing the station as it was decorated with a very special ‘Whisky Express’ livery.

An exclusive launch event was held at Holyrood Distillery ahead of the special train departing the city, where guests from a range of partner organisations, businesses, charitable groups and the community gathered to be amongst the first to sample the amber whisky.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, said: “At Lumo we’re incredibly proud to support and showcase local suppliers from along the East Coast route so this new partnership with Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery is a proud moment for us. We’re thrilled to be offering our customers an even greater range of onboard refreshments to select from when enjoying a journey between Edinburgh, Newcastle and London so our very own Lumo whisky is another exciting moment in our journey celebrating local producers.”

This pioneering partnership with Lumo comes after an incredibly successful year for the distillery, which launched its inaugural single malt, Arrival, in October 2023.

Huw Wright, Managing Director at Holyrood Distillery, said: “This is our first travel collaboration and Lumo’s commitment to sustainability and innovation cemented the partnership for us. Our motto of Test, Learn, Improve and Repeat aligns with this ambitious company’s ethos and we’re proud to be a local distillery supplying a national rail service. Our whisky has been distilled in the heart of Edinburgh and as the train follows the track from the city centre to East Lothian and beyond, visitors will be able to savour a dram in their comfortable seat and admire the stunning coastline and fertile fields which produce the malting barley some of the barley we use in our distilling process to create the whisky they can enjoy.”

Since opening in 2019 in Scotland’s capital city, Holyrood Distillery has created an award-winning range of whisky and spirits informed by the landscape and brewing history of Edinburgh. The distillery also has a connection with rail travel; the distillery building at the foot of the Salisbury Crags was once used as a storage building for the Edinburgh and Dalkeith railway in the 19th century.

Lumo operates intercity rail services between London King’s Cross, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The Newcastle-based company was recently announced as the first train company in Britain to eliminate plastic bottles from onboard water, juice and wine products sold onboard; all being replaced with sustainable alternatives.

The company, which proudly serves local product from along its route, recently joined Transform Scotland to help further highlight its low-carbon and low-cost services connecting Scotland with North East England and London. The popular service which runs the vibrant blue trains was named ‘Green Innovation Business of the Year’ at the recent North East Chamber of Commerce awards.

Emma Reid, Head of Partnership & Engagement at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to see this partnership between Edinburgh Chamber members Lumo and Holyrood Distillery. This collaboration will introduce a unique single malt to Lumo’s passengers, presenting a taste of Scotland to a UK audience while supporting an Edinburgh business.

“The collaboration is a great example of Lumo’s commitment to the communities it serves. It provides Holyrood Distillery with a platform to reach Lumo’s tens of thousands of customers each week, expanding its customer base and offering excellent brand exposure.

“Such partnerships are crucial for local businesses, offering growth and exciting brand alignment opportunities. We hope this leads to many more exciting collaborations!”

Connecting Holyrood Distillery with national customers, Lumo and Holyrood also sponsored the launch evening for a new theatre show, I Ran With The Gang in London’s Covent Garden, which centres on Alan Longmuir’s experience in the Bay City Rollers, with attendees of the launch event being gifted a bottle of the Lumo Holyrood partnership whisky.

The Holyrood Distillery single malt scotch whisky for Lumo will be available onboard the Edinburgh to Newcastle and London rail journeys at £5.50.