Edinburgh: Gin Tasting at Underground Venue

Edinburgh’s Lost Close gives this gin tasting a setting you will remember. Just off the Royal Mile, you leave the street near St Giles Cathedral and head underground, where the old space, including a former jail-cell setting, adds a touch of theater to the drinks.

I like two things here: you taste four clearly different gins, and you control the tonic and garnish for each pour. I also like the way the guides, including Sarah, Sara, Nicky, and Dan, turn a drink tasting into a lively story about Scotland and gin. The main drawback is simple: at one hour, this is a compact introduction, not a full distillery visit or a long evening of cocktails.

Key points before you book

• The Lost Close: Enter an atmospheric underground venue behind St Giles Cathedral, rather than a standard bar or tasting room.
• Four different gins: Compare several styles, including the traditions behind Jenever, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry.
• Your own gin and tonic: Try different tonics and garnishes, then adjust each serve to your taste.
• Story-led presentation: Guides such as Sarah and Sara use history, jokes, and local detail to keep the hour moving.
• Central Edinburgh location: Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern on Parliament Square, with no transport needed.
• Adults only: This activity is for ages 18 and over, and it is not suitable during pregnancy.

Going underground from Parliament Square

The meeting point is outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile and behind St Giles Cathedral on Parliament Square. This is a handy place to fit into a day of sightseeing, since you can reach it on foot from the central Old Town without arranging a taxi or shuttle.

Look for the group outside the coffee house rather than heading straight into an underground room. From there, the guide leads you below street level into The Lost Close. That short change of scene is part of the appeal. One minute you are in the busy Old Town, and the next you are in a darker, older setting designed to make the tasting feel like more than a bar stop.

The venue matters here. A gin tasting in a bright hotel lounge would put the focus almost entirely on the liquid in your glass. The Lost Close gives the hour a sense of place. One guest particularly enjoyed sitting in an old jail cell while hearing about gin, which gives you a good idea of the atmosphere. It is unusual without turning the activity into a ghost tour or a theatrical show.

The setting may not suit everyone. If you want a polished modern tasting room with lots of space and a calm, bright layout, this underground venue could feel a little rustic. If you like Edinburgh’s older, slightly strange corners, it adds plenty of character.

The evolution of gin, from Jenever to London Dry

The main lesson follows gin through several stages rather than treating every bottle as the same spirit. You begin with the early story of Jenever, then move through styles such as Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry. That sequence helps you understand why different gins can taste so far apart even when they share a name.

The guide also connects gin with Scottish history. The tour is not only a list of dates and production terms. Guides such as Sarah have been praised for adding amusing stories and details about the venue, while Sara has been described as an enthusiastic storyteller. The presentation appears to rely on conversation and personality, so your experience may have a slightly different flavor depending on who leads your session.

I like this approach because it gives each tasting a reason. Instead of asking you to sniff, sip, and guess, the guide explains how gin changed over time and why certain styles developed. You learn the basic vocabulary without needing previous knowledge of spirits.

This is also where the tour’s one-hour length works well. The subject is broad, but the guide keeps the focus on the points that help you understand what is in your glass. You should expect a brisk introduction rather than a specialist course in distilling.

Four gins, four ways to build a drink

You taste four different gins during the session. The point is contrast. You are not simply given four similar pours from one producer. The selection is intended to show different flavor profiles and different ways gin can work with a mixer.

The guide explains what to look for in each gin and suggests a tonic and garnish to match. You then mix the drink yourself. That small detail improves the tasting because it lets you test the advice rather than just hear it.

You might prefer a stronger, more direct drink, or you might want something lighter and more refreshing. The activity allows for both. The supplied tonics and garnishes give you room to change the balance and see how the same gin behaves with a different mixer.

This is especially useful if you are still working out what kind of gin you like. You may discover that a crisp London Dry suits you better than a sweeter Old Tom, or that the tonic changes your opinion more than the gin itself. The tasting gives you a practical way to compare those choices.

Do not expect four large cocktails. This is a tasting, and the emphasis is on sampling and comparison. It is best viewed as a guided introduction that may help you make better choices at a gin bar later in your trip.

Why the tonic matters as much as the gin

The tour explains tonic water’s early medicinal use and how it became gin’s natural partner. That background gives you a useful bit of context, since tonic is often treated as a minor part of the drink even though it can change the final result.

A sharper tonic can make a gin taste brighter. A sweeter tonic may soften a strong botanical profile. Garnishes add another layer, though the supplied information does not specify exactly which garnishes you will receive. The guide suggests pairings, and you decide how closely to follow them.

I appreciate that the mixing is left to you. It makes the session less formal and more social. You can follow the recommended serve first, then adjust it if you want more tonic or a bolder pour. It also means you are not expected to pretend that one recipe suits every palate.

The experience works best if you pay attention to the differences between samples. Take a small sip before adding much tonic, then compare the finished drink. That simple method lets you see what the mixer changes.

The guides make or break the hour

The strongest praise goes to the people leading the tasting. Sarah appears repeatedly in the feedback, with particular credit for her humor, historical detail, and ability to keep the group involved. Sara is also described as an enthusiastic and entertaining storyteller, while Nicky and Dan have been praised for their friendly and professional delivery.

That matters because the basic format is straightforward: talk, taste, mix, and repeat. A stiff presentation could make the hour feel like a lecture with alcohol. A good guide turns it into a conversation, adding jokes and answering questions as they come up.

One guide stayed beyond the scheduled time to answer questions. You should not count on every session running long, but this gives you a sense of the relaxed spirit that can shape the experience. The guide’s style may vary, yet the repeated emphasis on clear explanations and humor suggests that the human side of the tour is central to its value.

You will need to follow the presentation in English. The activity has a live English-speaking guide, and no other languages are listed. If you are choosing this mainly for the history and storytelling, make sure you are comfortable enough with English to follow a spoken explanation in an underground space.

One hour and $36: Is the value there?

At $36 per person, this is not the cheapest way to have a gin and tonic in Edinburgh. You are paying for four tastings, mixers, garnishes, a guide, and access to The Lost Close, not just for the alcohol.

I think the price is fair if you want context and atmosphere as well as drinks. Four different gins give you a useful comparison, and the guide helps you understand what you are tasting. The underground venue also turns a standard beverage stop into a distinct Old Town activity.

The value is weaker if you only want a large drink or already have detailed knowledge of gin. You may find better value at a bar if your priority is choosing one favorite bottle and settling in for a long evening. This tour is about variety, explanation, and setting.

The one-hour duration makes it easy to place before dinner or at the beginning of an evening. It is long enough to feel like a proper activity but short enough to leave room for another booking. Since transportation is not included and none is needed, your main planning task is simply reaching the Parliament Square meeting point on time.

Who will enjoy this tasting most?

I would choose this for adults who like drinks with a story behind them. It suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy a small-group activity where the guide does much of the talking but leaves room for questions.

It is also a good fit if you have already seen the main Old Town sights and want something different. The meeting point is central, yet the venue feels separate from the usual sightseeing route. The underground setting gives you a change of pace without requiring a separate trip across the city.

Gin fans will appreciate the chance to compare styles and mixers. Newcomers may get even more from it, since the tasting explains the basic family tree of gin without assuming that you can already identify every botanical in the glass.

This is not suitable for children under 18, babies under one year, or pregnant women. Smoking is not allowed indoors. If someone in your group does not drink alcohol, this is probably not the right activity, since the core experience is the tasting of four gins.

A few practical ways to enjoy it

Arrive at the named meeting point outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, not at a separate entrance to The Lost Close. The activity begins from Parliament Square, just behind St Giles Cathedral.

Wear something comfortable for an underground venue, and keep your plans around it reasonably flexible. The official duration is one hour, but one guide has stayed longer to answer questions, so avoid booking another activity immediately afterward if a tight schedule would bother you.

Pay attention to the first taste of each gin before mixing. Then try the suggested tonic and garnish, and make a small adjustment for yourself. You will get more from the session if you treat it as a comparison rather than four quick drinks.

If you are unsure about your plans, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when you are arranging several Edinburgh activities before your itinerary is settled.

Should you book the Lost Close gin tasting?

Book it if you want a central, story-led gin experience with a memorable setting. The four-gin format, flexible mixing, and strong guide presence give you more than a simple sample flight. Sarah, Sara, Nicky, and Dan have each been praised for making the history easy to follow and fun to hear.

Skip it if you want a full distillery tour, a long cocktail session, or a modern tasting room. At one hour, the experience is compact, and its value depends on your interest in storytelling as much as your interest in gin.

For most adults spending time in Edinburgh’s Old Town, I think the combination of The Lost Close, Scottish connections, and four contrasting serves makes this a smart evening starter. It is a small activity, but it gives you a better sense of what you like in gin and a memorable place to enjoy it.

FAQ

Where does the Edinburgh gin tasting meet?

Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile and behind St Giles Cathedral on Parliament Square.

Where does the tasting take place?

The tasting takes place underground at The Lost Close, reached from the meeting point near Parliament Square.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled duration is one hour.

How many gins are included?

You receive a tasting of four different gins.

Are tonic water and garnishes included?

Yes. Tonics and garnishes are included, and you mix the drinks to suit your taste.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included, but the meeting point is centrally located near the Royal Mile.

Is the activity suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18. It is also not suitable for babies under one year or pregnant women.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guide conducts the experience in English.