Tastings · DISTILLERY TOURS IN EDINBURGH
There is never quite enough time on the ground. These 9 distillery tours in Edinburgh earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get on with it.
Spend an hour with an English-speaking guide such as Courtney, Dave, Neil, or Thais inside Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery. See the gin lab, washbacks, copper stills, and cask room while learning about experimental yeasts, flavour design, gin, and single malt whisky. A welcome cocktail and tastings are included.
“The tour was excellent and Courtney was a brilliant guide.”
Spend 90 minutes at the Port of Leith Distillery with an English-speaking guide such as Olivia or Ellie. See the world’s tallest distillery, fill a miniature bottle of New Make spirit, and taste New Make, port, sherry, and Table Whisky while learning how Scotch develops from production to maturation.
“Beautiful new distillery, and the second vertical one in Europe. Our tour guide Olivia was knowledgeable and fun. We got to bottle and keep a small bottle of their "hearts" distilled spirit. The tasting was good. ***WARNING: Given it's a new distillery they have yet to release their own whisky. Thus that is not part of the tasting.***”
Spend about an hour touring Holyrood Distillery near Edinburgh’s Holyrood area. Guides such as Diego, Brice, Neil, and Courtney explain the distillery’s experimental approach to whisky and gin, followed by several tastings. You’ll see a modern working distillery, learn how the spirits are made, and finish near the bar and shop.
“Great tour especially if you don't have a lot of time to explore outside of Edinburgh. I learned a lot about gin and the flavor was great.”
At Edinburgh’s 56 North Distillery, you’ll begin with South Loch Gin and Fever-Tree tonic in Scotland’s oldest dedicated gin bar. Learn how botanicals and copper stills shape the spirit, taste three small-batch gins, then finish with a South Loch cocktail. Guides including James, Abi, Gary, and George bring plenty of humor and practical insight.
“James was fantastic, full of little nuggets of information and really passionate about his gin. It was definitely an experience we would do again.”
Travel from Edinburgh by modern bus with an English-speaking driver-guide to Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose, and Glenkinchie Distillery. Look for carved Green Men and musical boxes, hear the story of Robert the Bruce’s heart, enjoy free time for lunch, and add a whisky tour and tasting at the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker.
“Exelent driver, Eric was incredibile driver, guide, very informative, funny and dJ :)”
Spend 90 minutes exploring Port of Leith’s UK-first vertical distillery with an English-speaking guide. Taste New Make spirit, port, sherry, and Table Whisky, then fill a miniature bottle to take home. Guides such as Isobel, Leo, Rocky, and Fraser bring the science and story to life, with a striking top-floor bar waiting afterward.
“Leo gave us a fantastic private tour of the facility! He's an amazing guide and clearly passionate about his work! His insights made the entire tour so engaging and fun! And, the views of the water from the top are simply amazing! Highly recommend!!”
Spend an hour at Pickering’s Gin in Summerhall with a guide such as Max, Jamie, Alyssa, or Emma. Start with a gin and tonic, hear how Edinburgh’s first gin-only distillery in 150 years began, watch the stills when operating, taste four gins, and take home a 5cl miniature.
“A lovely tour around the distillery and great information about how it came to be. We had a enthusiastic guide Jamie who made the experience entertaining and memorable. He was so 'gin-erous' with the jokes ;)”
At Edinburgh Gin’s Old Town distillery, an English-speaking guide leads you through gin’s story, the botanical-filled Flavour Arch, and the Stillhouse. You’ll taste several gins and liqueurs with mixers and garnishes, then order a cocktail in the Distillery Bar. The 75-minute tour suits adults curious about both flavor and craft.
“Our guide Freddy was great! Knowledgeable, funny, great personality! Maybe talked a bit too fast but hey, he obviously is excited about their gin...and who wouldn't be? The bibbest problem was knowing I had a limit to how many I bought to bring home to Australia!”
Spend 90 minutes at Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian with guides such as Pascal, Kirsty, or John Walsh. You’ll see a working whisky operation through light, sound, media, and sensory effects, then taste three whiskies and a small cocktail. The tour is wheelchair accessible, but the effects may not suit everyone.
“John Walsh took us on an amazing journey. So enthusiastic, and great knowlwdge combined with humor made it a 10/10 experience.”
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