Tastings · GIN TASTINGS IN EDINBURGH
The good ones fill up weeks ahead. Below: the 7 gin tastings in Edinburgh to book early, what each includes and how they differ once you are through the door.
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.”
Settle into a vintage Routemaster bus for 90 minutes of tea, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and Edinburgh views. You receive prosecco on arrival and unlimited tea or coffee, with an optional Edinburgh Gin cocktail served in a teapot. Staff such as Helen, Jimmy, Mark, and Steven add humor and help with photos, but this is not a fully narrated sightseeing tour.
“We had a great time for my friends hen party, the food and drinks were delicious, the tour guides were very friendly and made the bride to be feel extra special. A nice tour round Edinburgh in a vintage bus and a stop to take some photos too”
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.”
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!”
Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just behind St Giles Cathedral, then head below Edinburgh’s Royal Mile into The Lost Close. Over one hour, an English-speaking guide such as Sarah, Sara, Nicky, or Dan explains gin’s journey from Jenever to London Dry while you taste four distinct gins with tonics and garnishes.
“What a wonderful tour. Nicky and Dan were so friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. The tour was delivered with enthusiasm and professionalism. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience and learnt quite a lot too. The gins themselves were varied and delicious. We know now more about our preferences too. We would strongly recommend this tour to anyone.”
The lists most people start from.
