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Take a sensational journey through a replica distillery, before your expert guide imparts the secrets of the Whisky regions. Finally, you’ll choose your perfect ‘dram’, and taste it in The World’s Largest Whisky Collection.
One of Scotland’s most eagerly-awaited visitor experiences is final here. In the heart of Edinburgh’s West End, the Johnnie Walker Princes Street in the former House of Fraser building. The world-famous whisky brand’s new visitor center and experience take visitors on an immersive journey through the brand’s 200-year old history whilst offering a range of world-class food and drink options across its eight floors. The exciting new attraction features rooftop bars, private dining areas, live performance areas, and modern sensory tasting rooms, alongside tours and tasting experiences.
Edinburgh has an amazing history that is soaked in the whisky industry. Andrew Usher, a whisky blending pioneer, gave the city a magnificent concert hall bearing his name, and the Shore in Leith is populated by many a converted warehouse. There is even a new distillery creating whisky in the city centre – Holyrood Distillery – the first single malt distillery in the heart of Edinburgh for nearly 100 years. Here’s our list of the top 10 bars to enjoy whisky in Edinburgh:
1. Usquabae Whisky Bar And Larder
2. Amber Bar Scotch Whisky Experience
3. Teuchters Landing
4. Devil’s Advocate
5. Kilderkin Pub
6. Bow Bar
7. Cannon Ball Bar & Restaurant
8. Black Cat
9. The Balmoral Hotel
10. Kaleidoscope Bar & Shop
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1983 and is a membership organisation that bottles and sells single cask, single malt whisky. It purchases individual casks from more than 140 malt whisky distilleries in Scotland and throughout the world, bottles them, and retails directly to its members. It also runs three private members’ rooms in the UK and in several international locations.
Ok, we are not just home to some of the best whiskey producers but also Gin, craft beer as well a vast selection of other drinks.
Whether you’re a whisky, gin, rum, or beer fan, or simply interested in the magical science behind the process of brewing and distilling, there are numerous places in the city you can visit as part of a guided tour (and sample a few glasses!). Here is a list of some of the best in the city:
Holyrood Distillery
The first single malt whisky distillery in the city centre in almost a century, Holyrood Distillery opened in 2019. Situated next to Holyrood Park, the 180-year-old railway goods building has been thoughtfully renovated as both a whisky and gin distillery.
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Although not a distillery itself, The Scotch Whisky Experience is a five-star visitor attraction on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile tells the tale of Scotland’s national drink and is well worth a visit.
Glenkinchie Distillery
15 miles from Edinburgh is Glenkinchie Distillery, one of the Four Corners distilleries of Johnnie Walker. Visitors can experience an incredible scale model to show the process involved in whisky making, a state of the art visitor centre, as well as a range of tours and classes.
Pickering’s Gin
Get an insight into how small batch gin is made at the Pickering’s Gin distillery in Summerhall – the first exclusive gin distillery to be established in Edinburgh for over 150 years. See how their hand crafted small batch gin is made, find out more about the botanicals used and sample the gin at different stages in the distilling process. The tour lasts 90 minutes and is a must for any gin fan.
Edinburgh Gin
Visit the Edinburgh Gin Distillery to indulge both the mind and the palate in all things gin. Nestled in the heart of the city, beneath the stairs at 1a Rutland Place, in the dramatic shadow of Edinburgh Castle, discover more about Edinburgh’s historic gin heritage and explore this atmospheric working distillery.
Secret Garden Distillery
Founded in 2017, The Secret Garden Distillery is housed in the Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh and in the shadows of the Pentland Hills. The garden has over 500 naturally grown and tendered varieties of herbs, many of which are used in the production of their own gins.
56 North
A dedicated gin bar, 56 North Bar opened in 2008 and now also has a working distillery which makes South Loch Gin.
Port of Leith Distillery
Currently based at Tower Street Stillhouse, Port of Leith Distillery are in the process of building a new distillery next to The Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal.
Sip Antics
Sip Antics specialize in small and personal gin school classes from their bespoke private micro distilling room in the heart of the city.
Cold Town Brewery
Learn about the historic significance of brewing in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket with Cold Town Brewery.
Edinburgh Beer Factory
Combining old and new ideas and techniques, Edinburgh Beer Factory create beer inspired by the Edinburgh-born ‘Godfather of Pop Art’, Eduardo Paolozzi.
Stewart Brewing
Whether you want to pick their brewer’s brains on brewing science or gain an insight into the more creative process of designing beer recipes and flavours, Stewart Brewing offers both.
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