Edinburgh Whiskey Distilleries: the best tours
Whether you're a whisky lover or just curious about this great protagonist of Edinburgh's culture, here's a post about the best distilleries you can find. Cheers!
Edinburgh | @Dyana Wing So
When you arrive in Edinburgh and start touring the city and its surroundings, you instantly understand a little more about the distinctive whisky culture. The big green hills, the low temperatures in almost every month of the year, and the seemingly incessant drizzle, combine very well with the power of this popular drink.
Whisky has an interesting set of traditions surrounding itself, and if you're wondering what to see and do in Edinburgh, you can't help but include some related activities. Top experts will show you the brewing process and how they get that distinctive flavour from each brand and region of Scotland. And why not, many distilleries include tastings, so you can have your own opinion. Will you join me?
Edinburgh The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour
A guided tour for the Scotch whisky experience
Explore The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh with a professional guide. Learn how the distilleries work, taste the most authentic examples and delve into the world of one of the world's most popular drinks.
Whether you are a whisky lover or not, this guided tour is a very interesting activity if you are travelling in Edinburgh. At The Scotch Whisky Experience you can learn all about the whisky making process, its aromas and flavours, its role in *Scottish culture and much more.
The experience lasts around 50 minutes and takes place in groups of around 25 people. You will always be accompanied by an expert guide and you will also have an audio guide in several languages, so you won't miss any detail of the wonderful world of Scotch whisky.
Recommended if... you want to know more about the local culture from another perspective than the historical one, but not less important as its flavours and customs.
The best option: a guided tour for beginners
The best option for those who are new to whisky culture is a one-hour guided tour of a distillery. This tour aims to introduce you to the world of whisky in an interactive, educational and fun way.
You'll discover the whisky-making process on an exciting walk through a replica distillery, an experience you can only get in the city of Edinburgh. You'll also get to explore the five Scotch whisky producing regions and understand how geography influences the taste and the whole process.
Finally, they include a guided tasting of the whisky you select from a whisky collection that is one of the largest in the world. An expert will be on hand to advise you on the right type of whisky to suit your taste and the notes that make up the flavour of each whisky.
Practical information
- Timetable: they usually start at 10am. They last one hour.
- Price: from €24, depending on the distillery and the number of tastings included in the price.
Whisky Expert Tours
If you are a fan of whisky and its traditions, you will be particularly motivated by your trip to Edinburgh. In this case, the distilleries offer tours of longer duration, with a more precise content and a more complex approach to the different themes.
These tours are in high demand, as a great deal of tourism has been generated around whisky. Here you will have the chance to learn about the differences between the whiskies developed in Speyside, the Highlands (where you can go on an interesting excursion from Edinburgh), the Lowlands and Islay.
Some proposals also include an exclusive tasting of more select malts or some of their exclusive blends. At the Johnnie Walker distillery, this type of tour is a little more unique as you will have access to the brand's archive, and an archivist will show you unique and highly interesting documents.
Practical information
- Timetable: 90 minutes. Please check times depending on the distillery.
- Price: from €60, depending on the distillery and the number of tastings included in the price.
Food Experience Tours
For those who wish to have a more complete dining experience rather than just drinking, there are distillery tours that include dishes to match the whisky selections being tasted.
These types of tours also include explanations of the manufacturing process and the history of the drink, but also focus on the flavour pairings between the whisky and the food.
Practical information
- Time: from 8 pm and lasts 3 hours.
- Price: from €90
Whisky and Gin Tours
For those who also wish to explore the world of gin, there are tours that combine information and tasting of both drinks - why try one type when you can try two? The explanation of how these two industries, which at first glance don't seem to have much in common, can merge is very interesting.
The gin industry is booming in Scotland and as a result, these types of new combined experiences are starting to emerge.
You'll receive explanations from an expert in both manufacturing processes and you'll also be able to do the much-anticipated tasting of both. In addition, both whisky and gin tastings are included, and the price will depend on the number of tastings you want to do.
Practical information
- Timetable: 60 minutes. Check times depending on the distillery.
- Price: from €25
Multi-day tours of Edinburgh and the different regions
If you are one of those who are visiting Scotland especially to learn about whisky, a tour of Edinburgh and the different regions is an attractive proposition.
The tours consist of a whisky trail covering all the regions, visiting different distilleries throughout Scotland and doing different tastings.
The regions of Scotland are famous for making different types of whisky and those who are fans can easily learn about it. They are surprised by the wide range of flavours that can be obtained, depending on the different geographical and climatic conditions in the manufacturing process.
There are options from a weekend to a full week-long adventure. These types of tours include overnight accommodation while you are out of Edinburgh, an expert guide with you the whole time, and convenient and practical transport around the different parts of the whisky trail itinerary they cover.
Practical information
- Price: from £100, depending on the number of days. Meals are not included for the duration of the tour, nor are entrance fees to the various distilleries.
But... What is whisky?
This world famous drink has its origins around the year...800 BC! Its name means "water of life", so you can imagine how important it is for all Scots.
We can find documents dating back to around 1400 where the processes were already formalised, creating the famous distilleries all over the country.
Edinburgh's best distilleries
If you're a whisky aficionado, you'll no doubt be aware of the unique relationship between Scotland and whisky making. What may surprise you is the sheer number of distilleries in the country, including several in the capital.
Johnnie Walker Princess Street
If you're planning your visit to Edinburgh and wondering why Johnnie Walker is the world's best-selling Scotch, you can find out for yourself by visiting Johnnie Walker Princess Street, considered a tourist attraction for anyone visiting Edinburgh.
You'll find 2 bars specialising in cocktails of all kinds, the first with views of Edinburgh Castle, of course. We recommend a visit both day and night.
The second bar has a more intimate atmosphere, but is a real paradise where you can taste almost any Johnnie Walker malt.
- Where: 145 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4BL, UK
Holyrood Distillery
Holyrood Distillery is a relatively new distillery as it was born in 2019, at the foot of Arthur's Seat, where Edinburgh's first single malt whisky is made. The founders are great experimenters and are not only doing so with the different whiskies, but also offer their own gin, of high quality and innovative taste for those with exquisite palates.
Visit Holyrood Distillery to be part of the beginnings of a distillery that is bound to be a great success, created by those who want to honour Scotland' s heritage and whisky history using only malts, high quality yeast and very special casks.
- Where: Holyrood Distillery 19 St, Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9SH
The Scotch Whisky Experience
On your tour of the city's Old Town, The Scotch Whisky Experiencehas become one of the must-visit spots for whisky lovers. Its perfect central location, right next to Edinburgh Castle, means that almost without realising it, you'll be immersed in this special world.
In case you didn't know, the Scotch Whisky Experience's collection of bottles is the largest in the world. With your visit, you'll be able to see all 3 ,384 bottles of Scotch whisky in an incredibly sophisticated marble room, maintaining the same level of excellence as the entire venue.
- Where: 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Ana's Traveller Tip
On the top floor of the Scotch Whisky Experience you can enjoy unrivalled views over Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, the Grassmarket area and the fantastic Meadows in the distance.
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On your visit to Edinburgh, there's plenty to see and do. Let yourself go and immerse yourself in adventure with the best tours and excursions from Edinburgh this holiday.