Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh
Is there anything more Scottish than taking in the sights of our beautiful capital city, before sampling our country’s national drink?
Perhaps if you did that in full Highland dress while eating shortbread, but that’s not mandatory.
Whisky tasting in Edinburgh is a terrific option for a fun and educational date. You’ll get to taste new and different whiskys, learn about their history and background, and enjoy the conversation as you both get a bit merry.
Here are 5 places in the capital to sip a dram or two…
Address: 4-7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP
Whisky and cheese? Yes please. The award-winning Whiski Rooms offers visitors the chance to sample an often overlooked food and drink pairing. Their resident whisky experts will guide you and your date through a tasting of four very different single malts, each paired with cheese sourced from a local cheese monger. And if your stomach’s still grumbling afterwards, their restaurant serves fresh Scottish produce with even more whisky pairing suggestions on the menu!
Address: 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE
Now this is proper immersive whisky tasting! Home to the world’s largest private whisky collection, The Scotch Whisky Experience is a five star visitor attraction with tours tailor made for every stage of your whisky tasting education.
If you and your date are real enthusiasts, we’d recommend indulging in the 1.5 hour Morning Masterclass, which starts with an extended guided viewing of the aforementioned whisky collection over coffee and shortbread. This is followed by a sensory perception test designed to prepare you for the comparative tasting of one blend, one single grain and two single malt whiskies. The tour also includes a complimentary gift as a memento of your morning.
Address: 80 West Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2HH
Winner of the Good Pub Guide’s UK Whisky Pub of the Year award in 2012, The Bow Bar proudly stocks over 300 single malts just waiting to be sampled. Their knowledgeable bar staff will be on hand to help whisky novices take their first steps into the world of sipping the water of life. And with a range of bar snacks including Haggis, Cheese and Chilli Pies, you may need to make yourself comfortable - you definitely won’t want to leave!
Address: The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ
With a rolling calendar of tasting events, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the ideal setting for a fun and memorable evening. You’ll often get to experience interesting and exotic food pairings with a range of whiskies, and every now and again these evenings even include some live entertainment in the form of music or magic! You don’t need to be a member to attend, but if you and your date find yourselves enamoured with the world of whisky, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider joining the society, including discounts on future events.
Address: 237 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4QU
Located in Morningside, this legendary Edinburgh institution has been open since 1871. Stocking hundreds of malt whiskies, and insisting they only be served with fresh Highland spring water, The Canny Man’s has a special kind of atmosphere found only in truly independent, family-run establishments. This is the perfect setting to take part in a spot of DIY whisky tasting, safe in the knowledge that the friendly staff are always on hand to answer your questions.
And to avoid drinking on an empty stomach, order a Smørrebrød (a kind of Danish open sandwich). Styled as the ideal drinker’s meal, with fillings ranging from locally sourced seafood to beef, chicken, and cheese, this is fresh pub grub at its finest.
