Where to go for a whisky tasting in Edinburgh: Scotch whisky tours & distilleries

Edinburgh is the city where my life in whisky took shape. It’s where I spent years hosting many whisky tastings at the Scotch Whisky Experience, which is one of the top whisky bars and tourist attractions in Edinburgh. Where long days talking to visitors about flavour and provenance turned into judging whisky competitions. And, eventually, writing my book SCOTCH: The Balmoral Guide to Scottish Whisky. Living here, whisky has never felt like a performance or a novelty – it’s simply part of the landscape. It is as familiar as the closes off the Royal Mile or the sound of rain on cobblestones. From a local’s point of view, a whisky experience in Edinburgh is less about ticking off labels and more about slowing down. About understanding what is in the glass. On quieter afternoons, I still find myself recommending favourite spots to friends or slipping into a familiar bar to see what’s open. When I’m asked where to start, an Edinburgh whisky tour can be a brilliant way to get your bearings – especially if you want context, stories, and a sense of place.

That said, one of the joys of living here is seeing how varied the whisky tours in Edinburgh have become. From historic venues to modern tastings that challenge long-held assumptions about Scotch. In this guide, I’ll share the tours, tastings and distilleries I genuinely rate – not as a visitor passing through, but as someone who has spent a career and a life exploring whisky in this city. Oh and I’ve also included some recommendations for my favourite Edinburgh whisky bars!

Whisky tours and distilleries: where to go for a scotch whisky tasting in Edinburgh

When I moved to Edinburgh over ten years ago, I did not like whisky at all. It was not until my third year in the city that I started giving whisky a proper chance. To my surprise I learned that there were so many different flavours and styles of whisky. And that they all did not taste the same which is what I had previously thought. As soon as I started noticing the differences it suddenly became easy to start learning which styles of whiskies I liked better. And which ones that I was not so keen on. Who wouldn’t known then that I would eventually go on to start working in the whisky industry?

First I started out at The Scotch Whisky Experience up by the castle, where I hosted tours and masterclasses, helped people find their next dram amongst the various Scotch whiskies at the bar and helped out with recommendations in the shop. Then I also worked at The Scotch Malt Society where I organised and hosted whisky events before I realised that what I really wanted to do was to work for myself. Now I host private tastings, public events, write about whisky and judge spirits – so let me share my recommendations and advice on where to find the best whisky tastings in Edinburgh. These tips are all tried and tested over my last decade in Edinburgh. I would definitely say that it’s well worth trying a whisky or two whilst in Scotland, since it’s such an important drink for the country and its history.

♥  Looking for somewhere to stay during your trip to Edinburgh? Read more about the best hotels in Edinburgh in our guide here!

Which whisky tasting or tour suits you? A quick guide!

• The best whisky tour for beginners: The Scotch Whisky Experience – read my review of the experiences and restaurant here!
• The best whisky tour for cocktail enthusiasts: Johnnie Walker Princes Street – read my review of the tour here!
• The best whisky tastings for experienced whisky drinkers: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
• The best tour for whisky & gin fans: Holyrood Distillery
• The best whisky tour if you want to see a traditional distillery: Glenkinchie Distillery

Whisky tastings in Edinburgh

A tasting is a great Scotch experience to tick off your list of things to do in Edinburgh. I have mentioned some great spots for tours further below but if you only want to visit a venue and do a tasting, these are some good spots to do so.

• Hot Toddy Tasting & Tales: Try 4 different whiskies and hear grand tales about Scotland and its national drink.
• Leith Whisky Trail with Kask Whisky: Justine is incredibly knowledgable about whisky. And in particular about its history around the area of Leith. If you want to do something a bit different, go for one of these walking tours where you’ll learn more about the whisky history in Edinburgh and also end with a tasting of historic bottles.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: The society hosts a variety of tastings each month. So check out their events page to see what is on during your visit.
• The Lost Close: Discover whisky, gin or beer in a hidden lost close underground in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
• Moa Reynolds: Yours truly also hosts private whisky tastings! Do feel free to get in touch on info@scandinavianabroad.com and we can have a chat about a bespoke tasting during your Edinburgh trip.

My top 3 favourite Edinburgh whisky bars

• Athletic Arms (Diggers): In my opinion this is the best spot for whisky in Edinburgh. For many years they only had their original venue slightly outside the city centre to the west but have now opened a second venue in Leith. Good prices and great selection of whiskies available! Fun fact: The proper name is Athletic Arms, but the locals know it as Diggers and its gotten its name as it’s located right next door to a graveyard.
• The Black Cat: A lovely pub on Rose Street in the city centre with lovely staff and a good selection of whiskies that includes some more interesting and limited releases of Scotch whiskies. They also have some good local beers on tap.
• Amber Whisky Bar at The Scotch Whisky Experience: I may be biased because I used to work at The Scotch Whisky Experience. But many think this is just a spot for tourists, whilst it’s actually a great spot for anyone wanting to try Scottish whiskies. They have a big selection, reasonable prices and the staff are really knowledgable and happy to assist with questions or recommendations. This is another great spot for a whisky tasting in Edinburgh if you just want the team behind the bar to put together a flight of whiskies that you can try in your own time.

Where to do whisky tours in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a fantastic city for whisky lovers, offering a range of Scotch tasting experiences from traditional distillery bars to modern and cosy venues. Whether you’re new to Scotland’s national drink or a seasoned connoisseur, there are plenty of spots to sample single malts, blended whiskies, and unique whisky cocktails. Many of these venues also offer flights and whiskies by the dram so if you are looking for Edinburgh whisky bars, these could also be top contenders. Here are some of my top recommendations for where to enjoy a Scotch experience in Edinburgh.

• The Scotch Whisky Experience: One of the most well known scotch experiences in Edinburgh as it sits right next to the castle. Perfect for those new to whisky and there is also a great bar and restaurant on site. Read my review of The Scotch Whisky Experience here.
• Johnnie Walker Princes Street: A slightly more modern twist on a whisky tour where you get to sample a highball as well as two other drinks of your choice (you can choose between neat whisky, more highballs or an old fashioned – or two). The tour revolves around the story of the whisky blending house of Johnnie Walker and is well worth a visit. The 1802 rooftop bar also has some of the best views in the city. Read my review of the tours at Johnnie Walker Princes Street here.
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: The Society specialises on single cask, cask strength whiskies and is a lovely spot to visit for whisky enthusiasts who might already be used to drinking spirits at higher strengths. They also offer a lot of fun tastings and Scotch experiences in Edinburgh, so do check out the events on their website before your visit!

Distilleries with tours

• Glenkinchie Distillery: This was for a long time, the closest whisky distillery to Edinburgh. It is located slightly outside of the city, about a 45min drive away. It’s known as the ‘garden distillery of Scotland’ and is a lovely spot to visit, especially in spring, summer and autumn when the distillery garden looks its best. Whilst there are now whisky distilleries in the city again, if you want to see a proper traditional distillery, Glenkinchie is perfect for that.
• Port of Leith Distillery: One of the worlds only vertical distilleries and the first whisky will be released after 2027 as distillation only begun in 2024 and the spirit needs at least three years in a cask to be called scotch whisky. There is also a lovely bar on the top floor that does great cocktails and lovely food. One of the only whisky tastings in Edinburgh where you can try new make, sherry and port as well.
• Holyrood Distillery: At Holyrood Distillery you can explore experimental whiskies as each batch uses different barley, yeast and distillation times. They also make gin so you can learn about both whisky and gin whilst you are here.

♥ Looking for more fun things to do on your trip? Don’t miss our big guide to things to do in Edinburgh!

Distillery day trips near Edinburgh

There is over a 150 scotch whisky distilleries across Scotland, so quite a few to pick from. I’ve made a little list over some of the ones near-ish to Edinburgh. They are all also fairly easy to reach, either by public transport or car.

• Auchentoshan Distillery
• Glengoyne Distillery
• Deanston Distillery
• Clydeside Distillery
• Rosebank Distillery
• Blair Athol Distillery

Tip: The easiest way to go visit distilleries outside of Edinburgh is by booking a whisky day trip tour where you can visit both Deanston and Glengoyne Distillery!

Bonus: Gin Distilleries, Tours & Tastings

It’s not just whisky that is popular in Edinburgh, but of course gin as well. So if the amber spirit is not your thing and you much prefer the taste of botanicals, do check out one of these distilleries!

• Edinburgh Gin Distillery: The most iconic gin in Edinburgh! And they now have their own distillery that you can visit – right in the heart of the city. Do a tour, a tasting or visit their lovely bar. Edinburgh Gin don’t just do gin, but also gin liqueurs so they might be for you as well if you prefer something a bit sweeter and not as strong. Read my guide to the tours and tastings at Edinburgh Gin Distillery here.
• Lind & Lime Distillery: One of my personal favourite gins. And the bottle design is really lovely for this one so it makes for a perfect gift too.
• Pickerings Distillery: A gin distillery in an old veterinary practice and the tour combines history with quirky tales of gin.
• Secret Garden: Slightly outside of Edinburgh’s city centre is where you will find this oasis of botanicals. There is a greenhouse on site and it’s such a lovely spot for a gin tasting and tour.
• Holyrood Distillery: also makes the Heigh of Arrows gin. So it’s not just whisky you can try here, but also gin!

FAQ Whisky tours, distilleries & tastings

Need more inspiration for your Edinburgh trip?

• Edinburgh: A local’s guide and recommendations to things to do and see
• Lannan Bakery: a local’s recommendations and review of the most popular bakery in Edinburgh
• The best hotels in Edinburgh: 19 luxurious recommendations from a local
• The Edinburgh Fringe Festival: the world’s largest arts festival
• Edinburgh and Harry Potter: a guide to magical locations, shops and details
• Edinburgh Guide in Spring
• Edinburgh Guide in Summer
• Edinburgh Guide in Autumn
• Edinburgh Guide in Winter
• The best time to visit Edinburgh: A seasonal travel guide

Whisky experiences in Edinburgh

• The Best Whisky Distilleries in Scotland: From Historic Icons to Hidden Gems
• The Lost Close Whisky Tasting Edinburgh: an underground Old Town experience
• Johnnie Walker Princes Street Edinburgh: the tours, tastings and rooftop bar
• The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh: Tours, tastings & Scottish restaurant

Read more related articles about whisky adventures in Scotland:

• Isle of Raasay – the hidden island gem next to the Isle of Skye
• Inside Ardbeg House: Islay’s Ultimate Whisky Hotel
• The Dalmore Distillery Tour: a luxurious scotch whisky experience by the Cromarty Firth
• Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery: one of the best whisky tours in Scotland
• A guide to all the distilleries on Islay: tours, cafés & recommendations