Edinburgh: Underground Whisky Tasting & Old Town Stories

4.85

(341 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what Edinburgh smells like beneath the cobbles? I didn’t, honestly — but there we were, ducking through a narrow doorway just off the Royal Mile, following our guide Jamie down stone steps that felt older than half the city. The air was cool and a bit musty, but not unpleasant — more like old books and something faintly sweet, maybe from the barrels? Jamie grinned and said, “This is The Lost Close. Not many locals have even been down here.” Felt special right away.

I’ll admit I was nervous about my whisky knowledge (which is to say: basically none), but Jamie made it easy. He started with stories — smugglers, monks, all these people who’d shaped Scotland’s national drink long before it was legal. We tried four whiskies from different regions (I kept mixing up Islay and Speyside), each with its own weirdly specific smell. One reminded me of bonfire smoke on my jacket after Guy Fawkes night. Someone else said seaweed — I still don’t know if they were joking.

The group was small enough that nobody felt awkward asking questions or laughing at themselves (me again). There was a moment when the light caught the dust in the air just right and everything felt suspended — quiet except for distant footsteps overhead and our glasses clinking together. It wasn’t fancy or fussy; just honest whisky tasting in an Edinburgh basement most folks walk past every day. I still think about that last dram — spicy, almost peppery — and how Jamie winked when I coughed a little too loud. So yeah, if you’re curious or just want to feel like you’ve found a secret in Edinburgh’s Old Town, this is it.