Edinburgh Gin: Classic Tour & Tasting in Old Town
Gin, botanicals, and the still room where it all happens
You spend ninety minutes in a working gin distillery learning how botanicals shape flavour, then taste three different gins with proper mixers and garnishes. The Flavour Arch (where you smell and taste the actual ingredients) is the part people remember. Entry, welcome drink, and all three tastings are included, plus access to the shop and bar if you want to stay longer.
Step-by-step itinerary
Edinburgh Gin Classic Tour and Tasting
- Arrive at Edinburgh Gin Old Town
- Receive welcome drink
- Learn history of gin in Edinburgh
- Explore Flavour Arch aromas and botanicals
- Tour the Stillhouse distillation area
- Taste London Dry, Full Strength, and Liqueur gins
- Enjoy mixer and garnish pairings
- Optionally visit Distillery Bar
- Shop at Distillery store
What’s included
- Your ninety minutes include a welcome drink, an introduction to Edinburgh's role in gin history and the story of Edinburgh Gin itself, a tour of the Flavour Arch where you experience the botanicals by smell and taste, a tour of the Stillhouse to see how distillation works, and a curated tasting of three different gin expressions (London Dry, Full Strength Flavour, and Liqueur) each paired with a carefully selected mixer and garnish.
- You'll taste in one of the Tasting Rooms, and if space allows, you can visit the Distillery Bar afterward.
- The Distillery shop is open for browsing and purchasing, with special promotions available for tour participants.
- Monday 13:00 13:40 16:00 16:20 17:00
- Tuesday 13:00 13:40 16:00 16:20
- Wednesday 13:00 13:40 16:20 17:00
- Thursday 13:00 13:40 14:40 16:00 18:00
- Friday 13:00 15:40 16:00 16:20 17:00 17:40 18:00
- Saturday 12:00 12:20 12:40 13:00 13:40 14:40 15:40 16:20 17:40 18:00
- Sunday 13:00 13:40 15:40 16:00 17:00
Information
The Flavour Arch lets you smell what's in each gin before you taste it. Ninety minutes at Edinburgh's Old Town distillery with three expressions, mixers and a welcome drink.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The moment you walk into the Flavour Arch, you stop talking. It's a corridor lined with glass jars. Each one holds a different botanical that goes into Edinburgh Gin. You lean in, breathe in cardamom, then juniper, then something floral you can't name. Your guide hands you a small spoon to taste the actual botanicals, not just smell them. That's when it clicks: this isn't a marketing exercise. It's how they actually build the gin, one scent at a time.
The tour moves through the Old Town distillery in a loose sequence. After the welcome drink and a short history of gin in Edinburgh, you're standing in front of the Stillhouse: the copper stills where the actual distillation happens. Your guide explains the process without the jargon feeling heavy. Then you move into one of the Tasting Rooms, where the real work begins. You'll taste through three different expressions: the London Dry, the Full Strength Flavour, and a Liqueur gin. Each one comes with a carefully chosen mixer and garnish. So it's not just tasting neat spirit. You're learning how a drink actually tastes when you make it the way people drink it.
The whole thing takes about ninety minutes, and the pace feels right. You're not rushed through, but you're not standing around either. If the Distillery Bar has space, you can linger there after the tasting. The shop at the end has special promotions for people who've just done the tour, which is a nice touch if you want to take something home. The space is wheelchair accessible throughout, and if you're staying in Edinburgh's Old Town, you're already there: no travel time to factor in.
Top questions
How long is the Edinburgh Gin Classic Tour?
Approximately ninety minutes, from welcome drink through tasting and shop access.
What gins do you taste?
Three expressions: London Dry, Full Strength Flavour, and a Liqueur gin, each with paired mixers and garnishes.
Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?
Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed.
Can children come on the tour?
No, the experience is strictly for adults over 18. Children and babies cannot be accommodated.
What's included in the price?
Welcome drink, Flavour Arch tour, Stillhouse tour, three gin tastings with mixers and garnishes, and access to the Distillery Bar and shop.
Is it recommended for pregnant travelers?
No, the experience is not recommended for pregnant travelers.
Where is Edinburgh Gin located?
In Edinburgh's Old Town. Public transportation options are available nearby.
Can you buy gin after the tasting?
Yes, the Distillery shop is open after the tour, with special promotions for people who've completed the experience.
Operated by Edinburgh Gin Distillery. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Edinburgh Gin: Classic Tour & Tasting in Old Town
1h 5m · EN
from £ 28 per person
≈ US$ 38 in your currency
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