Scotland is synonymous with scotch whisky, and Edinburgh is a world-renowned city known for being magical and beautiful. But what many people don’t realize is it’s not as easy to find whisky experiences in Edinburgh as you might think. So here’s a guide to whisky in Edinburgh and where to find the best scotch experiences in Scotland’s capital.
It’s worth noting this article covers whisky activities in Edinburgh, and I’ve purposely left out one big one: whisky shopping in Edinburgh! But that’s because it’s not hard to find whisky shops in Edinburgh, even ones selling old and rare bottles. They are everywhere! The Royal Mile and touristy spots are lined with whisky shops, but don’t forget to check more local neighborhoods if you’re on the hunt for something special.
The Ultimate Guide to Whisky in Edinburgh
Whisky Distilleries in Edinburgh
Let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat: Edinburgh may be the capital of Scotland, but it’s NOT the capital of scotch! There’s only one distillery in the city, Holyrood Distillery, a newly-opened distillery making gin and whisky. But because scotch requires at least three years of aging, (as of the time of this writing) they are only offering tastes of new make whisky.
But don’t worry just yet. Scotland is home to 180 distilleries, and a few are accessible from Edinburgh with a little effort — and maybe a day trip. Glenkinchie Distillery is the closest, about a half hour drive away. It’s even possible to take a cab there (that’s how I got there when I went).
Whisky Distilleries Near Edinburgh
A few other distilleries are around two hours’ drive away. Aberfeldy, Auchentoshan, Blair Athol, Clydeside, Deanston, Edradour, Glengoyne, Glenturret, the new Lindores Abbey, and Tullibardine are easily accessible from Edinburgh. (Edradour has been temporarily closed since Covid and remains so as of this writing.) If you’re not into driving, you can get to a few of those by train (or maybe train + bus). In fact, I took the train to Tullibardine, combined with a short cab ride.
Or take a guided day trip to handle the transportation for you. This tour combines Glenkinchie and Rosslyn Chapel, this tour goes to Clydeside, hit Aberfeldy and Glenturret with this tour, or Glengoyne and Deanston here. Or get ambitious with five distilleries in one day (Deanston, Tullibardine, Glengoyne, Glenturret and Lindores Abbey) on this tour here.
Related Articles :: Touring Glenkinchie Distillery, Tullibardine Distillery, and Glengoyne Distillery
Whisky Experiences in Edinburgh
If you’re not into day trips for distilleries or need something to do in between them, there are plenty of whisky experiences in Edinburgh. We’ll get to whisky bars below, but don’t write off the Scotch Whisky Experience. I assumed it’d be touristy, but was surprised how informative the whisky masterclass was. We did an aroma test, a history masterclass, and a tasting of the different scotch regions. It was thorough and fun!
Another surprisingly interesting whisky experience is The Johnnie Walker Experience. They have a variety of experiences, including tasting whisky straight from the cask. On our whisky trip, we did a deconstructed tasting of Johnnie Walker Black, which truly opened my eyes to appreciating the blended scotch.
Related Article :: Guide to the Scotch Regions of Scotland
The Best Whisky Bars in Edinburgh
Obviously Edinburgh is packed with whisky bars. And not surprisingly, even the whisky selection in most pubs is impressive!
But if you’re looking for truly impressive whisky bars, there are few worth hunting down. Bow Bar was my favorite find on my recent trip (thanks to our tour director from Scholarly Sojourns). It has a fantastic selection and they pour slightly larger drams than other Edinburgh bars. Plus the staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
The 1820 Bar at Johnnie Walker Princes Street is touristy, but impressive. It offers single malts that almost nowhere else has (because they are used primarily in blended whiskies and not regularly offered as single malts). And their cocktails are incredibly creative and expertly executed by their friendly bar staff.
Whiski Rooms and Amber Bar at the Scotch Whisky Experience are other good finds. Don’t miss Kaleidoscope, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s bar open to the public. Plus Usquabae and Jeffrey Street Whisky are other great spots.
More than Just Whisky
As much as whisky in Edinburgh might be your main focus, don’t forget to experience other parts of the city too! There are plenty of things to do in Edinburgh and it’s a perfect home base for easy day trips. And most importantly, it’s full of incredible food too!
Stay tuned for the rest of our 10 day trip through Scotland, including Islay, and Campbeltown.
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