Edinburgh has tons of gin experiences and distillery tours, and honestly, they all look the same on booking sites. It’s hard to decide which one to pick, especially when you’re trying to fit it into an already busy itinerary. I know because I spent way too long trying to choose a gin tasting before my own trip. That’s why I put together this guide to the best gin tastings in Edinburgh. Here’s the breakdown I wish I’d had: the top distilleries, what’s actually different about the gin experiences they offer, and my top picks for first-timers.
My favourite gin distillery tour in Edinburgh
If you’re looking for a gin tasting in Edinburgh, you’ll quickly come across a few names again and again. Edinburgh Gin, Summerhall Distillery, and 56 North are just a few of the popular ones. They all offer something a little different, from full distillery tours to classic gin tastings. However, one of them consistently comes out on top for bookings: Edinburgh Gin.
As I mentioned, I had a hard time choosing a gin tasting before my trip. I wanted a well-known distillery that was still close to the Royal Mile, so I could easily fit it into my itinerary without spending half a day getting there and doing the tour. After reading tons of reviews, I ended up booking a gin tasting at Edinburgh Gin – and I loved it! I was really happy with my choice, and I think it’s a great option if it’s your first gin tasting in Edinburgh.
💖 My favourite gin tasting: Edinburgh Gin Distillery Tour
What I loved: learning how gin is made and tasting their great selection of gins and liqueurs
I really loved that the Edinburgh Gin experience is much more than just a gin tasting. You get to see the production area with the copper stills and even smell all the different botanicals that go into the gin. The tasting was fun too, with different gins and liqueurs to try.
Our guide, Davide, was fantastic and shared lots of interesting stories. And even if you don’t take the tour, their shop is worth stopping by! I’ve included a full review of my Edinburgh Gin tasting experience further down in this post.
Best gin tastings in Edinburgh (My top picks)
Best for a full distillery experience – Edinburgh Gin Distillery
4.8 | 210+ reviews – see exactly how gin is made, then enjoy a full tasting of gins and liqueurs
Best for tasting Scottish gins – South Loch Distillery
4.9 | 430+ reviews – part distillery, part bar, with one of the biggest selections of Scottish gins
Best for a local experience – Pickering’s Gin Distillery
4.8 | 150+ reviews – a small, quirky distillery (feels a bit like a hidden gem)
Best gin tastings in Edinburgh
Scotland actually produces more gin than anywhere else in the UK, which might come as a surprise if you think Scotland is all about whisky. There are now loads of Scottish gins, with distilleries using local botanicals like heather, sea buckthorn and coastal herbs to create their own flavours. Many have a distinctly Scottish character, rather than just being a London Dry with a kilt on. And Edinburgh is one of the best places to try them, with local brands like Edinburgh Gin and Pickering’s, plus plenty of gin tastings and distillery tours around the city.
One important thing to know: most gin tastings are 18+, but the rules can vary between distilleries and even between different experiences. If you’re travelling with someone under 18, don’t assume they can join just because they won’t be drinking. Some distillery tours allow under-18s, while the tastings are adults-only. For example, Edinburgh Gin’s tour is strictly 18+.
Visiting Edinburgh for the first time? Check out my guide on what to see in Edinburgh in 2 days, including all the must-see attractions, hidden gems, and my favourite dinner spots.
My best tip is to book your gin tasting through GetYourGuide rather than directly through the distillery’s website. The price is the same, but tickets booked directly with the distillery are non-refundable. Some distilleries let you reschedule, but finding another available time at the last minute is almost impossible. So, if your plans change, you could be stuck with a ticket you can’t use. With GetYourGuide, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. That’s why I booked my Edinburgh Gin tasting through them.
Also, make sure to book your distillery tour well in advance, especially if you have a specific date or time in mind. The most popular experiences can sell out, particularly on Fridays, Saturdays, and during the summer months. I assumed gin tastings would be less popular than whisky experiences, so I didn’t bother booking too early. To my surprise, when I checked three months before my trip, most of the popular time slots were already gone. I could only choose between lunchtime and a very late afternoon slot. And I was visiting in May, not even during the summer high season!
Edinburgh Gin Distillery Tour
The Edinburgh Gin Distillery is probably the most popular gin experience in Edinburgh. Founded in 2010, it’s a fairly young brand, but it didn’t take long to become one of Scotland’s best-known modern gin producers. They’re also famous for getting creative with flavours, going beyond the classic juniper-heavy gin with lots of fruity and floral combinations.
The distillery itself is right in the city centre, at The Arches on East Market Street, just a short walk from Waverley Station. So, it’s super easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. This is where every drop of Edinburgh Gin is produced.
Inside, you’ll find two huge 2,000-litre copper stills, Annie and Lina. They’re named after two female gardeners who worked at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in the 1890s. There’s also a smaller still called Matilda, which they use for experimenting with new gin recipes.
There are several gin experiences to choose from, from the classic distillery tour to chocolate and gin tastings and cocktail-making classes. And if you don’t fancy a tour, you can just pop in for a gin cocktail at the bar or head up to the rooftop bar.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, I’d go for the Classic Gin Tour & Tasting. This is the one I did, and I really enjoyed it. We started with a guided tour of the distillery, learning how Edinburgh Gin is made and what goes into each bottle.
A big part of the tour was the botanicals. We got to smell and explore the different herbs, flowers and spices that give gin its character. I found this part particularly interesting. It’s one thing to drink gin, but quite another to smell the individual botanicals and learn how all those flavours make their way into the final drink.
We also got to see the huge copper stills and the production area. And during my visit, there was even a new experimental batch brewing in Matilda, which was really exciting to see!
The tour finished with a gin tasting, with four gins and two liqueurs to try. We tasted the Classic, Seaside, Old Tom and Botanics gins, along with the Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur and Elderflower Liqueur. I especially loved the Seaside and the Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur.
Make sure to have a look around the shop, too. They have all kinds of gin and liqueurs, including some unique flavours like tiramisu and rose. Luckily, they also sell small travel-sized bottles, which were perfect for me as I was travelling with just hand luggage. I also ended up buying a rhubarb & ginger candle because I couldn’t get enough of that scent!
Book the Edinburgh Gin Distillery Tour if you want a more traditional distillery experience, with a focus on the gin-making process and plenty of tasting. This would be my pick if it’s your first gin tasting in Edinburgh.
56 North (South Loch Distillery)
56 North is a little different from a typical distillery because it’s actually a gin bar and working micro-distillery in one. South Loch Gin is made right inside the bar in small copper stills, so you can see where the gin comes from while enjoying a drink. The distillery has also won 12 Scottish Gin Awards medals, including three gold medals for category wins!
South Loch Distillery is right opposite The Meadows, just outside the Old Town and about a 10–15-minute walk from the Royal Mile. And there’s a little story behind the name. The Meadows was once a loch called South Loch, which is where the distillery got its name.
You can either do a self-guided gin tasting at the bar or join a full distillery tasting tour. The guided experience takes you through the botanicals, distilling and bottling process. You’ll get a South Loch G&T, taste three South Loch gins and finish with a gin cocktail at the bar.
One of the best things about 56 North is the bar itself. It has a huge selection of Scottish gins, not just its own South Loch range. So you can easily turn a South Loch tasting into a longer evening of trying gins from different Scottish distilleries. If you’re not sure where to start, try South Loch’s Citrus & Lime Flower Gin and Black Raspberry Old Tom.
Book the South Loch Distillery Tour if you’re looking for a gin experience that focuses more on tasting and stories than the production itself. Or simply, come here if you want to try a wide variety of Scottish gins all in one place.
Before my trip, I actually looked at quite a few distilleries and narrowed it down to South Loch Distillery and Edinburgh Gin. I ended up going with Edinburgh Gin because they had more tour slots and the location was more convenient. But most importantly, I wanted to learn more about the gin-making process, not just do a tasting.
Best Edinburgh Tours & Experiences
Edinburgh Castle Highlights Tour – see the best of the castle and uncover all its fascinating history and secrets with an expert guide
Scotch Whisky Experience Tasting – get a behind-the-scenes look at how Scotch whisky is made and see the world’s largest whisky collection (over 3,500 bottles)
Pickering’s Gin Distillery Tour
Pickering’s is a small, independent gin distillery in Summerhall, which used to be a veterinary school. I found that part of its story really interesting, as the distillery still has some of the old animal kennels in the production area. It’s also about a 20-minute walk from the Royal Mile, so it’s still easy to reach on foot.
The story behind the gin is just as interesting. Pickering’s is based on a handwritten recipe from Bombay dating back to 1947. The recipe was kept as a family secret for more than 60 years before it eventually became the inspiration for Pickering’s Gin. And you can even see the original recipe during the tour!
The first bottle of Pickering’s Gin was actually sealed with Babybel wax! And if you look at the bottle, you’ll notice the peacock on the label. It’s a nod to both the old Royal Dick veterinary school and India, where the original recipe came from (the peacock is India’s national bird).
The gin distillery tour takes you into the production area, where you can see the gin-making process. So it feels much more like a behind-the-scenes experience than simply going somewhere for a gin tasting. And, of course, there’s plenty of gin to try too! You’ll get four gin samples, a G&T and a cocktail as part of the tour.
Book the Pickering’s Gin Distillery Tour if you’re looking for a smaller, quirkier and more behind-the-scenes experience.
Best gin tastings and distillery tours in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Gin Distillery
- 56 North (South Loch Distillery)
- Pickering’s Gin Distillery Tour
FAQs about gin tasting in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Gin is the best option for a gin tasting in Edinburgh. It’s much more than just a tasting – you get to see the production area, learn how gin is made, smell the botanicals and try several different gins and liqueurs.
A gin tasting usually costs around £25 per person, depending on the distillery and the type of experience you choose.
Most gin tastings take around 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the distillery and the tour you choose.
Edinburgh Gin is the closest to the Royal Mile, located in The Arches in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Yes, definitely! It has a smooth, balanced taste with plenty of flavour from the botanicals. They also make a great range of gins and liqueurs, including some fun and unusual flavours like tiramisu and seasonal Christmas editions.
Edinburgh Gin is made at its distillery at The Arches on East Market Street, where you can also take the distillery tour and visit the bar.
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