Loved this tour/experience. We didn't have much experience with scotch prior to this trip, so going through this was very informative. It was definitely interesting to learn about both the scotch distilling process as well as the five different scotch areas/regions and their different taste profiles. We were able to taste several scotches which gave us an idea of what we liked and what we didn't. Also, the whisky collection that has been gathered there was very impressive. At the end of the tour, you can purchase scotches of varying sizes in their store, and again, another impressive collection. Add to that their location at the top of the Royal Mile, at the base of the Edinburgh Castle, with great views of New Town, and you have an almost perfect tour. read more

See all

This was my second time visiting and it was even better this time. Whether you are a Whisky lover or just looking to learn about everything whisky this experience is the one! Go with the Gold tour-it's worth the little extra that you pay-as you get 4 extra tastings at the end of the tour. If you try to book via travel companies a day or two before it will most likely show sold out. Not to worry either go to the Scotch Whisky Experience website or go to the location. I've found that they are doing tours every 10 minutes and if they are booked will give you an idea of when to return. The tour guides are knowledgeable and professional. They have a nice mix of approaches to passing on the whisky knowledge and information. The whisky shop has one of the most extensive selections I've ever seen & you get a 10% discount with your membership card. You will definitely leave having more of an appreciation and understanding of the different regions and varieties! read more

See all

We really really enjoyed this whiskey experience. The technology of the presentation was great. We loved tasting the whiskey and they give you the cup for free. Learned a lot about how whiskey is made! read more

We have been to many wineries and at least one distillery and brewery. So the process of making booze is not that interesting to us. And, based on many winery tours, there is a lot of standing around looking at the same kind of processes and hearing the same thing. We went to a winery in the Douro Valley that had animatronic figures at one point, so winery tours are not all the same. So, if you have been to a few wineries/breweries/distilleries, this is a very concise and efficient way to get information and taste different styles of Scotch Whisky. We didn't have to drive out to some remote place and walk around to different buildings. This took place in a comfortable, climate-controlled building on the Royal Mile. Our guide and the technology there took us though the manufacture of the product and explained why the products taste different to each other. Instead of going to five different areas in Scotland to visit the distilleries, we could taste all five against each other. I don't like Scotch but it was a fascinating experience. I know that some hobbyists will want to see where the product is actually made. However, if you just want to learn about it and to taste five different whiskys in a short period of time, this is for you. Tip: Consider buying at the Scotch Whisky Experience. We liked one bottle and it is much, much more expensive to get in the US. read more

Is it a little cheesy? Sure. I mean, you're riding around in a giant barrel as the history of whisky is narrated to you by a ghost! But if you lean into your inner tourist like I did you'll have a lovely time. I learned a lot about the different whisky producing regions of Scotland and got to sample several drams from all over the country (I opted to upgrade for the gold tour that lets you taste more and gives you a discount at the store and the bar, which I used on later dates). The Whisky Experience also houses the largest collection of Scotch Whisky in the world, which was neat to look at and makes for a fun photo op. Tours tend to book up quickly, although I was able to score a single walk in ticket, but reserving ahead of time is definitely the way to go. If you're looking for a fun touristy activity in Edinburgh I'd give the Scotch Whisky Experience a shot. read more

This is a must stop if you are in Edinburgh and walking the Royal Mile. We did not have time for the full tour but definitely wanted to taste the best export in Scotland. They had a bar that offered whiskey samplers. Along with our whiskey sampler we ordered Scottish tappas which made me laugh out loud but they were the most delicious appetizers I've ever had. It could be because I was trying to swell down 4 tastings of whiskey! read more

See all

Will not work with you. Skip this whisky tasting and enjoy the other ones around the city.

This place looks super-touristy, and kitschy, and it is, in the most delightful way. The tour itself is definitely worth it. Informative about how whisky is made, and a great presentation on the different whisky regions in Scotland, with scratch-and-sniff paper(!) to help you understand the bouquet of each region. Definitely get the upgraded experience so you can retire to the bar after the tour try more regional whisky. The staff are knowledgeable and efficient. OMG, the gift shop is ridiculous. Like, not only is there whisky-flavored fruit cake in a canister, but each whisky *region* has their own flavored fruitcake (i.e. Islay, Highland, Speyside, etc.). There's whisky-flavored lip balm. And the list goes on and on. Oh, and there's whisky for sale, of course. Bathrooms: I vaguely recall that they are generally clean and functional. read more

Made a stop at The Scotch Whisky Experience after visiting the Edinburgh Castle. It is Conveniently located right outside of the castle. I am not a huge scotch whisky fan but you definitely need to experience this tour while visiting, afterall, you are in Scotland! First you start off traveling through how whisky is made on a short barrel ride. We then made our way upstairs to watch a video of the different regions of Scotland. The videos truly made you open your eyes to realize how beautiful Scotland is. We received a scratch off card before the video that helped us recognize the aromas of whisky in each region. We did our first quick tasting before being brought into a room with the largest collection on Scotch Whisky. Finally, we ended at the bar area for our additional 4 tastings. There is a gift shop at the end where you can purchase your favorite whisky. We bought mini bottles from each region and snatched a couple of extra scratch cards from those who left it behind to do our own tastings once back in the states. Great overall experience! read more

See all

American Tourist here. This review is for the gift shop as I didn't actually do the Scotch Tour. The giftshop is large and contains lots and lots of whisky. HOWEVER, if you are from the states (I'm from LA) then you can pretty much get like 90+% of the whiskys here for much cheaper. Depending on your selection back home i'd recommend only buying something rare or obscure that you can't get back home. The location is right on the Royal Mile so realistically why wouldn't you take a look around inside? read more

See all

Wow!! We are visiting Edinburgh and we were recommended to try out a whiskey tasting. While trotting up to the Edinburgh Castle we spotted this intriguing spot!! We popped in and found out that spots sell out fast but we were lucky enough to get a spot the following day. After comparing all of the different options we choose the platinum option. Everyone in my group agreed that this was extremely educational and informative. We had the best tour guide Curtis. He was so informative and knowledgeable. For anyone looking to learn more about the 5 different regions for producing scotch I recommend the platinum tour. We had an entire run through of the process of how scotch is made and the difference in the regions. AND we had the opportunity to try 5 scotches. This information was so valuable and I can't wait to show off my knowledge to my friends in the future!! read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

A friend and I went precovid and enjoyed the whiskey themed haunted mansion vibe here. The tour was a little cheesy, but it was fun to try different types of Scotch. read more

Looking at the building and the location I figured this was an obvious tourist trap, but it was raining so I went in anyway. While it's definitely for tourists It didn't seem like a trap. It was kind of like Disney World for Scotch. It starts off with a little ride explaining how Scotch is made. You then head into another room and watch a video on obviously more scotch. The screen is no IMAX, but it's pretty big and shows some great landscapes. The guide narrates the video, and discusses the different regions of Scotland where scotch is produced. It's pretty informative and breaks down the flavors you can expect out Speyside, the Highlands, Campbeltown, the lowlands and Isaly. Next you go in for a tasting, and they explains how to drink the scotch. I know it's seems obvious. Put the glass close to your mouth pour, and swallow, but they explain how to really appreciate it. Finally, you go into another room to see the what was once the worlds largest collection of Scotch. Which was housed in Brazil, but has since returned home to Scotland. The room is pretty awesome and you can rent it out for dinners and will probably get tons of likes on Instagram. Finally, my group opted for the gold package so were give. 4 additional scotches to sample in their bar area which was a lot of fun. The tour ends in a gift shop where they sell.... more scotch. There is also a restaurant cafe under the museum where you can order 400 types of scotch as well as a soda or coffee if you had to too much to drink. Highly recommend this place. Even if you know everything about scotch the collection room is pretty cool. read more

See all

This was my first whisky experience and I have to say it was a lot more fun than I imagined. I learned a lot about whisky and was able to try whiskies from different areas of Scotland. The personnel was very nice and well educated. They answered all our questions and were very well organized with the tour. There was tastings, a barrel ride, a movie to watch, just to name a few of the things we did. The admission price was well worth it for everything that you get. At the end, you end up taking home your whisky glass, which we still use. If you like whisky or want to learn more about Scotland I highly recommend this tour. Even if you're not a big whisky drinker it's still loads of fun! read more

See all

We had a fun time but we knew what we were getting into. The tour was interesting and informational. The gold tour gives you a tasting flight at the end and is worth it. As a note you can get silver and upgrade to gold at the very end. We had an amazing time in Scotland and are happy this was part of the experience. read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Scotch Whiskey Collection - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

This place looks like a tourist trap and perhaps it sort of is, but it is conveniently located at the bottom of the castle and it is definitely an experience that is worthwhile. Part of the your is in a cool Disneyland-esque ride whereby you sit in a large barrel that takes you through various representations of the creation of whisky. It is family friendly and entertaining. When you exit there is another presentation in a room with scratch and sniff cards teaching about the different flavors of whisky based on the regions they are distilled in. Then the guide takes you into a conference room of sorts for the first tasting from the region of your choosing. Finally you get to see the collection of beautiful historical whisky donated by some wealthy collector before you get to the private bar for your additional tastings (if that's what you opted for in your tour package). It's a bit pricey for sure, but it is an experience that is unique and educational. They also have a neat shop with whisky from all over the world - be sure to ask the folks who work here for suggestions on what to bring back. read more

Super cool and informative. Definitely recommend to everyone if you like whiskey or not (which I don't.) read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Pretty cool way to kill a hour during a rainy day in Edinburgh. Especially interesting for people like myself who are far from whiskey experts. The barrel tour is very.....strange.... but I really enjoyed our tour guide after he was very funny and it was actually pretty informative even in such a short time. To make the most of your visit I suggest springing for the Gold tour. The Silver only gives you one tasting and it is fairly rushed because they have to get the next group through, but the Gold gives an extra 4 that you have the pleasure of enjoying in their bar upstairs. It also gets you a "membership" that allows you back in the bar without paying the tour fee and a discount in the souvenir store. read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Gold Tour - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

Even though the barrel ride at the beginning is a bit cheesy (as in Disneyland meets a distillery) and the entrance fee was high (11 GBP and 19 GBP for the gold tasting), I think that we will remember this tour and the tasting as a one of the fun things in Edinburgh. I went with my 19-year-old daughter who was excited to be of legal drinking age in Scotland and my stepson who is a Whisky drinker. We all learned something about Scotch. In the tasting room, you smell the aromas of the 4 different Whisky-producing regions in Scotland. After an explanation of the different regions, you place your complimentary glass on the circle associated with the region you want to taste. The day we were there they offered us 2 tastings since the large collection room was closed. My stepson had the gold tasting so he got to taste an additional 4 drams (one from each region) and they let us take some of those glasses home as well. They did rush us out of the tasting room (most hadn't finished their drinks) but you can take your glass with you and finish it in the Whisky Bar. There were 2 small girls in our group and they were given non-alcoholic drinks in the tasting room. We also learned that Glen means Valley in Gaelic which is why so many Whisky names have Glen in them (e.g., Glen Fiddich is Valley of the Deer, Glen Morangie is Valley of Tranquility, etc.) If you're heading down from the Castle on the Royal Mile, this can be a fun place to stop. read more

See all

It may be a touristy thing to do, but heck - we WERE tourists, and it sounded like fun. We booked the Platinum tour, and for the heck of it, added on the "Taste of Scotland" dining experience at the end. That took care of us for the evening, at least. The tour starts out kind of kitschy - you're loaded into a barrel that takes you through the whisky-making process - but it actually provided some useful information along the way. There were a few points where the background noise drowned out the voice of the narrator, but other than that, it was a nice little ride. You leave your barrel and climb some stairs to get to the lobby of the classroom. There, you can check out some additional information about whisky production - they detail the barrel-making process, the types of woods, the importance of water - before you're ushered into the classroom itself. Each person has their own station around a u-shaped table. Each station comes equipped with one scratch-and-sniff postcard, one glass of water and two tastings of whisky. The day we went, we were tasting varieties from Islay and Speyside in the room, and then had another tasting of a Highlands whisky at the end. Our guide, Roz, gave us a brief history of whisky production in Scotland before breaking down the differences in the four "main" locations (which are Highlands, Lowlands, Islay and Speyside). She had us use the scratch-and-sniff postcards (though, they're really rub-and-sniff) to get an idea of what we could be expecting from the tasting, then she had us sniff the actual Scotch before inviting us to take a sip of the sample. Let me just say, I've never had Scotch before this day. I'm kind of a lightweight, and felt myself getting giddy off the fumes. She had us sniffing to pick out tones for so long, I was practically drunk. Giggling softly to myself, I obligingly took the tiniest of first sips when prompted. Into the resulting silence, Roz said, "After you've taken a sip, take a second to savor it. No coughing." One person coughed. Want to take a stab as to who that was? Yeah...me. I tried to hold it in, I swear. But, it was either cough it up or choke, and I chose to breathe. Everybody started to laugh, and I started to wish I had chosen choking, instead. That stuff is strong. Roz and the others - including my husband - were discussing the different flavor notes they were picking up in the whisky. I was thinking, "All I get is alcohol." The next dram was even worse - if you know anything about whisky, you'll understand when I say the next dram contained Speyside whisky. For those who don't know, it's like you're at a BBQ, and you're standing downwind of the grill. It was like taking a swig of liquid smoke. It was awful. Adding a bit of water did absolutely nothing for me. The final tasting - which we took in their impressive whisky collection room - was of the Highlands variety, a 21 year aged whisky. This one I had no problems drinking or finishing. And of course, this bottle runs a cool £95 per bottle. Of course I handle the more expensive kind. Of course. Though I still wouldn't call myself a whisky-aficionado (or even fan), I did enjoy the experience. Roz was patient and fun, and she had a lot of good information to give us. I loved the collection room - so many old bottles! - and all the little plaques they had up on the walls along the way. Yes, it's touristy, but it's fun. Plus, you get a goody bag at the end of the night! Nothing wrong with that! read more

See all

We passed on this due to time our first day and made our way back two weeks later. The gold tour was worth every penny (or pound rather). We rode in a whiskey barrel and rode the making of Scotch Whiskey. From there some amazing video of the country explaining what types of Scotch come from what regions partnered with a fun scratch and sniff card. You will visit the tasting room and then see a collection of 3,884 bottles of Scotch! The gold tour gives you samples of five different types and you get the tasting glass. We also used the discount in the gift shop. Highly recommend adding the chocolates to your tasting experience. read more

See all

The only downside is the cost - but hey, it's also the real deal! I did the Morning Masterclass and it was fantastic. Or guide was humorous and knowledgeable, and all of the bits from history to the tour to especially the smelling and tasting were great. The downstairs restaurant was also great. I went for the haggis (AMAZING, not at all what I expected) and smoked salmon (also AMAZING) and another 7 drams of scotch to, you know, develop my palette. read more

See all

Good overall intro to Scotch Whisky. The beginning part of this tour is an automated ride in a simulated Whisky barrel taking guests through the process of Scotch Whisky making. This portion of the tour is narrated and one is provided with a general understanding of the key elements of the process to produce a bottle of Scotch. While the beginning part of the tour is a bit hokey, when the barrel ride part of the tour ends a real tour guide takes over and provides some really good information on the different regions that produce Whisky and the general differences in the styles between the regions. A scented card and brief slide show are used and are well done and informative. Guests then select which Whisky they'd like to sample. Once samples are selected, guests are ushered into a room containing the largest Scotch Whisky collection in the world where guests get instructions on how to taste and appreciate their selection. Again, very well done and our guide was very informative. Be sure to snap some photos here, the collection is impressive. Finally, guests enter a formal tasting room. We did the Gold tour so we got to select an additional 4 tastings each and were able to enjoy these at our own pace. Everyone exits through a liquor store and I could not leave without purchasing two bottles... Overall, a very good tour / experience; highly recommended. My only suggestion is to eat something before you go on this tour. read more

See all

This was one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland, Scotland, and England. If you have some spare time in Scotland it is a great way to spend an hour or so. First you start off in a fun little barrel ride which illustrates the making of scotch. It's very informative and interesting. My mom who doesn't even like scotch was entertained and interested the entire time. Next you meet with your guide who shows some films and talks about the different types of whiskey. Through some sensory interactive-ness you are lead to your perfect whiskey match. We were lucky enough to have Sonia as our guide and she was fabulous and informative. I met my whiskey soulmate-Islay, and never looked back. The sample we were given was so delicious and the perfect note to end our tour. After the tour you can hang out and drink some more in the whiskey bar, or do some shopping in their fabulous gift shop. I can't think of a much better way to spend an hour and a few Euros in Scotland than the whiskey experience. Highly recommended! read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - This is what heaven must be like! - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

See all

NOTE: go for the gold tour package! I have raved about this place to numerous people and happily will rave about it here. It is a littlw touristy, but also great for locals and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a fun 75 minutes. I know people have said that the little "Disney style" initial ride is cheesey. But, I definitely disagree. I thought it was witty, informative, and well done. You get to ride in a big barrel and learn! How can that be lame? Then you go watch a presentation video on the whisky regions in Scotland. Then you go taste one while looking at the worlds largest whisky collection. Lastly, you part ways with people who only got silver and you get a chance to hang out in a great little lounge and sip on a final 4 whiskies from different regions. It was fantastic! I learned a lot, gained a new appreciation for whisky, and took some things home from the gift shop. The gift shop, my god, so many great whiskies!!! I didnt find the prices to be bad, and I saw some specialties there I havent found in person before (in the states anyway). read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - The gold flight from 4 regions of Scotland - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Thoroughly enjoyed the Gold Tour. The whiskey barrel ride reminded me of the rides through Chocolate World at Hershey Park...it was a novel way to learn a bit and also relax after a long day of touring Old Town. Once we got to the tasting room, our guide, Cameron took over. I learned a lot about the various styles and we sampled one. The Gold Tour participants then went to another room for 4 more generous samples. We also got to see the priceless, private collection they house for a collector. The shop is equally chock-full of a massive selection, plus various drinking accoutrements. Prior to this visit, I have mostly stuck to American Ryes and Bourbons....honestly, Scotch intimidated me, but no longer. Now the hard part is figuring out what first bottle to buy now that I'm home. read more

Just did my second tour, and it was even better than my first...which I didn't think was even possible. They've updated since I was there last 3 years ago, and the animation in the room where you get your whisky poured is amazing. Such a cool experience and I recommend going to everyone visiting Edinburgh. We forgot to leave feedback, but our tour guide Ian was super informative and gave a really fun tour. Def will come back again for sure! read more

See all

My husband and I really wanted to visit a distillery or have some sort of scotch/whiskey tour/experience and some of the distilleries were too far away so we stopped by the Scotch Whiskey Experience and looked at tours...there were A LOT of people and many different tours so we were a bit overwhelmed, I suggested we visit the bar downstairs and see how busy that was - to our surprise it was not packed but a perfect amount of people eating and drinking. We grabbed two open seats at the bar and looked at a long list of whiskey and other options, Ben came over to us and I encouraged my husband to tell him what type of whiskey he normally drank and liked - know nothing about it but Ben got straight to work putting together 4 drams for us to try in a flight from all across Scotland - some rare/hard to find in the states. He gave us samples from the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside and Isle and it was absolutely the perfect end to our day before a Friday the 13th tour of the graveyard and vaults around Edinburgh. You could tell Ben was passionate about his job and chatted with us multitasking while still waiting on other customers. He even recommended a pub to stop by for live music! This was exactly the experience we were looking for! Highly recommend. read more

This was pretty awesome. It is an amusement park ride that explains how scotch is made. Then you get to try some and they tell you some stories. read more

Very cool tour and lots of alcohol to consume. Definitely a fun way to learn about the history of Scotch Whisky.

When I think of Scotland I think of Whisky. While walking (and hiking up lots of stairs) we saw the entrance to the Whisky Experience. We purchased the Gold Tour for 28 euros which added an option to compare and contrast 4 regional single malts at the end. The tour starts with a ride through Whisky history. After the ride you are greeted by a tour guide who takes you through the rest of the tour. You get a card with scratch and sniff sections for each area in Scotland that produces Whisky and a taste of three Whiskies which you can choose from. You also visit an vault with several thousand bottles of whisky previously owned by a man from South America. AMAZING! Then after the tour, with the Gold Tour we were seated at a table to try 4 single malts to further show the characteristics of each region. It was worth the time and if we had more time in Edinburgh I would try some of the longer more expensive experiences. Staff were very friendly and the information was very interesting. Throughout the tour you follow a little black cat (not a real one) through all of the rooms. If you are in the area it is totally worth a visit. read more

See all

I absolutely loved this and thought it was well worth the money. The tour is a mix of videos, live narration, and riding through exhibits in a giant whisky barrel ending with a whisky tasting of your choice. In the tasting room there was special effects and overall the whole experience was fun and immersive. I did the silver tour and they also accommodated changing my tour date since I mistakenly booked the wrong date. I waited about 5 minutes to start the tour and about 5 minutes after the barrels to go into the tasting room but otherwise it moved at a good pace. I learned a lot about the scotchwhisky regions and I particularly liked the 'scratch and sniff' card they gave us to experience the various regional aromas. I immediately gravitated to the Highlands region so that's what I chose for my tasting and wow - it was spot on and I thoroughly enjoyed it rather than suffered through it since I'm not a regular scotch drinker (and when I am it's certainly not neat!). The tasting room is full of historic and unusual bottles and is a great place for pictures. At the end, you come out at their bar if you want to keep drinking or do more tastings. It was quiet and uncrowded. I savored my Highland scotch whisky at a high table with a great view over Edinburgh. Overall an informative, relaxing and enjoyable experience. I know its touristy but it's fun and I really enjoyed it and felt like I learned something. I even bought a highlands whisky sampler! Highly recommend checking this out. read more

See all

I recently went on a trip to Scotland with a group of friends and got a tip from some other friends who had recently been to come here. They said "it's super touristy, but worth it," so I convinced my 9 other friends to make a stop here on a day that we did one of those hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus tours. Usually, I have little interest in the obvious tourist things like that and this place, but both ended up being some of the best things we did! They're great daytime activities, and then we went off to find local pubs to hang out at at night. PLUS we got a little discount on this place since we were doing the bus tour! So anyway, my group of 10 all purchased the GOLD tour. This is seriously worth the extra money over the basic silver tour. The first thing they do is put you in this big cart shaped like a barrel, two by two, and you go through this ridiculously cheesy Disneyland-esque ride that takes you through the process of how whisky is made. They tried, but it's corny and not very good. After that, they reunited our big group and took us into a theater-like room where they played GORGEOUS videos showing the different regions of Scotland and explaining the flavor profiles of whiskies from each region, even with a scratch-and-sniff card for you to follow along and start identifying what you like best. I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful the videos were though. Our group was mostly made up of artistic professionals from Los Angeles and everyone was impressed! They then took us into a 3rd room where they talked more about the aging process and continued on about the flavor profiles. This room was kind of forgettable, if I'm being honest, especially after the theater. BUT then they took us into the final room where you get to do the tasting! It was already set up with one taste for each of us, from the Highlands, and they walked us through what to look for in the color, texture, and aroma before we tasted the whisky, then asked us to take a bite of a chocolate pairing and taste again to see how it changed. They then allowed us to choose which other region of Scotland we wanted a second taste from, which marks the end of the silver tour. But even with this basic tour, you get to take one of the tasting glasses home! For the gold tour, they moved us to a separate table in the same room and gave us 3 more tastes, from the Lowlands, Speyside, and Islay (I recommend choosing the Campbeltown as your 2nd taste because it is not an option otherwise). They also gave us a cheese pairing to go with the last 3 that was fantastic on its own. The same tour guide stayed with us from the theater room all the way through the tasting and was very knowledgeable, although I did not get his name, unfortunately. We had a limited time allowed in the tasting room, but were allowed to take unfinished tastes down into their shop to finish up. In their shop, they had plenty of knowledgeable staff waiting to answer questions and help you find the perfect bottle of whisky to take home. They also have lots of other fun little things, such as a scotch bbq sauce, butterscotch sauce, and pancake syrup, along with recipe cards for each. I bought one for myself and a few others as gifts for family back home. The one MAJOR thing that I would say though, is to do this on your FIRST day in Edinburgh. We didn't plan it this way on purpose, but it worked out absolutely perfectly because it allowed everyone in our group to identify which region they liked the whiskies from best, so every time we went out to a pub or to buy souvenirs afterwards, we knew what to look/ask for immediately without having to pester the bartender with questions. Although it is definitely "super touristy," it is definitely worth it! read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Our group doing the gold tour...totally worth it! - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Do this! It seems touristy; but, you will learn a lot about scotch. Plus walk away with a nice glass and a tasting. This was a game changer for me. I now know how to shop for and buy Scotch based on what I like. read more

This was a fun tour. It's a little campy with a Disney style (think Haunted House) ride, but pretty educational and amusing. Our tour guide Elsa was very pleasant. Though it was a bit silly, it was more fun than we expected. read more

See all

So informative & fun! For a bunch of girls that don't really drink whiskey we had so much fun learning the history & sniffing the smells! Our guy Kev was so much fun! He was so knowledgeable & kept the crowd involved 10/10 would go again, fav part was the worlds largest unopened scotch whiskey collection read more

See all

This was actually good fun. Thought it might be a bit of a tourist trap but decided to check it out. The 'Experience' is a barrel ride through the history and process of whisky making - the barrels only seat maybe 3 so you go in the groups you come in, you don't have to sit with strangers. Plus, they run the ride in the language of your choice. After the ride a whole group is ushered in to a room and given scratch & sniff cards - it's time to learn about the different noses of whisky and the regions (the artificial banana smell is a bit weird, but I kind of get it). After having the four regions (Highlands, Lowlands, Islay and Speyside) and their differences thoroughly explained you use the colour coded circles in front of you to select one to taste by placing your glass on it (you get to keep the glass too!). There's no elitism or judgement here - if you want to try a sweeter whisky or have a splash of water in yours no-one is giving you the stink-eye. While sampling your whisky you get to wander around a weird room full of glass cabinets holding a large and impressive collection of whiskies - novelty bottles and branding as well as well known and revered ones. It was in this room that we were also given some tips on how to get the best out of a tasting - the nose, how the liquid coats the glass and the colour being important things to look for before any uisge beatha (that's "water of life" for the non-Gaelic speakers) even passes your lips. On the way out you get a box to transport your glass in safely, and then you can enjoy some more whisky in the bar (some packages include a full tasting in your entry). Throughout the whole thing all of the staff were lovely - friendly, helpful and knew their stuff! I'm by no means a whisky expert but I do know what I like and the Scotch Whisky Experience was a great way to learn more. read more

The Scotch Whisky Experience - Colour coded regional sample selector! - Tours Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Quintessential tourist spot, and yes a bit overpriced, but it's in the heart of the Royal Mile at the base of the Castle, so what do you expect? I'm not complaining, we had a great time. After days and days of drinking Jameson & Ginger Ale, it made complete sense to continue to drink myself into liver failure with Whisky tasting. Guided tours, a whisky shop, a bar, a coffee shop and a restaurant. I could live here! We took the gold tour, which included 4 tastings at the end. I admit, when I saw the barrel that you hop on that takes you around, it immediately took me back to my childhood, days at Disneyland on the Haunted Mansion ride! This is adult Disneyland! We were first taken around in the barrel ride (I thought it was very informative) We were then brought into a room and given a scratch & sniff card with the different Glens. At the end of the tour, we were given a souvenir Glencairn glass. We perched ourselves down on some comfy chairs and started tasting. My favorites were Speyside and Lowland. This was fun, I would recommend a go. Slainte! read more

See all

Highly recommend this tour. It was more than I expected. Our guide was great, gave us a lot of information and answered just as many questions as well. I loved the short video clip of the different regions of Scotland where all their whisky is made, LOVED IT! Then you're taken into a room where THE largest private whisky collection in the world is kept. It was all amazing. And finally, the whisky tasting, let's just say good thing the men drank the left overs , the amounts were very generous. Buy the upgraded tour, it's really worth it. read more

I type it: whiskey. That's what I like... and that's what my spell check likes. This... now this is an experience for tourists. And tourists only. I don't think an actual Scot comes in this building unless they're working. The experience includes a ride on their Haunted Mansion (but slower and not as scary) ride through the process of how to make whiskey. A friendly ghost... yep, you read that right, is your guide through the distilling process. It takes about 6 or 7 minutes and then you disembark and head into the music room. It's not really a music room... but there are treble clefs on the wall. My wife mentioned it was some imagery about the harmony of flavors or something... anyway, you watch a video about the regions of Scotland that produce certain styles of whiskey. All in all, it's educational and not at all boring. Next, you taste! You get to try one style of whiskey... and you slide your little glass onto the right color and it opens the door to the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. No, no... that's not right... you slide your glass onto a colored spot on the table and the guide pours you that corresponding region's whiskey. I opted for the smooth, vanilla-like kind... I think I picked yellow. Next, you move into a room that is pretty dang impressive... you will stare in awe at the largest private collection of whiskey anywhere... I think there were about 3,400 bottles... none duplicated... and a couple that were over 100 years old. Take a picture in the whiskey vault... seriously... it's like the Cave of Wonders if all of the Wonders are whiskey. Then, you get spit out in a bar! Where you can buy more whiskey! Or just read some plaques and then go downstairs to the gift shop... and buy more whiskey! It's fun... it's not too expensive... it's worth doing once. And it's right by Edinburgh Castle - and you're already going to the Castle... right? Yeah, you are. So maybe think about stopping in. read more