In Scotland, whisky is a spiritual affair. Case in point: If you trace the word’s etymology back to its origins, whisky hails from the Gaelic word “usquebaugh,” meaning “water of life.” Scotch, as it’s commonly referred to these days, is renowned for its rich, smoky, peaty tasting notes.
The first mention of distilling whisky in Scotland was in the late 15th century—though historians believe the drink was being made in Scotland much earlier than that. Since those days, Scotch has become one of the great products of Scotland, as some rare bottles go for a princely sum.
Today there are over 150 whisky distilleries in Scotland. If you’re in Edinburgh, there are ample spots where you can sample Scotland’s best “water of life.” When it comes to whisky tasting in Edinburgh, the city has plenty of options to try what is largely considered the best whisky in the world.
Where to Try the Best Whisky in Edinburgh
Before you start sampling the Scotch, perhaps you want to work up a thirst by taking an informative and fun guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Holyrood. (In some cases, the tour will end with a guided whisky tasting!)
Whatever the case, if you have a thirst for the water of life, let’s take a tour of the best places to go whisky tasting in Edinburgh.
The Albanach
Steps from St. Giles Cathedral, The Albanach is Scots-Gaelic for “Scottish.” So, as you’d expect, the pub has a superior selection of Scotch. They up the Scottish quotient by offering a menu of pub classics and have live traditional music on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Amber
If you’ve just spent some time in the Scottish Whisky Experience, you’ve certainly built up a thirst for more Scotch—and some food to pair with it. Head downstairs to Amber, the in-house pub and restaurant, where you can sample one (or two or three) drams of over 450 types of Scottish whisky. Pair your drams with dishes such as confit duck terrine with whisky prune relish, mint lamb rump, or a pot of Shetland mussels.
The Bow Bar
Since the mid-19th century, there has been a pub on the premises here and locals have been regularly pointing themselves to the Bow Bar for excellent single malts. The no-frills, but rustic spot has a large selection of Scotch and Scottish beer to wet your whistle. The bar also does a featured whisky of the week.
Canny Man’s
Come for the baroque interior—the walls are crammed with antique nick-nacks—and stay for the 250-plus whisky selection at this classic Scottish pub near the Royal Mile. Since 1871, bartenders at Canny Man’s have been pouring Scotch. Guests can order 35ml flights based on the various whisky regions of Scotland or sip a Scotch-based cocktail. If the stomach starts to rumble, the pub has an above-average lamb burger and a hearty fish stew on the menu.
The Devil’s Advocate
With more than 300 brands of Scotch on the shelves, the Devil’s Advocate is located just steps off the Royal Mile. In addition to the large volume of brown spirits stocked here, the bar and restaurant also has whisky-based cocktails and, best of all, several whisky flights. One of the best places for whisky tasting in Edinburgh, go for the “Scottish Road Trip,” 25ml samplings from five different regions around Scotland: the Lowlands, the Highlands, Islay, Speyside, and the Islands.
Holyrood Distillery
Housed in an erstwhile railroad storage building near Salisbury Crags, the Holyrood Distillery allows you to sample some whisky right at the source. This award-winning distillery, which opened in 2019 offers four different tours of the distillery—based on how deep you want to go into the process—and a gift shop where you can buy bottles to go. But if you just want to go straight to the bar, that’s very understandable too. The in-house tasting room/bar offers drams. Go on Thursday evening to hear some live music.
Traveler’s tip: If you take our Edinburgh Walking Tour of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and Holyrood, you’ll be nicely positioned to visit this whisky distillery.
Port of Leith Distillery
If you’re in Edinburgh for more than a couple of days, do yourself a favor and journey to the Port of Leith, the city’s main port which was at its most active in the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to the atmospheric centuries-old storage houses and the waterfront walkway, you’ll find the Port of Leith Distillery. You can take a 60- or 90-minute tour to see how the libation goes from grain to glass; or just go straight to the bar, where you’ll find one of the largest collections of craft whisky on the planet.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Once off limits to anyone who wasn’t a member, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society now allows any whisky lovers into their four-floor Georgian house on Queen Street. With over 500 different single malts, this is a Mecca for Scotch lovers. The downstairs Kaleidoscope Bar offers several variations of flights, plus whisky cocktails.
Types of Whisky to Try in Edinburgh
The world of whisky can be a bit tricky for newbies who are bravely branching out of their beer and wine zone. The first thing to know is that there are several types of Scotch whisky, and each comes with unique characteristics based on how and where its made in Scotland. Before you go whisky tasting in Edinburgh, take note of a few basics to know beforehand:
- Single Malt Scotch is made from 100% malted barley at only one distillery.
- Single Grain Scotch is a combination of malted barley and other grains such as wheat or corn, made at one distillery.
- Blended Malt Scotch is a blend of single malts from different distilleries.
- Blended Grain Scotch is a mix of single grain whiskies from different distilleries.
- Blended Scotch is a mix one or more single malts with one or more single grains.
Additionally, if you really want to delve further into the complexities of the whisky world, Scotch whisky can also be classified according to where it is made. For example, whisky made in the Highlands is known to be more full-bodied and robust while scotch whisky made in the Lowlands is enjoyed by many because it is a bit lighter.
FAQs Section
Why is Edinburgh a great place for whisky tasting?
The national drink of Scotland is nearly ubiquitous in Edinburgh. With such an abundance of whisky bars in Edinburgh, you really will be able to explore whisky and its vast history in all its depth. After all, the city boasts nearly 400 pubs and all of them are going to be stocked with great Scotch whisky.
What are the different types of Scotch whisky?
Scottish whisky, or Scotch, is divided into five different types: blended malt whisky, single-grain Scotch whisky, single-malt Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whisky, and blended Scotch whisky.
What are the best whisky tasting experiences in Edinburgh?
Apart from visiting the above eight pubs and distilleries in Edinburgh to try whisky, there are additional places to try whisky outside of the city. For those whisky-drinking adventurers, you could head to the island of Islay, known by many as ‘whisky island’. Located in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, there are ten whisky distilleries to explore, including the cult favorite, Ardbeg.
Edinburgh has so many unique things to see and do, but trying local whisky is a must-do while in town. Of course, in between these whisky tastings in Edinburgh, you could also see some of the city’s top landmarks as well. To do so, we recommend our Edinburgh in a Day Tour with Private Early Access to Edinburgh Castle, which lets you take in all of the glory of this beautiful castle without fighting through the massive crowds.
