Best Whisky Tours in Edinburgh

Edinburgh sits at the heart of Scottish whisky culture with several urban distilleries and specialist bars. These tours teach you about Scotland's national drink. We reviewed 4 options ranging from £19 to £25. Best for: whisky enthusiasts, spirits education seekers, Scottish culture explorers.

Most whisky tours in Edinburgh cost £25-85 per person. Difficulty ranges from easy to moderate. Group sizes are typically 2-20. Tours available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian. Book online in advance for the best prices.

Scotch Whisky Experience

Descend 150 feet through the barrel lift while learning whisky history, then taste four single malts representing Scotland's five whisky regions.

Price: £19 | Duration: 1 hour | Difficulty: easy

Best for: whisky beginners and families

• Barrel-shaped lift descending through five levels
• Four single malt tastings from different Scottish regions
• Interactive displays on whisky production methods

Full details and booking info

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Edinburgh Gin Distillery Tour

Watch copper stills work in Edinburgh Gin's working distillery, then taste their signature Seaside gin and limited-edition releases.

Price: £15 | Duration: 45 minutes | Difficulty: easy

Best for: gin enthusiasts and craft spirit lovers

• Working copper stills visible during tour
• Two gin tastings including signature Seaside gin
• Learn about 14 botanicals and their flavour roles

Full details and booking info

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Historic Whisky Bars Walking Tour

Walk through Old Town and Grassmarket stopping at four established whisky bars with combined collections exceeding 1,500 bottles.

Price: £45 | Duration: 3 hours | Difficulty: moderate

Best for: experienced whisky drinkers and pub culture enthusiasts

• Four bars with 1,500+ combined whisky bottles
• Bars dating back to 1700s-1890s with original interiors
• Six whisky drams across different styles and regions

Full details and booking info

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Holyrood Distillery Behind the Scenes

Tour Edinburgh's first working distillery in 40 years, opened in 2019.

Price: £25 | Duration: 1.5 hours | Difficulty: easy

Best for: whisky production enthusiasts and innovation seekers

• First working distillery in Edinburgh for 40 years
• Modern facility with traditional pot stills
• Tasting new-make spirit fresh from production

Full details and booking info

Best season: Tours run year-round, but May to September for warmest weather and longest days, though August brings festival crowds and higher prices. June offers the best balance of good weather and manageable tourist numbers. is most comfortable for outdoor whisky tours.

Cancellation: Most operators offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before tour.

Watch out: Not booking restaurant reservations during festival season (August) when the city doubles in size

Compare prices across multiple platforms before booking. GetYourGuide, Viator, and direct operator websites often have different rates.