Whisky in Edinburgh

Whisky connoisseurs, you’ve come to the right place. The capital of a country known for its whisky, Edinburgh is where whisky lovers go to try it all.

Edinburgh’s Whisky Tradition

While Edinburgh has its own city centre whisky museum, numerous whisky bars and plenty of whisky shops, its whisky culture is very much an amalgamation of Scotland’s various regional traditions. It’s the ideal place to try whisky from the country’s five main whisky-producing regions: the Highlands, the Lowlands, Islay, Speyside and Campbeltown.

What is ‘Scotch’ Whisky?

Whisky from Scotland is revered across the globe for its excellence. While it’s known to those in other parts of the world as ‘scotch’, to us locals it’s simply ‘whisky’.

Scotch whisky is often characterised by a smoky flavour, brought on by the peat smoke used to treat the malt during the distilling process. All Scotch whiskies fall into one of five main categories: single malt Scotch whisky, single grain Scotch whisky, blended malt Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whisky, and blended Scotch whisky.

In order to have ‘Scotch’ on its label, a whisky must meet several requirements. Primarily, it must be: distilled and matured in Scotland, produced from water and malted barley, and aged in oak barrels for at least three years.

Edinburgh Whisky Bars

While nearly every bar and pub in Edinburgh has a few bottles of whisky behind the counter, certain establishments are known for their impressive – and delicious – selection. Here are a few of the best bars for whisky in Edinburgh:

• WHISKI Bar and Restaurant – Royal Mile
• Whiski Rooms – North Bank Street
• The Bow Bar – W Bow
• Bramble Bar – Queen Street
• The Albanach – Royal Mile

Serious about whisky? Join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and enjoy exclusive access to these venues:

• The Vaults – Giles St., Leith
• 28 Queen Street  – New Town

Edinburgh Whisky Shops

A bottle of the finest Scotch whisky makes for a great souvenir of your time in Edinburgh. There are whisky shops dotted across the city, but here are a few of the best:

• Royal Mile Whiskies – High Street
• Cadenhead Whisky – Canongate
• The Whisky Shop – Victoria Street
• Robert Graham’s Treasurer – Canongate

Whisky Tours Near Edinburgh

There are a number of whisky distilleries near Edinburgh that offer guided tours and tastings. Several tour companies based in Edinburgh also offer day trips or multi-day trips to various distilleries in the region.

If you’re looking to learn more about the distilling process and, of course, taste some of Scotland’s best varieties, pay a visit to one or more of the following:

• The Scotch Whisky Experience – Royal Mile, Edinburgh

While not itself a distillery, the Scotch Whisky Experience offers a fascinating insight into the distilling process. It’s also a family-friendly tour, with an Irn Bru tasting for the under 18s.

Nearby Distilleries:

• Glenkinchie Distillery – Pencaitland, East Lothian
• Tullibardine Distillery – Blackford, Perthshire
• The Famous Grouse Experience – Glenturret Distillery, Crieff, Perthshire
• Dewar’s World of Whisky – Aberfeldy, Perthshire
• Blair Athol Distillery – Pitlochry, Perthshire
• Edradour – Pitlochry, Perthshire

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Need tips on where to go? Want  to arrange a tasting? How about a bottle of the best single malt waiting for you on arrival?

If you’re staying in our Edinburgh apartments, we’ll make sure you experience Edinburgh’s whisky culture like a local.

Whisky image by cyclonebill via Wikimedia Commons