When you think of whisky, your mind might drift to the misty hills of the Scottish Highlands - but Edinburgh, with its rich history and vibrant spirit scene, offers an equally compelling whisky experience.
Did you know that May is whisky month – a whole 31 days dedicated to Scotland’s national drink. Coming as it does in the middle of spring, it offers a glorious opportunity to try new whiskies, learn about different styles and regions, and appreciate the unique tastes.
The Scottish Gaelic word for whisky is “uisge beatha”, which translates to “water of life”. This phrase is the origin of the word “whisky” and is pronounced ish-ka ba-ha.
Edinburgh’s whisky attractions are as rich and complex as the spirit itself, offering everything from centuries-old traditions to bold new experiments.
In this blog, we take a deep dive into four standout stops that showcase the many faces of Scottish whisky: an iconic attraction that brings whisky’s story to life, a vibrant bar pushing creative boundaries, a distillery redefining the city’s whisky-making future, and a historic shop offering rare bottles and independent spirits.
Whether you’re a curious newcomer or an enthusiastic connoisseur savouring the subtleties of Scotland’s finest malts, this is your guide to experiencing whisky in Edinburgh that will stay will you long after May has passed.
The Scotch Whisky Experience
This 5-star attraction is housed in a former Victorian school building
354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Perched atop the Royal Mile, The Scotch Whisky Experience has been offering a deep dive into Scotland’s whisky heritage for over 35 years. Housed in a former Victorian school building, the attraction still retains the original twin staircase that once separated boys and girls.
Inside, visitors can explore the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky, with over 3,300 bottles, including incredibly rare bottles, like a James Buchanan blend from the late 1800s. The Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection found its home at The Scotch Whisky Experience in May 2009, and is the highlight of their tour and tasting experiences.
Their tours will take you on a journey through the world of Scotch whisky, where you can widen your knowledge, explore flavours and create unforgettable memories. Tours last approximately 550 minutes and are available in 20 languages, including British Sign Language. Get ready for an immersive journey, exploring the whisky making process, from the origins of water and barley to a magical view from inside the cask. The experience includes a glimpse of the five Scotch whisky producing regions with a tasting of a dram from your favourite region.
The experience also offers whisky pairing meus, masterclasses, and multi-sensory tours, appealing to both first timers and whisky experts.
Spend a day at their Scotch Whisky Training School, where you can gain a ‘Certificate of Expertise’. Featuring a mixture of hands-on activities and learning styles, the course is ideal for both whisky enthusiasts and hospitality, licensed trade, and whisky tourism professionals.
The Scotch Whisky Experience was voted ‘Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction 2024’ in the National Scottish Thistle Awards, therefore you’re sure to have a memorable experience.
Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar
Houses the largest selection of single malts in Edinburgh.
67 St Leonard’s Hill, Edinburgh EH8 9SB
Nestled in Edinburgh’s Southside, Tipsy Midgie is a whisky bar with a playful edge and an impressive collection of over 800 bottles behind the bar at any one time.
The bar proudly offers the largest selection of single malts in Edinburgh, featuring some of the finest and rarest whiskies alongside more approachable drams. They have meticulously curated an enviable range of whiskies, with prices to suit all budgets.
Owner Colin Hinds, a former award-winning chef, has crafted a bar that blends whisky with food, fun, and storytelling. One of the bar’s unique offerings is Tipsy Treats – where traditional chocolate bars and treats are expertly paired with exceptional drams.
Their Chocolate & Whisky pairing will tantalise taste buds and create new experiences. Using only distillery edition and unique single malts to pair with fine Scottish chocolates, Colin will pair 5 delicious drams with exciting results to contrast, compliment and challenge the palate.
Don’t miss their Distillery Discovery Thursdays, where guests get the chance to immerse themselves in Scottish history and folklore, and enjoy an event showcasing a different distillery.
The bar also hosts various events and offers a unique whisky experience to its patrons. Additionally, they have their own in-house whisky club, The Tipsy Tasters, for those who want a more in-depth whisky experience.
Tipsy Midgie is not just a place to drink – it’s a whisky playground, where you’re encouraged to ask questions, try the unexpected, and explore the lighter, livelier side of Scotland’s national drink.
Holyrood Distillery
On opening in 2019, it became Edinburgh’s first single malt whisky distillery in nearly 100 years.
19 St Leonard’s Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9SH
Rather than stick to tradition, Holyrood Distillery has focused on innovation, experimenting with heritage barley strains, different yeasts, and unusual cask finishes to rediscover lost whisky flavours and create a wide variety of flavoured beer.
The Holyrood team, self-proclaimed ‘geeks’ might be better called experts in their field, and it is that expertise that has won them thousands of fans from all around the world, especially in Edinburgh. The distillery itself caters to a diverse demographic of drinks lovers, offering whiskies, gins, and rums.
Their first-ever single malt, released in 2023, quickly caught the attention of critics, followed by a peated expression in 2024 that offered a smoky twist on Edinburgh’s usually lighter whisky style.
Just a short walk from the Royal Mile, the distillery has a welcoming visitor centre which includes a bar with views of Holyrood Park, a destination spirits and gift shop, tasting rooms, and daily tours and experiences of both the whisky and gin distillery. The distillery is fully wheelchair accessible and can accommodate private group requests. All tours and experiences include samples and tastings.
Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop
Scotland’s oldest independent bottler.
172 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DF
Located along the Royal Mile, Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop is a whisky lover’s treasure trove and Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, with roots tracing back to 1842.
They specialise in bottling single cask or small batch whisky, gin, rum, cognac, and other spirits from across all of Scotland and the rest of the world.
What sets Cadenhead’s apart is its philosophy: no chill filtrating, no added colouring or additives, and single cask bottlings that let each whisky speak for itself.
In 1972, the company faced bankruptcy and famously auctioned off its entire cellar with no reserve price – an act of desperation that ended in a surprising surplus, ultimately saving the business. Today, Cadenheads is known for offering rare, obscure, and incredibly characterful whiskies – often from distilleries you’ve never heard of. It’s a place where seasoned collectors and curious newcomers alike can find something truly one-of-a-kind.
Want to learn more? See what else Edinburgh offers during Whisky Month. Celebrate Whisky Month in Edinburgh.
This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
