Distilleries
5
Tours
8
Region
The Lothians
Best for
City & day trips
Why Edinburgh is a drinks city
Edinburgh is one of the best bases in Scotland for distillery and brewery experiences. In the city you can walk between whisky bars, gin distilleries and independent breweries, then use the capital as a launch point for Lowland malts and day trips into Speyside or the Highlands.
Holyrood Distillery sits beneath Arthur's Seat, making single malt and gin in a former railway building. Leith has become a serious drinks quarter, with distilling, blending and tasting rooms a short hop from the Royal Mile. Edinburgh Gin and other city gin makers show how botanicals, local grain and bartending culture sit alongside classic Scotch.
The surrounding Lothians are Lowland whisky country: lighter, often triple-distilled styles that are easy to visit without a long drive. From Edinburgh you can also join tour-operator trips that collect in the city and take you out to working distilleries further north.
In the city
Holyrood, Leith and Edinburgh Gin put stills, tastings and cocktail bars within a tram or taxi ride of the Old Town.
Lowland whisky
Nearby malts tend to be lighter and approachable — a good introduction before you head to Speyside or Islay.
Easy day trips
Operators collect in Edinburgh for Highland and Speyside tours if you want the countryside without hiring a car.
Find a visit
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