Pickering’s Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour

Pickering’s Gin Jolly is built around a pleasingly hands-on idea: you do not just taste gin, you see where it is made and finish by waxing your own 5cl bottle. The setting is equally unusual, inside Summerhall’s former Veterinary College, where the stills Emily and Gertrude give the tour a real working-distillery feel.

I like the small group of no more than 12 and the clear tasting format, which gives you time to ask questions without being lost in a crowd. I also like the guides’ warm, lively approach, with Max and Marina singled out for their humor and storytelling. The main drawback is the short one-hour length, so anyone hoping for a long cocktail class or a full afternoon at the distillery should keep expectations in check.

Key points to know before booking

• Four Pickering’s gins are tasted in a guided session beside the distillery’s stills.
• Emily and Gertrude are working visual anchors for the tour, helping explain the small-batch process.
• Your 5cl bottle is finished with wax, giving you a personal souvenir rather than a standard shop purchase.
• The tour takes place at Summerhall, a former Veterinary College building with an unusual Edinburgh setting.
• Guides including Max, Marina, and Alyssa bring humor, clear explanations, and plenty of room for questions.
• The one-hour visit suits a compact itinerary, but it is not designed as a lengthy distillery day.

Inside Summerhall’s former Veterinary College

The first pleasure here is the setting. Pickering’s Gin operates at 1 Summerhall, an arts and cultural venue in Edinburgh, inside the old Veterinary College of the University. That gives the visit more character than a plain tasting room. You are not simply seated at a bar and handed a glass. You are brought into a place with a distinct past and shown how a modern gin maker uses it.

The distillery itself is the focus. Your guide explains how Pickering’s makes its small-batch gins, with the stills Emily and Gertrude nearby. Seeing the equipment while hearing about the method makes the process easier to follow. Instead of treating gin as a finished drink with a mysterious label, the tour connects the bottle in your hand to the work done in the room.

This is also a useful stop for anyone who wants a little context without committing to a long technical tour. The visit is short, direct, and built around the essentials: the distillery, the production story, the tasting, and the bottle-making activity.

What the one-hour itinerary actually includes

The tour begins at Summerhall and ends back at the same meeting point. The formal length is about one hour, with admission included. That makes it easy to fit into a day of sightseeing, especially if you are planning other activities around central Edinburgh.

The first part covers the gin-making process and Pickering’s background. Your guide will explain how the small-batch gins are crafted and point out the equipment used in the distillery. The exact emphasis can vary with the guide, but Max, Marina, and Alyssa have all been noted for making the explanations friendly, lively, and easy to follow.

The second part is a tutored tasting of Pickering’s four core gins. This matters because you are not left to guess what separates one pour from another. The tasting gives you a chance to compare the range and notice how different botanicals shape the flavor.

The final step is the most personal. You wax your own miniature 5cl bottle of gin and take it home. It is a simple activity, but it adds a sense of completion. You leave with something connected to the visit, not just a sample glass or a generic souvenir.

Emily, Gertrude, and the appeal of seeing gin made

The stills, Emily and Gertrude, help give the tour a strong center. Their names make the equipment easier to remember, and seeing them during the explanation adds something that a tasting alone cannot provide.

I find this kind of access especially useful if you are new to gin. A bottle can list botanicals and production details, but those words do not always mean much until someone explains how they affect the drink. The distillery setting gives the guide a natural way to discuss the craft and connect it to what you taste later.

You should not expect a large industrial operation. The tour focuses on small-batch gin, and that is part of its appeal. The atmosphere is more personal and close-up. With a maximum of 12 people, you can stay near the guide and ask about the process, the gins, or the distillery’s story.

That small capacity also has a practical benefit. A group of 12 is large enough to feel social but small enough for the tasting to remain manageable. If you dislike crowded tastings or noisy group tours, this format should feel more comfortable than a large commercial visit.

The four-gin tasting, explained rather than rushed

The tasting is not an afterthought. It is a tutored session of Pickering’s four core gins, held around the stills. That setting keeps the tasting connected to the production story instead of treating it as a separate bar stop.

A guide such as Max or Marina can help you compare the pours and understand what you are tasting. The supplied information does not specify the exact serving order, garnish, or cocktail pairings for this particular one-hour tour, so you should not book it expecting a fixed cocktail menu. The clear promise is a guided tasting of the core range.

This format works well for mixed groups. A committed gin fan gets four examples to compare, while someone who is still deciding what they like gets a structured introduction. One person who initially disliked gin came away enjoying both the educational side and the flavors, which suggests the tasting is not aimed only at established enthusiasts.

If you already know Pickering’s range, the value is different. You may appreciate the chance to taste the four core gins side by side and ask questions directly at the distillery. If you are new to the brand, the session gives you a more informed basis for deciding which style suits you.

The pace is worth noting. Since the whole visit lasts about an hour, the tasting will be focused rather than leisurely. You will have time to sample and discuss the gins, but this is not a long spirits seminar.

A small bottle and a useful souvenir

Waxing the 5cl bottle is the detail that makes this tour more memorable. It gives you a small task to finish the visit and creates a keepsake with a clear link to the distillery.

The bottle is miniature, so do not think of it as a major supply of gin. Its value is as a compact souvenir, gift, or reminder of your Edinburgh visit. The fact that you finish it yourself makes it feel more personal than buying a sealed bottle from a shop.

This is also one reason the tour suits couples and friends. You share the tasting, then each person can leave with a finished bottle. The activity is light and uncomplicated, with no need for specialist skills.

The description confirms that the bottle is 5cl and that you take it home. It does not give a choice of spirit, label, or wax color, so those details should not be assumed. What you can count on is the chance to personalize the bottle through the waxing step.

The guides make the difference

The tour depends heavily on the person leading it, and the named guides come across as one of its strongest features. Max is described as charming, funny, and clear when explaining both the gin’s story and its production. Marina is noted for her friendly manner, humor, and ability to make the tasting enjoyable.

Alyssa is also associated with a warm welcome and strong explanations of Pickering’s story. The guides appear comfortable handling questions, which matters in a small group where the conversation can shape the visit.

I would value that more than a polished script. Gin production can become dry if it is presented as a list of ingredients and dates. A guide who can explain the process while keeping the group involved makes the hour pass quickly and helps the details stick.

You should still allow for some variation. Different guides may emphasize different parts of the story, and the tour’s tone can change from one departure to another. The consistent advantage is the small group, which gives any guide room to respond to the people in front of them.

Is $34.28 a fair price?

At $34.28 per person, this is not the cheapest drink stop in Edinburgh. You are paying for more than four tastes, though. The price includes entry to the distillery, the guided explanation of production, the tasting, and the 5cl bottle you finish and take away.

I think the value is strongest if you want an activity rather than a simple drink. The unusual Summerhall setting, access to the distillery area, named stills, and hands-on bottle finishing give the hour several layers. You are learning, tasting, and making something.

The value is weaker if you only want to sample gin. A bar or shop may give you a simpler way to drink Pickering’s, though without the production context or personalized bottle. Likewise, if you are expecting several hours of cocktails, food, or an extensive workshop, this one-hour format may feel brief for the price.

For a visitor who enjoys spirits and wants a tidy Edinburgh activity, the cost is reasonable. The small group also helps justify it. You are not paying for a mass tour where the guide is far away and the tasting feels hurried by crowd control.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the tour to:

• Gin fans who want to understand how Pickering’s range is made
• Couples looking for a shared activity with a take-home souvenir
• Visitors who prefer small groups to large scheduled tours
• People who enjoy historic or unusual buildings
• Curious drinkers who are not yet sure they like gin
• Edinburgh residents looking for a short local outing

It is also a good choice for a birthday treat or a gift. The bottle-waxing step gives the visit a small celebratory quality, while the compact length keeps it from taking over your whole day.

You should think twice if you do not drink alcohol. The minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages is 18. Under-18 participants receive a soft drink instead, so younger people can attend under that arrangement, but they will not take part in the alcohol tasting.

This is not the best match for someone wanting a broad Scottish spirits tour. The focus is Pickering’s gin, its distillery, and its four core gins. That narrow focus is a strength if the brand interests you, but a limitation if you want whisky, local food, or several producers in one outing.

Timing, meeting point, and cancellation details

You meet at 1 Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1PL, and return there at the end. The venue is near public transportation, which makes it practical to reach without arranging a private transfer.

The visit is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives when you book. Since the group is capped at 12, booking ahead is sensible, particularly because the activity is booked on average nine days in advance.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses local Edinburgh time.

The tour also requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels because that minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

Should you book Pickering’s Gin Jolly?

Book it if you want a compact, personal gin experience with a real distillery setting, four guided tastes, and a bottle you finish yourself. The small group and engaging guides are important advantages, especially if you like asking questions or dislike crowded tours.

Skip it if your main goal is a long cocktail class, a full meal, or a broad survey of Scottish spirits. The one-hour schedule is focused and efficient, not expansive.

For most gin-curious visitors in Edinburgh, I think the combination works well: a former Veterinary College, two named stills, a clear introduction to four gins, and a handmade souvenir. It is a modest-sized activity, but it gives you several good reasons to remember it.

FAQ

Where does the Pickering’s Gin Jolly tour begin?

The tour begins at 1 Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1PL, UK. It also ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 12 participants.

How many gins are included in the tasting?

You receive a tutored tasting of Pickering’s four core-range gins.

Can under-18s take part?

The minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages is 18. Under-18 participants receive a soft drink instead.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.