Whisky · GIN DISTILLERY TOURS IN SCOTLAND
Good gin distillery tours in Scotland fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend one hour touring Holyrood Distillery near the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace. Guides such as Courtney, Dave, Neil, and Thais explain Edinburgh’s brewing past, experimental gin-making, and single malt production. You’ll taste gin, whisky, and a seasonal welcome cocktail, with an optional single-cask dram at the bar.
“Diego's knowledge about whiskey and gin was very good”
Spend about an hour inside Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery, where a guide such as Brice, Diego, Courtney, or Chris explains the making of gin and single malt whisky. You’ll see a young, experimental operation, sample several drinks, and finish near the tasting bar and shop. The experience is in English and groups are limited to 22.
“Great tour especially if you don't have a lot of time to explore outside of Edinburgh. I learned a lot about gin and the flavor was great.”
At 56 North, guides such as James, Abi, Gary, and Neil lead you through South Loch Gin’s story, production methods, botanicals, and copper stills. You’ll receive a gin and tonic, three guided samples, and a final cocktail, with time afterward to explore Scotland’s oldest dedicated gin bar.
“A must do for all gin lovers, guide was excellent and the drinks matched !”
At 56 North in Edinburgh, your gin host explains the journey from botanical to bottle beside the working stills. You receive a welcome G&T, three South Loch Gin tastings with premium mixers, and a final gin cocktail topped with bubbly. Hosts such as Neil and Hamish bring humor and clear explanations to this small-group, adults-only visit.
“This is such a gem and a must for your next trip to Edinburgh. Nestled a short walk from the Royal Mile and the University of Edinburgh is this bar that has over 100+ gins by the glass, and when you book the Gin tour, you’ll descend into the basement where the tour begins. Host was super friendly and on hand to make your experience as informative and fun as possible. Great value for money considering you got 2x G&Ts and wee tasters of each Gin neat! Great for groups - we were a stag do of 8, and had no issue whatsoever.”
Spend about 75 minutes at Lind & Lime’s Leith distillery with guides such as Annabel, Adeline, Isobel, Olivia, or Erin. Learn how London Dry gin is made, taste the botanicals, enjoy a double gin and tonic, bottle your own miniature, then make and drink a Gimlet. The tour runs in English for up to 20 people.
Spend one hour at Pickering’s Gin Distillery in Summerhall with guides such as Jamie, Max, Alyssa, or Emma. Start with a gin and tonic, see the distilling room and stills Gertrude and Emily, then taste four gins and take home a 5cl miniature. The tour is for ages 18 and over and involves standing.
“Great fun! We learned so much. It was impressive to see that this small shop does such a big business.”
Spend 75 minutes at Edinburgh Gin Distillery in the Old Town, learning how botanicals shape each spirit and how gin is made. Your English-speaking guide leads you through the Flavour Arch and Stillhouse before a tasting of several gins and liqueurs with mixers and garnishes. Finish with a drink in the Distillery Bar. Adults only.
“Sam was a great guide. Many thanks for all your insights. We had a great time 🤩”
Spend 75 minutes touring Shakespeare Distillery in Stratford-upon-Avon with an English-speaking guide. See small-batch gin and rum made, bottled, labelled, and sealed by hand, then taste three spirits and enjoy gin and tonic or rum with a mixer. Guides such as Sharon and Dave add history, humor, and practical detail.
“I was away with family and we loved the tour! The guides were informative and very engaging, clearly knowledgable and it was a lot of fun. The tastings were great, the gin and rum were delicious! It’s a great distillery tour and I’d recommend to anyone as something fun to do in Stratford! Thanks, we had great fun!”
Spend two hours at Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill with an English-speaking guide. Make a complimentary gin and tonic at the Turbine Bar, explore the ten botanicals in the Glasshouses, test aromas in the Botanical Dry Room, and learn how vapor infusion shapes the gin. Small groups are limited to six.
“Our guide was very informative and easy to understand She obviously has an excellent knowledge of the site and the workings of the distillery”
Spend 90 minutes inside Lind & Lime’s working Edinburgh distillery. Your English-speaking guide explains Leith’s gin story, the botanicals and still, then helps you bottle a mini-gin and make a Gimlet. Guides including Asha, Erin, Stuart, Neil, and Georgia have led lively sessions. A port and sherry tasting follows in the shop.
“My sister and I loved this tour! Our guide Erin was fabulous - knowledgeable, fun, and very informative. It was very cool to learn about the gin making process and see the machinery, learn about the history of gin and the company itself, and taste a few along the way ;). The gin itself is delicious and we left the shop quite pleased with ourselves. The neighborhood of Leith is also worth checking out. Highly recommend!”
Spend about three and a half hours at Edinburgh Gin Distillery choosing botanicals, running a small copper still, tasting gin with local cheese and charcuterie, and bottling your own 70cl recipe. Guides such as Gregor, Colette, Andre, Alice, and Blair have led sessions, with plenty of practical advice on botanicals, tonic, citrus, and balance.
At Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh’s former Veterinary College, a guide such as Max or Marina explains how Pickering’s small-batch gin is made around the Emily and Gertrude stills. You’ll taste four core gins, then wax your own 5cl bottle to take home. The one-hour tour is limited to 12 people.
Spend 90 minutes at Locksley Distilling Co. in Sheffield’s historic Portland Works. Your English-speaking guide, such as Jake, Danny, or Elliot, explains the distillery’s story, production methods, and botanical choices before leading a tasting of the core range and serving a Locksley G&T. Bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes.
“It was brilliant.. Jake was so passionate about this product”
Travel privately from Inverness with guides such as Niall, Neil, or Donald, tailoring a half-day route through Loch Ness, Beauly, Culloden, Clava Cairns, and local distilleries. Expect Highland history, farm-shop stops, whisky and gin tastings, flexible pacing, and pickup from your accommodation or another agreed point.
“Niall was an outstanding guide taking us through various areas of the highlands. His family have been of the highlands for over 300 years and who better to spend time with to learn the rich history. The battlefield sight at Culledon is moving and should not be missed and Niall is the person to see it with. Loved the scotch and gin distilleries and enjoyed the lovely town of Bealy. You can also customize your tour. This experience was outstanding!”
Meet the head distiller at Aberdeen’s City Distillery for a one-hour tour through a historic railway arch. You’ll enjoy a double G&T, see the production area, learn how to build gin from more than 100 botanicals, sample at least three local gins, and leave with a goodie bag and 5cl miniature.
“This experience was SO entertaining and informative! Honestly, my only regret was that I didn't book the longer "school experience" because I didn't want it to end. Both hosts were hilarious, but also clearly passionate about their work and it was really fun to learn about it. All the gins we tasted were fantastic.”
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