Traveler reviews
Choose your package
Select an option to see its live dates and timings.
Highlights
- Explore the Old Town’s seedy underbelly with an expert English-speaking guide, uncovering tales of 15th-century bootleggers, smugglers, and whisky-making pioneers.
- Descend into the candlelit Megget’s Cellar for a sensory tasting session held deep within Edinburgh’s atmospheric underground vaults.
- Savour four premium Scottish whiskies from Speyside, Highland, Islay, and Lowland distilleries under the expert guidance of a dedicated whisky specialist.
- Go beyond the glass to learn how peat, barley, and oak casks create "the water of life," while using TourTalk devices to hear every word of the history.
- Take home an authentic souvenir Glencairn whisky tasting glass to commemorate your 2-hour journey into the world of connoisseurship.
Your Experience
Take a sensory journey through Edinburgh’s Old Town and Scotland’s whisky heritage, ending with a guided tasting of four regional whiskies in an exclusive candlelit underground vault.
Getting started
Meet your guide near the Royal Mile, where your ticket will be checked and audio devices handed out. From there, set off through Edinburgh’s historic streets to uncover the stories behind Scotland’s national drink.
What to expect
Trace the history of Scotland’s “water of life” through the streets where whisky production, trade, and innovation helped shape Edinburgh’s identity. As you wander through the Old Town’s wynds and closes, you'll hear stories of royal patrons, pioneering whisky makers, smugglers, and bootleggers before heading underground for an expert-led tasting session in a candlelit cellar.
Features
-
Whisky history walking tour: Learn how Edinburgh became a key centre of whisky production and distribution through stories of merchants, smugglers, bootleggers, and industry pioneers.
-
From King James IV to whisky pioneers: Discover how King James IV's belief in whisky’s medicinal qualities helped establish early production, and hear about influential figures such as George Ballantine and Andrew Usher Jr.
-
Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town: Walk through the historic wynds, closes, and streets where many of Scotland’s most important whisky stories unfolded.
-
Candlelit underground tasting: Continue into Megget’s Cellar, an atmospheric underground vault where whisky history and tasting come together in an intimate setting.
-
Guided tasting of four regional whiskies: Sample whiskies from Speyside, Highland, Islay, and Lowland distilleries while learning how ingredients such as water, barley, peat, and cask maturation influence flavour and character.
This experience combines Edinburgh’s history with Scotland’s most celebrated spirit, offering a deeper understanding of both. Alongside fascinating stories from the city's past, you'll learn how to nose, taste, and appreciate whisky under the guidance of a specialist, making it an ideal introduction for curious beginners and whisky enthusiasts alike.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- 2-hour guided walking tour and tasting experience
- Old Town guided walking tour
- Whisky tasting in the underground Megget’s Cellar
- English-speaking guide and whisky expert
- 4 Scottish whiskies from Speyside, Highland, Islay, and Lowland distilleries
- Souvenir Glencairn tasting glass
- TourTalk audio devices with curated Edinburgh sounds
- Transport to and from the meeting point
- Food
- Soft drinks or additional beverages
- Gratuities
This product offers multiple ticket options. Some items above (like transfers or fast-track access) may only apply to specific options — confirm what's included when you select yours.
Ticket Delivery
- Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
- Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.
- Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to the most common questions travelers ask before booking this experience.