Edinburgh: Gin Tasting at Underground Venue

Gin tastes better with a good story. This one pairs four very different gins with tonic, garnish, and a lively account of how the spirit changed from Jenever to London Dry. I especially like the underground setting beneath the Royal Mile and the freedom to mix each drink to your own taste. Guides such as Sarah, Nicky, Dan, and Sara are praised for making the history clear, funny, and easy to follow.

The one-hour format keeps the experience focused, but it also means you should not expect a full meal, a distillery visit, or a long cocktail class. You will taste four gins, not tour a production site. Also, the setting may not suit anyone who dislikes enclosed underground venues, and the activity is limited to people aged 18 and over.

Key points to know before booking

• The Lost Close sets the mood: You enter an atmospheric underground venue just behind St Giles Cathedral, with some seating described as an old jail cell.
• Four gins offer useful variety: The tasting covers different styles rather than giving you four near-identical pours.
• You make your own drinks: Tonic choices and garnishes let you build a stronger, lighter, sweeter, or more refreshing serve.
• The history is part of the attraction: The guide explains Jenever, Old Tom, Navy Strength, London Dry, and tonic water’s medicinal beginnings.
• The guides make or break the hour: Sarah receives repeated praise for her humor and storytelling, while Sara, Nicky, and Dan are also singled out for warm, polished hosting.
• The location is easy to reach: Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile on Parliament Square, behind St Giles Cathedral.

Why this Edinburgh gin tasting is more than four drinks

Edinburgh has no shortage of whisky tastings, pub tours, and historic rooms. This experience takes a different route. You spend an hour underground, following gin from its early roots to the versions found on modern bar shelves.

That approach gives the tasting a clear shape. You are not simply handed four glasses and asked which one you like best. You first learn why the gins differ, then taste them with different tonics and garnishes. By the end, you have a better idea of what suits your palate.

I like that the activity leaves the mixing to you. Some tastings serve every drink in one fixed style. Here, you can try a bolder combination, then make the next one lighter and more refreshing. That small amount of control makes the experience useful for anyone who wants to understand gin rather than simply consume it.

The price is $36 per person. For a one-hour activity, that is not a bargain in the same way as a casual pub drink. Still, the cost includes four gins, tonic, garnish, a live English-speaking guide, and entry to The Lost Close. If you value the venue and the storytelling, the price feels fair. If you only want to sample gin, you could likely spend less at a bar.

Finding The Lost Close behind St Giles Cathedral

The meeting point is outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern on Parliament Square. It is just off the Royal Mile and behind St Giles Cathedral, so the location is central and practical for an evening in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

You meet above ground, then head below street level with the guide. That transition is part of the fun. Edinburgh’s Old Town is known for its layered streets and tight historic spaces, and the route into The Lost Close gives the tasting a stronger sense of place than a standard room above a pub.

Give yourself enough time to locate John’s Coffee House & Tavern. The meeting instructions are straightforward, but the Royal Mile can be crowded, especially at busy times. You do not want to arrive breathless and already distracted before the first pour.

The venue is one of the main reasons to choose this activity. It supplies atmosphere without requiring a separate historic attraction ticket. One participant described sitting in an old jail cell while drinking gin, which captures the unusual character of the room. You might find the setting more memorable than the drinks themselves.

The tradeoff is that underground spaces are not for everyone. If you prefer bright, open tasting rooms, this may feel dark or close. Smoking indoors is not allowed.

The opening story: gin, Scotland, and an old underground room

Once everyone is gathered, the guide begins with the story of gin and its connection to Scotland. The tone is not a dry lecture. The strongest guide comments describe a mix of historical detail, jokes, theater, and amusing anecdotes.

Sarah is praised several times for keeping the group entertained while explaining both the venue and the development of gin. Sara is also described as an enthusiastic storyteller, and Nicky and Dan are praised for their warm and polished approach. Guide quality can vary from one session to another, but the repeated praise points to storytelling as a central part of the experience.

The history gives the tasting a useful framework. You follow gin’s development from Jenever, an early style, through Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry. These names can sound like bar jargon when you see them on a menu. Hearing how they fit into gin’s development makes the differences easier to remember.

You also hear about tonic water. Its early medicinal use helps explain why gin and tonic became such a familiar pair. The story turns a common order into something with a little more context, without asking you to memorize a long list of dates.

This opening section is valuable even if you already drink gin. You may know the major brands but still be unsure why one gin tastes herbal, another citrusy, and another more forceful. The guide’s job is to connect those impressions to the drink in your glass.

Four pours, four different ways to understand gin

The tasting includes four distinct gins. The exact brands are not specified, so you should think of the session as a guided comparison rather than a fixed brand showcase.

That variety matters. When four gins taste noticeably different, you can start sorting your preferences. Do you like a strong juniper character? Do you prefer citrus notes? Does a softer style work better with tonic? The tasting gives you a chance to ask those questions while the guide can still explain the answer.

The drinks are paired with a selection of tonics and garnishes. The guide explains suitable combinations and suggests ways to bring out particular flavors. You then make the drinks yourself.

I see this as one of the best parts of the activity. A tasting where every drink arrives pre-mixed tells you what the host prefers. This one lets you compare your own choices. You might begin with a stronger serve, then adjust the tonic for a lighter drink. A garnish can change the smell before you even take a sip.

The experience works well for people who think they dislike gin. You are not locked into one harsh or tonic-heavy drink. The four styles and different mixers may show you that your issue is with a particular style or ratio, not with gin as a whole.

It also suits regular gin drinkers. You may discover a style you have not tried, or find a better tonic pairing for a gin you already enjoy. The guided tasting is more useful than ordering four random gin and tonics and trying to compare them from memory.

Do not expect large pours or an evening of unrestricted drinking. The format is a tasting, and the emphasis is on learning the differences. That is a good thing for a one-hour activity, but anyone hoping for a long night out should treat this as a first stop rather than the entire evening.

The group atmosphere and guide-led storytelling

This experience appears to work best when you enjoy social activities. One small group was described as six people, creating a friendly room where conversation could develop. Group size can change, so you should not book on the assumption that every session will have exactly six participants.

The venue helps create a relaxed mood. You are sharing an unusual room, tasting several drinks, and hearing stories rather than sitting through a formal presentation. That setting makes it easy to compare impressions with the people around you.

The guides receive the strongest praise of all. Sarah is repeatedly described as funny, friendly, and able to make the history stick. One account notes that she stayed longer to answer questions. Another praises her ability to keep the group enthralled with details about the venue and gin through the centuries.

That matters because the subject can become technical. A less engaging host could turn the differences between Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry into a vocabulary lesson. A good storyteller gives those terms a place in the wider story, then connects them to what you are tasting.

The experience also seems suitable for couples and friends. Several people attended with a partner or a group of friends, and the activity was described as a fun evening option. You can learn something without committing to a full dinner or a long formal tour.

English is the tour language. If you are not comfortable following spoken English, the storytelling may be difficult to enjoy, since the guide’s explanations are central to the activity.

Is $36 good value for one hour?

At $36, this is a mid-priced Edinburgh experience. The cost covers four gin samples, tonic, garnish, expert guidance, and access to The Lost Close. You are paying for the setting and the interpretation as much as for the alcohol.

The value is strongest if you want three things at once: a historic Old Town location, a social activity, and a structured introduction to gin. The underground venue gives you something that a normal bar order cannot provide. The guide adds context, and the four pours give you enough comparison to learn your preferences.

The value is weaker if you are mainly looking for a generous drink. This is not a cocktail-making course, a distillery tour, or a full meal. The hour passes quickly, especially if the group asks questions or the guide extends the discussion.

I would treat it as an early-evening activity. It is close to the Royal Mile, and one person described it as a good way to start an evening in Edinburgh. Afterward, you can continue to dinner or another Old Town pub without having spent half a day on the activity.

The ability to cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund adds useful flexibility. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are arranging several Edinburgh activities before your schedule is fixed.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy drinks with a story. It suits first-time gin drinkers, people who want to understand the spirit better, and anyone looking for an unusual Old Town setting.

It is especially good for:

• Couples wanting a relaxed evening activity
• Friends who enjoy tasting experiences
• Gin drinkers curious about different styles
• Visitors who like history presented with humor
• People who want a short activity near the Royal Mile

You should think twice if you dislike gin, cannot drink alcohol, or prefer a practical cocktail lesson. The experience is about tasting and storytelling, not making a full range of bar drinks.

It is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 18, or babies under one year. Transportation is not included, but the central meeting point makes this easy to reach on foot if you are already exploring the Old Town.

Practical tips for a better visit

Arrive at John’s Coffee House & Tavern a little early. The meeting point is clear, but Parliament Square and the Royal Mile can be busy. You need to meet outside the tavern, not simply enter a random venue and wait inside.

Keep the full hour free. The activity is scheduled for one hour, although the guide may spend extra time answering questions. Do not book something immediately afterward if you want to stay for conversation.

Pay attention to the order of the gins and the suggested tonic pairings. The point is not just to decide which sample tastes best. Notice how the tonic changes the drink and how the garnish affects the aroma.

If you are sensitive to alcohol, pace yourself. Four samples in an hour can add up, even when the pours are tasting portions. The activity does not include transportation, so plan your route back to your accommodation or onward dinner in advance.

Finally, ask questions. The guides are praised for explaining the history in an approachable way, and Sarah in particular is noted for giving extra answers after the formal portion. A question about a style, tonic, or flavor can make the tasting more useful than simply following along.

Should you book the Lost Close gin tasting?

Yes, if you want a compact, social Edinburgh activity that combines four gin styles with a memorable setting. The strongest reasons to book are the underground Lost Close, the freedom to mix your own drinks, and the guides’ warm, entertaining storytelling.

I would not choose it as a substitute for a full distillery visit or a long cocktail workshop. But at $36, it offers a good blend of history, atmosphere, and tasting, especially for a first evening near the Royal Mile. Book it if you want to leave with both a favorite gin style and a better sense of why gin became such a complicated, celebrated drink.

FAQ

Where does the Edinburgh gin tasting meet?

The meeting point is outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile on Parliament Square, behind St Giles Cathedral.

How long does the gin tasting last?

The activity lasts one hour.

How many gins are included?

You will taste four different gins.

Are tonic and garnishes included?

Yes. The experience includes a variety of tonics and garnishes, and you mix the drinks to suit your taste.

Is the tasting held underground?

Yes. The activity takes place in The Lost Close, an underground venue reached from the meeting point.

What language is the tour in?

The live guide conducts the experience in English.

Who cannot join the activity?

The experience is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 18, or babies under one year. Smoking indoors is also not allowed.