Edinburgh's 'best whisky tastings' named including cosy pubs and distilleries

The top whisky tastings and tours in Edinburgh for 2025 have been crowned.

The "best whisky tastings" in Edinburgh have been crowned.

Scotland is renowned worldwide for its whisky, with famous distilleries located in every part of the country. Even if you are unable to make the journey to famous whisky destinations such as Campbeltown and the island of Islay, you can still take part in tasting experiences closer to home.

Earlier this week, Craft Cask published a list of the "best whisky tastings in Edinburgh to try" in 2025. The whisky experts included both bars and distilleries in their city-wide roundup.

Topping Craft Cask's list as the number one bar for whisky tastings in Edinburgh is the SCOTCH Whisky Bar. Situated within the luxury The Balmoral Hotel, the bar was praised by the experts for "blending elegance with a rich whisky experience".

The SCOTCH Whisky Bar is home to a wide selection of more than 500 unique varieties of Scottish whisky. The cosy venue features hand-crafted oak-panelled whisky cabinets and comfortable sofas.

Among the tasting experiences offered by the bar are 'A Journey Around Scotland' and 'Rare and Ghosted'. The former includes one dram from each of Scotland's main whisky regions, while Rare and Ghosted features a selection of limited and rare releases.

Meanwhile, in second place on Craft Cask's list of the best Edinburgh bars for whisky tastings is The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Describing itself as "Edinburgh's premier whisky bar and member's rooms", the venue is housed within an upscale Georgian townhouse.

The third-best bar in Edinburgh for whisky tastings, according to Craft Cask, is Johnnie Walker Princes Street. The modern whisky attraction offers a wide range of experiences, including a tasting in its Explorers' Bothy Bar that features a curated selection of five whiskies.

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In fourth place is The Bar at The Canny Man's, which is a historic pub in Edinburgh's Morningside neighbourhood that dates back to 1871. Home to more than 250 whiskies, the bar serves up curated flights of whisky that provide a "wonderful introduction to Scottish malt whisky and the enormous differences between the distilleries and regions".

Rounding out the top five bars in Edinburgh for whisky tastings is The Devil's Advocate, nestled in the city's Old Town. With an eclectic selection of around 300 whiskies, visitors can enjoy either curated whisky flights or 'Whisky Dinners' that include special food pairings.

Other bars featured on the roundup include the Whiski Bar and Restaurant, The Bow Bar, and The Lost Close. Completing the list of 10 are the multi-award winning Whiski Rooms and the cosy 17th-century pub The Ensign Ewart, placing ninth and 10th respectively.

Meanwhile, Craft Cask named Holyrood Distillery as the top distillery offering whisky tastings in Edinburgh. The whisky and gin distillery, which dates back to 2019, offers visitors a unique insight into how the two spirits are made.

As well as tours, Holyrood Distillery hosts tastings geared to all levels of knowledge and interest. The one-hour experience includes a Distillery-exclusive whisky that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Elsewhere, the Port of Leith Distillery places second on Craft Cask's roundup of the top distilleries for whisky tastings. Situated on Edinburgh's waterfront, the Port of Leith Distillery offers a 90-minute tour where visitors can "taste your way through an extensive selection of samples".

Coming in at number three on the list is the Glenkinchie Distillery, located just outside of Edinburgh in Tranent. The distillery offers whisky tastings specially geared towards beginners, where visitors can familiarise themselves with the character and flavour of expert blends and malts.

See below for the full list of the "best whisky tastings" in Edinburgh. More information about each one can be found on the Craft Cask website.

Best whisky tastings in Edinburgh at bars

1. SCOTCH Whisky Bar at The Balmoral Hotel
2. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
3. Johnnie Walker Princes Street
4. The Bar at The Canny Man's
5. The Devil's Advocate
6. Whiski Bar and Restaurant
7. The Bow Bar
8. The Lost Close: An Immersive Whisky Experience
9. Whiski Rooms: A Classic Whisky Bar and Tasting Venue
10. The Ensign Ewart

Best whisky tastings in Edinburgh at distilleries

1. Holyrood Distillery
2. Port of Leith Distillery
3. Glenkinchie Distillery