Edinburgh Gin Distillery and Visitor Centre: Tours & Tastings

At The Arches on Market Street

As the Christmas lights come on and overpriced bratwurst stands populate Princes Street Gardens, thoughts turn to festive get-togethers, and Edinburgh Gin’s distillery and visitor centre on Market Street could be a great destination for work dos or a friends’ night out.

Edinburgh Gin launched in 2010, one of the first to take advantage of a change in the law that allowed smaller stills and led to the birth of the craft gin industry. The brand has been one of the most successful smaller distilleries, now widely recognised throughout the UK and further afield. It was sold in 2016 to Ian Macleod Distillers, but maintains its original ethos; Finlay Nicol, son of the founders, Alex and Jane Nicol, has worked as Distillery Manager since the takeover.

The distillery is celebrating one year in its new purpose-built location on Market Street, a building that looks striking with its modern glass frontage yet celebrates historical features like the 19th century arches at its heart.

It is bright and bustling as we arrive on a dark, cold November evening. We are there for a classic tour and tasting and are, fittingly, greeted with a G &T featuring Edinburgh’s flagship dry gin. The welcome drink sets the tone for a friendly and informative tour. Our guide Lucy is clearly passionate and highly knowledgeable about all things gin, providing a thorough introduction to the botanicals that make the

drink and the distillery process, with many fascinating anecdotes along the way. We are kept fuelled with a shot of the brand’s iconic Rhubarb & Ginger liqueur while we introduced to the stills Annie and Lina, appropriately named after the first female gardeners at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden.

The tasting follows, with a samples of Edinburgh’s Christmas Gin, Rooftop Garden Gin (commemorating a year in the new location) and Old Tom, providing a great foundation to the range of profiles produced by the distillery and an understanding of how different mixers can complement the range of spirits on offer. The company is famous for its seasonal varieties and we also sample one of two special editions,

Mulled Gin and Black Forest Gateau Liqueur, ideal tipples to sip post Christmas lunch.

The distillery is heavily leaning into the festive spirit in Edinburgh this year with Seasonal Special drinks in the bar like a ‘Die Hard Martini’ featuring Christmas and Rooftop Garden

gin, and ‘Clove Actually Mulled Wine’ with Mulled Gin Liqueur. The venue is also offering various special events in December, including an Edinburgh Gin Botanical Wreath Workshop and a Gin & Mellis’ Cheese Pairing experience.

With multiple awards under its belt, including Gin Tourist Destination of the Year from the Scottish Gin Awards, Edinburgh Gin at the Arches offers the perfect escape from the madness of the Christmas markets to celebrate the season.

The Edinburgh Gin Distillery - The Arches (Arch 16), East Market Street. EH8 8FS -0131 202 4555

https://www.edinburghgin.com

Bar opening hours: Sunday -Thursday 11:00am - 8:00pm,

Friday - Saturday 11:00am - Midnight