Edinburgh: Gin Tasting at Underground Venue

Edinburgh’s gin story gets a fitting setting underground. At The Lost Close, near St Giles Cathedral, you’ll sit below the Royal Mile while a guide traces gin from Jenever through Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry. The old chambers give this one-hour tasting more character than a standard bar flight.

I especially like the make-your-own serves, since you choose the tonic and garnish for each gin, and the lively storytelling, which ties the drink to Scottish history and the old venue. The main drawback is the short running time: four pours and several centuries of gin history make for a brisk hour, and this is strictly an adult experience.

Key points at a glance

• Four very different gins: Compare styles and notice how botanicals, strength, and sweetness change from glass to glass.
• The Lost Close setting: Taste gin underground, with the unusual feel of an old Edinburgh close and former jail-cell atmosphere.
• Tonic is part of the lesson: Try different mixers and learn how tonic began as a medicinal drink before becoming gin’s natural partner.
• A guide-led history show: Sarah, Sara, Nicky, and Dan are among the guides praised for warmth, humor, and clear storytelling.
• A central meeting point: Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile behind St Giles Cathedral.
• A useful one-hour stop: At $36 per person, it fits neatly before dinner or as the first drink of an evening.

Entering The Lost Close behind St Giles Cathedral

The meeting point is outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern on Parliament Square, just behind St Giles Cathedral. That makes this an easy addition to a day spent around the Royal Mile. You do not need to arrange transport, and the central location works well before a meal or another evening activity.

From there, the group heads underground into The Lost Close. The venue is the real opening act. Instead of tasting in a bright modern distillery or hotel bar, you settle into one of Edinburgh’s old subterranean spaces. One person described the feel of sipping gin in an old jail cell, which gives you a good idea of the unusual mood.

The setting is not just decoration. It helps connect the drink to Edinburgh’s older, rougher streets and gives the hour a sense of place. You are learning about gin in a venue that feels tied to the city’s past, rather than hearing a general lecture that could happen anywhere.

The atmosphere also helps strangers settle in. The reviews describe small groups, including one group of six, and a friendly mood inside the close. That matters if you book alone or as a couple. The format is social, but it is not presented as a loud party.

Four gins, four different ways to taste

The tasting includes four gins selected to show how broad the category can be. You are not simply handed four similar glasses and told to pick a favorite. The point is to compare styles and learn what suits your palate.

Your guide explains the flavor profile of each pour, then suggests a tonic and garnish. You do the mixing yourself. That small detail makes the tasting more useful, since you can test the same spirit in a stronger serve or soften it with more tonic.

You might prefer a bold drink with the gin clearly in front, or you might like something lighter and more refreshing. The format lets you find out rather than relying on a bartender’s fixed recipe. By the fourth sample, you should have a better sense of which flavors and mixer combinations you enjoy.

The four gins are described as distinct, but specific brands are not provided in advance. That is worth noting if you are booking because you want to sample one particular Scottish distillery. This experience is built around comparison and explanation, not a brand-focused tasting.

You will also encounter different tonic waters and garnishes. Tonic changes the balance of a gin, sometimes bringing out citrus, spice, herbs, sweetness, or bitterness. The garnish is not merely decoration, since it can shift the aroma before you take a sip.

From Jenever to London Dry

The history section follows gin through several recognizable styles. You start with Jenever, the older spirit linked to gin’s early development, then move through Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry.

That sequence gives the tasting a simple structure. You are not expected to remember a long list of dates. Instead, each style helps show how gin changed in strength, production, sweetness, and public reputation.

Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry can sound like bar terms when you first hear them. In this setting, you taste the differences alongside the explanation. That makes the labels easier to understand when you later see them on a drinks menu.

The guide also explains how gin production works. The details are paired with the samples, so the subject stays practical. You learn not only what gin is called, but why two bottles can taste so different even though both belong to the same broad family.

The Scottish connection is another important part of the hour. This is not presented as a general world history of alcohol. The focus stays on how gin relates to Scotland and Edinburgh, which gives the tasting a stronger local reason for being here.

Tonic water has its own story

The tonic portion adds a useful twist. Tonic water began as a medicinal drink, then became the familiar companion to gin. That change helps explain why gin and tonic work so well together, instead of treating the pairing as an old rule nobody questions.

You will hear how tonic developed as your guide explains the mixer options. Then you can see the point in the glass. A tonic can make a gin brighter, sweeter, lighter, or more bitter, depending on the combination.

I like this part because it turns a familiar drink into something you can examine. Many people know gin and tonic as a standard order, but have never thought about how much the tonic controls the final taste. Here, you get a chance to adjust the balance yourself.

Do not expect a full meal or a long list of cocktails. The included items are four gin tastings, tonics, and garnish. Plan to eat separately, especially if this is the first stop of your evening.

The guide makes or breaks the hour

This experience depends heavily on the person leading it. Fortunately, the strongest praise centers on the guides’ storytelling, humor, and willingness to explain.

Sarah is named several times as an especially engaging host. She is described as funny, friendly, and strong on both the history of gin and the story of the venue. Sara is also praised for her enthusiasm and ability to keep a group involved. Nicky and Dan are described as welcoming and professional.

Guide assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one named person will lead your session. Still, the repeated pattern is clear: the tour is designed around a lively human guide rather than a recorded presentation.

One useful detail is that a guide stayed longer to answer questions after the planned material. That does not guarantee extra time on every date, but it shows the intended tone. You can ask about production, history, flavor, or the venue without feeling that the session must rush straight to the next line.

The humor matters, too. Several accounts describe the delivery as quirky, amusing, or theatrical. This is not a dry spirits class. You will learn, but the hour aims to entertain you at the same time.

A fast one-hour format with a clear rhythm

The stated duration is one hour. That is long enough for four tastings and the main history of gin, but not long enough for a slow evening of drinking and conversation.

A typical rhythm should feel something like this:

• Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern and enter the underground venue.
• Settle into The Lost Close while the guide introduces the space and the theme.
• Follow gin’s development from Jenever through later styles.
• Learn how tonic moved from medicinal use to a standard mixer.
• Taste four gins with suggested tonics and garnishes.
• Mix the serves to your own preference and ask questions along the way.

The exact order may vary, but the experience clearly joins the stories and samples rather than separating them into a lecture followed by drinks. That keeps the hour moving.

If you want a long, leisurely tasting with a large food pairing, this is not the right format. If you want a compact activity that fills a gap in your Edinburgh schedule, the timing is a strong point.

Is $36 a fair price?

At $36 per person, the value rests on three parts: four gin samples, the guided instruction, and access to The Lost Close. You are paying for more than the liquid in the glasses.

A basic gin flight in a bar might cost less, especially if you already know what you want to taste. This experience adds the setting and the explanation. The guide gives you a way to understand what you are drinking, and the venue gives the hour a connection to Edinburgh that a normal bar counter would not provide.

The ability to choose from different tonics and garnishes also adds value. You are not only tasting four pours. You are testing how each gin behaves when you change the mixer and finish.

The price is easier to justify for first-time gin tasters, couples looking for an evening activity, and people who enjoy history with their drinks. It is less compelling for a serious gin collector who wants rare bottles, distillery production access, or a brand-by-brand technical class. No specific brands or bottle list are supplied, so do not book expecting a specialist collector’s tasting.

The very strong overall rating, 4.9 from 84 reviews, fits the experience’s strengths: personable guides, an unusual room, and a clear balance between drinking and learning. I would still judge the value by your interests. If you want a short, atmospheric introduction, $36 is reasonable. If you want a full meal or several hours of drinking, look elsewhere.

Who should book this Edinburgh gin tasting?

This suits adults who like spirits but do not need a formal lecture. You can arrive with plenty of gin knowledge or none at all. The guide explains the basics, while the four different samples give more experienced drinkers something to compare.

It is also a good choice for a couple or a small group of friends. The group setting encourages conversation, and the underground room gives the activity a special feel without requiring a full evening commitment.

I would recommend it to:

• Adults seeking a central Edinburgh evening activity
• People interested in Scottish history and spirits
• Gin and tonic drinkers who want to understand mixer choices
• Couples looking for something beyond a standard pub visit
• Small groups who enjoy stories, tasting, and conversation
• Visitors with only one free hour before dinner

It is not suitable for children under 18, babies under one year, or pregnant women. Smoking is not allowed indoors. The tour is conducted in English, so you should be comfortable following a live English-speaking presentation.

Practical details before you go

The meeting point is outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, not inside The Lost Close. Look for the location just off the Royal Mile, behind St Giles Cathedral on Parliament Square. Arrive with enough time to find the meeting point, since the group heads underground from there.

Transportation is not included, but the central location means you arrange your own way to Parliament Square. The activity lasts one hour, and starting times vary, so check the available slots when you book.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still fitting several Edinburgh plans together.

Wear what you are comfortable in for an old underground venue. The supplied information does not specify accessibility details, so contact the provider directly if you need particular information about entry or movement inside The Lost Close.

My verdict: book it for the setting and the stories

I would book this tour if you want gin tasting with a strong sense of place. The Lost Close gives the hour its unusual character, while the four gins and tonic choices make the activity more hands-on than a simple talk.

Book it especially if you enjoy a guide who can tell a story, make you laugh, and still explain the subject clearly. Sarah, Sara, Nicky, and Dan are all praised for that mix of warmth and expertise, though the guide for your date may be different.

Skip it if you want a long spirits course, a full meal, or guaranteed access to particular gin brands. For everyone else, $36 buys a compact, social Edinburgh experience that gives you both a drink in your hand and a better idea of what is in the glass.

FAQ

Where does the Edinburgh gin tasting meet?

Meet outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern on Parliament Square, just off the Royal Mile and behind St Giles Cathedral. The group heads underground from there.

How long does the gin tasting last?

The activity lasts one hour.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four different gins.

Are tonics and garnishes included?

Yes. The experience includes tonics and garnishes, and you mix the gins to suit your own taste.

Is the tasting held underground?

Yes. The experience takes place in The Lost Close, an underground venue near the Royal Mile.

What will the guide explain?

The guide covers the evolution of gin, its connection to Scottish history, gin production, the history of tonic water, and styles including Jenever, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included, so you must make your own way to the meeting point.

Is the activity suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for anyone under 18. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or babies under one year.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.