Edinburgh: Gin Tasting at Underground Venue

Gin tasting in Edinburgh is common. Gin tasting in an underground close with a story that follows the spirit from early origins to London Dry is not. This 1-hour experience mixes four different gins with a guided walk through the evolution of gin, plus the history of tonic water and how it became a classic pairing.

Two things I really like about this format. First, you are not just drinking, you are learning the arc of gin as Scottish culture and production changed over time. Second, the mixing part is hands-on, you get guidance on flavor and pairings, then you build your own serve your way. The main drawback to consider is simple: because it is a tasting of multiple gins, you need to be comfortable drinking alcohol for the full hour.

Quick takeaways before you go

• Exclusive access to The Lost Close in Edinburgh, with a proper atmospheric underground setting
• Four very different gins paired with tonics and garnishes so you can compare styles clearly
• A guided story, not a lecture, covering gin’s evolution through named eras and styles
• Tonic water origins included, including how tonic started as medicinal use before becoming the mixer you know
• Your mixing, your preference, with suggested garnishes and you choosing the strength and balance
• Strong guide energy, with many bookings highlighting hosts like Sara and Sarah for keeping the group laughing and engaged

Meeting by St Giles, then heading underground to The Lost Close

Your experience starts in a very workable spot for Edinburgh sightseeing. You meet outside John’s Coffee House and Tavern, just off the Royal Mile, behind St Giles Cathedral on Parliament Square. From there, the group heads underground.

Why I like this start: it gives you a clean link to central Edinburgh. You can plan this before dinner, after you’ve walked the Royal Mile for an hour or two, and you won’t feel like you’re doing a complicated detour. Also, the meeting point is specific enough that once you spot it, you can follow the group without stress.

One practical consideration: because the tour moves underground, you should be ready for an indoor, enclosed space. That is also where the venue rules matter. Smoking indoors is not allowed, so if you are coming from pubs, plan on stepping outside before the tour begins.

The underground venue experience: atmosphere that makes the tasting feel special

The headline draw is The Lost Close, where you get exclusive access for your tasting. In plain terms, the setting helps the whole thing work better than a standard bar tasting. You are closer to the kind of hidden, old Edinburgh feel people come looking for, and it gives the guide’s storytelling an immediate sense of place.

From the way people describe their time, the vibe tends to be friendly and social. One booking notes a group of six having a real sense of bonhomie, and another calls out the room feeling like an old jail cell while you sip and listen. Even if that detail varies by arrangement, the point is consistent: the venue adds mood, and mood keeps you paying attention during a history-led experience.

One more reason this matters for your enjoyment: tasting events can feel stiff. Here, the atmosphere helps turn it into a shared experience, especially if your guide leans into humor and the pacing stays lively.

What you learn: the evolution of gin, from early origins to London Dry

This is more than, here are four pours, enjoy. Your guide leads you through gin’s journey and its connection to Scotland, moving through major stages like Jenever, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry.

You are also taught how tonic water fits into the story. The guide covers tonic’s early use for medicinal purposes, and then how it became gin’s perfect partner. That part is genuinely useful, because tonic is one of those things people casually assume is just a mixer. Here, it gets context, so when you taste different gins with different tonics, you understand what you are tasting and why it works.

How the teaching feels matters. Many guides are praised for being enthusiastic and entertaining, not just factual. People specifically mention hosts such as Sara and Sarah for storytelling that keeps everyone engaged. One booking even notes the guide stayed longer to answer questions, which tells me you will get room to ask follow-ups if you are curious.

Possible drawback: this is history plus tasting, so if you want purely technical spirits education, you might find it more like guided story plus flavor guidance. But if you want something fun that still teaches, this format hits the sweet spot.

The tasting format: four gins, tonics, and garnishes you actually use

The core of the experience is straightforward and well structured. You sample four different gins, each paired with a set of tonics and garnishes. The guide supports you with flavor-profile notes, ideal mixer pairings, and garnish suggestions.

Then comes the part that makes it feel personal: mixing is left up to you. The guide can point you in a direction, but you choose how strong or light your serve is. If you like bolder and stronger, you can build that. If you prefer something fresher and lighter, you can adjust.

That matters because gin tastings often go two ways. Either you get trapped following someone else’s recipe, or you get poured samples with no guidance and you end up guessing what you should notice. Here you get the best of both worlds: you are invited to make choices, but you are not left alone with your own instincts.

Also, the experience includes the essentials that can inflate costs if you buy them separately. Tonics and garnishes are part of the tasting, so you are not paying extra just to make the drinks taste like something.

How each gin style changes your drink, and what to pay attention to

You will be guided through multiple stages of gin’s evolution. Even without you memorizing dates or labels, the tasting itself becomes a listening exercise. As you move from one gin to the next, your guide helps you notice differences in how each one behaves with certain tonics.

Here’s what I recommend you focus on during the tasting, because it makes the hour feel longer in the best way:

• Start with your first reaction, then ask the guide what that reaction might relate to
• When you switch tonics, pay attention to how the same gin tastes different
• Try one serve stronger and one lighter, just to feel how balance changes
• Use the suggested garnish as a variable, not decoration. If the guide tells you it is there for a reason, test it that way

This approach turns the tasting into a mini experiment. You leave with clearer preferences, not just a memory of what was served.

And because the tour includes the story of tonic water and its medicinal roots, you can connect that meaning to what you taste. The guide is basically giving you the “why” behind the drink, then you get to see the effect.

The guide experience: live storytelling that people consistently praise

In reviews, the recurring theme is that the hosts are fun, energetic, and genuinely good at keeping the group with them. Names that come up include Sara and Sarah, and at least one booking calls out Nicky and Dan as friendly and professional.

What you should care about as a reader is this: a good gin guide does two jobs at once. They explain enough to give you context, and they keep the tasting moving so it never turns into a slow lecture. The highest praise here is that the guides did both, with humor and enthusiasm mentioned repeatedly.

One review also notes a guide staying longer to answer questions, which suggests the tone is open. If you are the type who likes to ask why something tastes a certain way, bring curiosity. This is the sort of tour where that pays off.

Timing, comfort, and who this suits best

This experience runs for about 1 hour. That is a realistic length for a tasting with history, and it means you can slot it into a day without your evening getting eaten up.

You should also plan around who it suits. It is not suitable for children under 18, babies under 1 year, or pregnant women. If any of those apply, skip it for that person.

What about people who do not drink much? The tour includes tasting four gins, so you should only book if you are comfortable participating in an alcohol tasting for the full session. If you are a light drinker, you might still enjoy it, but you will want to pick your mixes carefully from the start.

Comfort-wise, it is an indoor underground stop. Bring yourself ready for close quarters and pay attention to the indoor smoking rule. Past the first minute, your main comfort factor is simply whether you like guided group experiences in a small, atmospheric setting.

Price and value: $36 for four tastings plus guided context

At $36 per person, this is not a cheap pub pint situation. But it is also not just paying for booze.

You are paying for:

• Four tastings of different gins
• Tonics and garnishes included
• An expert guide leading the evolution of gin and the tonic story
• Exclusive access to The Lost Close

When you compare the cost to what it would take to recreate the same experience on your own, the value becomes clearer. If you tried to do it independently, you would still need multiple bottles or guided samples, plus mixers, plus a reason to understand the differences without guessing. Here, the guide does the work of making the comparisons meaningful.

If you love spirits, but you also want a fun Edinburgh night that feels local and a little theatrical, this price starts looking fair fast.

Practical tips so you get the most out of your hour

Because the mixing is in your hands, small choices change your results. Here are the simple moves I’d use if I wanted to maximize the experience:

• Ask the guide early what they recommend you compare. You are tasting in a sequence for a reason.
• Taste, then mix again. If you have control, give yourself the chance to correct course.
• Don’t overdo your first serve. You want enough palate left to notice the later gins.
• If you have questions about gin styles or tonic water, ask. Several hosts have been praised for handling questions, and one booking mentions a guide staying longer to answer.

Should you book the Underground gin tasting at The Lost Close?

Book it if you want an Edinburgh activity that is fun, social, and genuinely informative, without feeling like a stuffy museum tour. The combination of four distinct gins, included tonics and garnishes, and a guide story that tracks the evolution of gin through styles like Jenever, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry is a strong pairing.

Skip it if you do not drink alcohol or you hate guided group activities in enclosed spaces. Also skip it if it is not appropriate for anyone in your party based on the stated suitability limits.

If your main goal is a good time with a real sense of place, this is one of the better ways to do it in a short window. You will leave with new favorites, and you will know more about what you just drank than you would after a random bar stop.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

How long is the Edinburgh gin tasting?

The experience lasts 1 hour.

How many gins do you taste?

You taste four different gins during the tour.

What is included in the price?

Included are the tasting of 4 gins, an expert guide, tonics, garnish, and exclusive access to The Lost Close.

Is transportation included?

No, transportation is not included.

Is smoking allowed during the tour?

Smoking indoors is not allowed.

Is it suitable for children and babies?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18, and babies under 1 year. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.