If “Whisky is liquid sunshine,” as George Bernard Shaw claimed, then Edinburgh has more sunny days a year than any tropical island. The making of whisky is a vital, fascinating, and extremely enjoyable part of the history and culture of the city, and indeed of all of Scotland. Enjoying a dram of whisky is thus an essential part of any trip to Auld Reekie (Old Smoky) as the city is fondly called by some. Indeed, enjoying whisky might not be part of a trip but the entire trip, as tours and attractions that focus on the distilled elixir abound.
The Scotch Whisky Experience is an excellent place to start any whisky vacation. The experience gives you the opportunity to learn about the history of whisky from the ancient Celtic origins of distilling through the time when taxes led to a proliferation of illegal distilleries and into the modern age. The tour includes a barrel ride in which you become part of the distilling process and allows you to get a peek at the world’s largest Scotch Whisky collection.
Of course the best part of any whisky experience, whether undertaken on your own or as part of a tour, is the art of tasting. While any pub or bar will serve you a dram, the Scotch Whisky Embassies huddled around Princes Street Gardens are particularly fine establishments that have a broad range of single malts and blended whisky, rare bottlings, and expert staff to help nudge you in the right direction. The many Princes Street hotels Edinburgh hosts will keep you well located to visit as many of the whisky bars as possible, as each has its own character to enjoy. If you choose a luxury hotel Edinburgh can offer an even better whisky experience, as the hotel bars can give you a nightcap prior to turning in. Remember, whisky is tasted with the nose as much as the tongue so breathe it in deeply and enjoy the sunshine.
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