Evolution of Gin and Underground Gin Tasting in Edinburgh | 1hr

The best part of this Edinburgh experience happens below street level. You meet at John’s Coffee House & Tavern on Parliament Square, then head underground into The Lost Close, a vaulted space that once served as Scotland’s first purpose-built bank, later became a prison, and was eventually sealed away.

I like the way the four tastings follow the evolution of gin, rather than simply lining up fashionable bottles. I also like the small group size, which gives you room to ask questions and talk through what you are drinking. The main caution is simple: this is a one-hour history lesson with gin, not a full distillery tour or a long evening of drinking.

Key points to know before booking

• Four gins, four stages of the story: Taste examples linked to aqua vitae, Dutch genever, older styles, and modern Scottish gin.
• The Lost Close is part of the attraction: Your tasting takes place in an underground vault with a past as a bank and prison.
• Small groups make the format personal: A maximum of 10 people leaves room for questions and conversation.
• Guides carry the experience: Sara, Sarah, and Dan have each been praised for humor, storytelling, and clear explanations.
• The tasting lasts about one hour: It fits neatly into a day of sightseeing, but it is not meant to replace a longer meal or distillery visit.
• You do not need to be a serious gin fan: The historical approach and varied samples make it accessible to curious beginners.

Why this is more than four glasses of gin

Many tastings are built around a product list. This one is built around a story. You move from the early use of distilled spirits to the forms of gin you see in Scotland today, with each sample helping explain a change in ingredients, technique, or taste.

The route begins with aqua vitae, the early distilled spirit associated with the beginnings of this tradition. From there, the story reaches Dutch genever and then the modern gin world, where botanicals and regional character shape the final drink.

That structure matters. If you are new to gin, you get a framework for understanding why one sample may taste herbal, another spicy, and another more floral or citrus-led. If you already know your favorite brands, you still get a useful explanation of how the spirit developed.

The tasting also covers distillation and the use of botanicals. You are not simply handed a glass and told to guess what you like. Your guide connects each drink to the larger story, then mixes it to suit your taste. The supplied details do not specify the exact mixer or pour for every gin, so expect the guide to adapt the serving rather than assume one fixed formula.

Meeting at Parliament Square and going below Edinburgh

The meeting point is John’s Coffee House & Tavern at 1a Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Your guide meets you upstairs before leading the group underground. This is useful to know because the experience does not begin at a separate street entrance to The Lost Close.

Parliament Square puts you in Edinburgh’s Old Town, close to St Giles’ Cathedral and the old passageways beneath the city. The underground setting is not a stage prop added around the tasting. The space itself is part of the lesson.

The Lost Close was once the first purpose-built bank in Scotland. It later served as a prison, then disappeared from everyday view for years before being uncovered during more recent work. The result is a place with vaulted rooms and a slightly rough-edged feel, far removed from a bright modern tasting room.

That setting gives the gin story a fitting backdrop. Gin has not always had a polished image. Its past includes humble, rough, and sometimes disreputable chapters, so a former bank vault and prison space feels more appropriate than a sleek cocktail bar.

The setting does have one practical limitation. Underground rooms can feel enclosed, and anyone who prefers open, airy venues should keep that in mind. The available information does not give specific details about stairs, seating, or temperature, so contact the provider before booking if those points matter to you.

The four-gin route, from aqua vitae to Scotland today

The first part of the tasting sets up the origins of distilled spirits. Aqua vitae provides the early reference point, helping you understand that gin did not appear fully formed. It grew from older ideas about distillation, flavoring, and medicinal or practical spirits.

You then move toward Dutch genever. This is an important step because genever helps explain the connection between earlier distilled drinks and later gin. Hearing the name in isolation is less useful than tasting a spirit within the sequence of development.

The later samples turn toward modern gin, including Scottish examples. Scotland is now strongly associated with craft gin, and the tasting uses that modern phase to show how producers work with botanicals and different flavor profiles.

The four samples are described as very different from one another. That variety is one of the strongest reasons to book. You are not likely to spend the hour tasting four near-identical London dry styles. Instead, the contrast helps you notice how ingredients and methods affect aroma, flavor, and finish.

Your guide also explains the origins of the individual gins. That detail helps turn each glass into evidence for the story. The tasting is therefore less about finding a single winner and more about understanding why gin can taste so different from one bottle to the next.

A useful tip is to approach the samples with curiosity rather than a fixed idea of what gin should taste like. One visitor who did not consider gin a favorite found that the historical sequence increased their appreciation of it. You may have a similar experience if you focus first on the differences between the drinks.

Guides who make the history work

This format depends heavily on the person leading it. Dry facts about distillation would not carry a one-hour session on their own. The best guides turn the material into a conversation, adding humor and local details about Edinburgh and the venue.

Sara has been praised for strong storytelling, warmth, and an easy way of bringing the past to life. Sarah is also named in several sessions, and Dan has been noted for explaining the origins of each sample with humor and clarity. The spelling varies in the available information, so you may want to ask who is leading your particular time slot if that matters to you.

The guide style appears to be interactive rather than formal. You can ask about the drinks, discuss what you are tasting, and learn about methods of distillation and the role of botanicals. The group cap of 10 supports that approach. In a large room with dozens of people, a question can feel like an interruption. Here, it is part of the point.

That small size also helps if you are unsure about gin. You can talk about what you prefer without needing expert vocabulary. A good guide can explain a flavor in plain terms and suggest how the drink has changed over time.

The only uncertainty is that the exact guide and presentation can vary. A memorable host adds a lot to this experience, while a quieter presentation may feel more like a lecture. The high overall rating of 4.9 from 59 ratings and recommendation rate of 98 percent suggest the hosting has been a major strength, but no scheduled experience can promise one particular personality.

What the one-hour timing means

At about one hour, this is a compact activity. I like that length for an arrival day, a pre-dinner stop, or a break between Old Town sights. It gives you a focused introduction without taking over half the afternoon.

The short format also keeps the tasting from becoming tiring. Four samples are enough to show contrast, while the guide still has time to explain the setting and the story. You finish with a clearer sense of gin without needing to commit to a long food-and-drink session.

The tradeoff is that you should not expect a slow, extensive tasting. There is no indication of a meal, a full production-floor visit, or a large number of pours. If you want to see stills, warehouses, or the complete process of making gin, a distillery visit would be a better match.

You also return to the meeting point at the end. That makes it easy to continue exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town or head to dinner nearby. The location is close to public transportation, though the activity itself takes place in the historic center.

Is the $37.29 price good value?

At $37.29 per person, the price is reasonable if you value the venue and the explanation as much as the alcohol. You are paying for four tastings, an English-speaking guide, access to an unusual underground space, and a structured account of gin’s development.

The value is strongest for someone who wants context. Four drinks at a bar might cost less or more depending on the pour, but a bar would not normally take you from aqua vitae to genever to modern Scottish gin while explaining distillation and botanicals.

The price is less compelling if you only want to sample a wide range of current Scottish labels. The focus is on evolution, so some of the choices are historical or selected for contrast rather than simply being the newest bottles on the market.

I would also think about your schedule. Because the session is short and the group is capped at 10, it works well as a planned stop. The fact that it is booked an average of 27 days ahead suggests that popular times can fill early, especially if you have only one or two days in Edinburgh.

Who will enjoy The Lost Close most

This experience fits gin fans, but you do not need to arrive as one. The history gives non-specialists something to follow, and the guide can help you compare the four samples without expecting technical knowledge.

It is a particularly good choice for:

• Couples who want a calm evening activity with a local setting
• Small groups looking for something beyond a standard pub visit
• Visitors interested in Edinburgh’s Old Town and unusual historic spaces
• Anyone who wants an introduction to Scottish gin
• People who enjoy storytelling as much as tasting
• First-day visitors looking for a one-hour activity that does not require a full afternoon

It may not suit you if you dislike gin, cannot drink alcohol, or want a hands-on production tour. The information provided does not describe nonalcoholic alternatives or a separate food pairing, so ask before booking if you need either.

Service animals are allowed. The venue is near public transportation, and mobile tickets are accepted. For access needs beyond that, check directly with The Lost Close before you reserve, since underground historic rooms can vary in their stairs and layout.

A practical way to plan the tasting

Arrive at John’s Coffee House & Tavern rather than trying to find The Lost Close on your own. The guide meets you upstairs and takes the group below, so the coffee house is the important starting point.

Leave a little breathing room before the start time. Construction or street changes around the Old Town can make a familiar square less obvious, and one session required the guide to meet the group outside to help with directions. The supplied meeting point remains John’s Coffee House & Tavern at 1a Parliament Square.

If you are visiting Edinburgh on a tight schedule, place this near other Old Town sights. It ends where it begins, so you can continue on foot or use nearby transport. The one-hour length also makes it easier to fit around a meal, though you should allow enough time afterward if you plan to linger over drinks elsewhere.

The cancellation policy is forgiving if your plans change early: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book this Edinburgh gin tasting?

I would book it if you want a story-led tasting in a truly unusual room. The combination of four contrasting gins, a former bank and prison space, and lively guides such as Sara, Sarah, and Dan gives the hour a clear identity.

I would skip it if you are searching for a full distillery visit, a large selection of contemporary bottles, or a long cocktail evening. For everyone else, the $37.29 cost buys more than four samples. It gives you a compact way to understand why gin developed as it did, while placing you in one of Edinburgh’s more curious underground spaces.

FAQ

Where does the gin tasting begin?

It begins at John’s Coffee House & Tavern, 1a Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK. Your guide meets you upstairs and leads the group underground.

Where does the activity finish?

The experience ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting lasts approximately one hour.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four different gins. They are mixed to suit your tastes and linked to the history being explained.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How large is the group?

The activity has a maximum of 10 participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.