Distill a Bottle of Rum on mini copper stills

The best part of this Edinburgh outing is that you do not simply taste rum, you make a bottle of your own. In a cosy room beneath the Cumberland Bar, you choose up to 10 fruits, herbs, and spices, then run your recipe through a personal mini copper still.

I like the tiny group size, currently capped at three people, because it gives you room to ask basic questions and get hands-on help. I also like the full keepsake: your 500ml rum is measured, bottled, labelled, named, and finished with a wax seal. The main consideration is the price, $123.40 per person, which is a serious spend for an afternoon activity, especially if you are not especially interested in rum.

Key points to know before you book

• You make a personal 500ml bottle: Choose your own combination of botanicals and take the finished rum home.
• Your still is your own: Each person uses an individual mini copper still rather than watching a large-scale demonstration.
• The class takes about three hours: It includes a welcome drink, three rum samples, a cocktail, distillation, tasting, and bottling.
• The group is very small: The current tour information lists a maximum of three people, making this more personal than a large tasting.
• Gary and Neil may host the class: Both are described as friendly, engaging, and able to explain the process clearly.
• You meet at a central pub: Start at The Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street, then finish at the same meeting point.

Making rum in a cosy Edinburgh room

Sip Antics runs this class from a bespoke micro-distillery room connected with The Cumberland Bar at 1-3 Cumberland Street. That setting matters. You are not being marched through a factory or placed in a formal classroom. Instead, the activity takes place in a small, relaxed room beneath a traditional Edinburgh pub.

You begin at noon with a rum and mixer. This gives you time to settle in before the practical work starts. The host explains the plan, introduces the equipment, and sets out what you will do during the next three hours.

The compact format is one of the strongest parts of the class. With no more than three people in the current arrangement, you can ask questions without feeling that you are interrupting. That also helps if you are new to distilling. The class is built for curious beginners, not only for people who already know their agricole from their molasses-based rum.

The room has a friendly, informal feel. Gary is one of the hosts, and Neil also leads sessions. Both are described as easy to talk to, funny, and generous with their explanations. That last point is useful because rum-making raises plenty of small questions: Why does one spice work with citrus? How much fruit is too much? What happens when two strong aromas compete?

Three samples before you choose your recipe

The tasting begins with three different rum samples. This is more than a warm-up with alcohol. It gives you a practical way to think about flavour before you begin designing your own bottle.

You can compare the character of each sample and notice which styles appeal to you. Perhaps you prefer warm spices, fresh fruit, or herbal notes. The class then moves from tasting to smelling, with a broad range of ingredients available for inspection.

This is where the activity becomes personal. You are not choosing from one fixed recipe. You build a blend from the available fruits, herbs, and spices, selecting up to 10 botanicals. The limit is helpful. Ten ingredients sounds generous, but it also forces you to think about balance rather than simply adding everything that smells good.

I would take a moment at this stage. Smell each ingredient more than once, and consider how it might taste with rum rather than on its own. A sharp citrus note may need a warm spice beside it. A sweet fruit may need a drier herbal edge. Gary is said to have a fine nose for combinations, so this is a good time to ask for guidance rather than guessing at every decision.

The class also works well for a shared occasion. Two friends can compare their choices and create very different bottles. One group made a Christmas rum, while other participants made a Christmas gin during a related session. That kind of seasonal recipe can turn the bottle into a personal gift, though you can also make something suited to your own taste.

Your mini copper still does the real work

Once you have selected your botanicals, you use an individual mini copper still. This is the hands-on centre of the afternoon. You are not merely watching a guide pour liquid into a bottle. You take part in the process and see how your selected ingredients become a finished spirit.

The copper still gives the class a proper distilling feel on a small scale. The equipment is compact, but the idea is the same: your chosen ingredients are processed to create a rum with its own flavour profile.

The host guides you through the steps and explains what is happening. That support is important because distilling can sound complicated if you have never encountered it before. The aim is not to turn you into a professional distiller in one afternoon. It is to show you the basic process in a clear, practical way.

There is also time to relax while the rum is distilling. You enjoy a cocktail during this stage, which prevents the class from becoming a long period of standing around watching equipment. The drinks are part of the rhythm of the afternoon: taste, choose, distill, chat, and sample again.

The activity is boozy, so pace yourself. You receive a welcome rum and mixer, taste three samples, enjoy a cocktail, and later taste your own spirit. That is a fair amount over three hours. The class is designed as a social drinking experience, not as a dry technical workshop.

Tasting and finishing your own bottle

When your rum has finished distilling, you taste it before bottling. This is a satisfying step because you can connect the finished flavour with the ingredients you selected earlier.

The host measures the spirit for proof, then helps you prepare the final bottle. You bottle 500ml, or 50cl, of your own rum. You can name it, label it, and finish it with a wax seal.

That presentation makes the bottle feel more substantial than a standard souvenir. You leave with something you made rather than a bottle chosen from a shop shelf. It is also a useful gift idea for someone who enjoys rum, cocktails, or unusual Edinburgh activities.

You may want to let the bottle sit for a few weeks before opening it. Several people chose to wait before sharing their rum with family. The supplied details do not set a required ageing period, so treat that as a personal preference rather than a formal part of the class.

Do not expect a polished commercial rum with a fixed flavour profile. The pleasure is in the individual result. Your bottle reflects the choices you made, and that means it may be more experimental than something from a distillery tasting room.

How the three-hour schedule feels

The 12:00 pm start makes this an afternoon activity. You begin with the welcome drink and introduction, move into tasting and recipe design, then distill, enjoy a cocktail, and finish with tasting and bottling.

The schedule is long enough to feel like a proper workshop, but not so long that it takes over an entire day in Edinburgh. You can fit it between other plans, although you should avoid scheduling something that requires you to rush away immediately afterward. The official duration is approximately three hours, and the pace includes time for conversation and questions.

The small group helps the timing. A large class can spend much of its time waiting for each person to complete a step. Here, the process should feel more direct. You have your own still and your own recipe, while the host can move between participants and offer advice.

The only timing issue is the drinking. If you have a full day of whisky tastings, pub stops, or a large dinner planned afterward, this class may be enough alcohol for one afternoon. Plan your day with a little restraint.

Is $123.40 good value?

At $123.40 per person, this is not a cheap way to taste rum. You can buy a bottle of rum for less. You can also find standard tastings that cost less and take less time.

The value comes from the combination of instruction, drinks, personal equipment, and the bottle you make. You receive a welcome rum and mixer, three tasting samples, a cocktail, a guided distilling session, and 500ml of custom rum to take home. You also get the experience of choosing the recipe and finishing the bottle yourself.

I think the price makes more sense for a birthday present, a special afternoon, or a shared activity with someone who already enjoys spirits. It is harder to justify if you are only looking for an inexpensive thing to do in Edinburgh.

The final bottle adds real value, but the class is not simply a way to obtain alcohol. You are paying for the time, the host’s help, the small group, and the chance to make something unique. If that process appeals to you, the cost is easier to accept.

This activity is also booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 41 days. That suggests you should not leave it until the last minute, particularly if you want a certain date or are arranging it as a present.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the class to:

• Dedicated rum drinkers who want to understand flavour and production in a practical way.
• Couples and friends looking for a social activity with a personal souvenir.
• Gift recipients who prefer an event to another object.
• Edinburgh locals who want a different afternoon in a familiar city.
• Beginners who like asking questions and trying something hands-on.

It may not suit you if you do not drink alcohol, dislike strong spirits, or prefer sightseeing with plenty of movement. You also need to be comfortable spending three hours in a small room while focusing on one subject.

The experience is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transport. Tell the operator about allergies before attending, since you will be handling and tasting a range of ingredients.

Practical details at The Cumberland Bar

Meet at The Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, at noon. The activity ends back at the meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup.

The mobile ticket makes arrival simple. Confirmation is provided when you book. Since the venue is a pub with a connected distilling room, arrive ready for a social setting rather than a polished visitor centre.

The current information gives a maximum of three participants. Check the final booking details for your date, especially if you are arranging the class for a larger group. The small capacity is part of the appeal, but it also means spaces can disappear quickly.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local Edinburgh time.

Should you book this rum-making class?

Book it if you want more than a tasting. The strongest reason to go is the combination of personal choice and hands-on work: you select the botanicals, use your own mini still, taste the result, and leave with a named and wax-sealed 500ml bottle.

I especially like it for a birthday gift or a small celebration. Gary and Neil bring a relaxed, funny approach, and the three-person limit gives the class a personal feel. You also come away with enough new information to keep experimenting with flavour at home.

Skip it if the price feels high for a bottle of rum, or if you are not keen on a drink-focused afternoon. But for rum fans who want a story behind their souvenir, this is one of Edinburgh’s more memorable ways to spend three hours.

FAQ

Where does the rum-making class begin?

Meet at The Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK.

What time does the activity start?

The class starts at 12:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately three hours.

How much rum do I take home?

You make and take home a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of rum.

How many people can join the class?

The current tour details state that the activity has a maximum of three participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.