The Scotch Whisky Experience

What it’s like

A whisky tour and tasting experience in the Old Town, more suited to curious teens than young kids.

This is a whisky attraction first and a family day out a distant second, so go in with the right expectations. The tours take you through how Scotch actually gets made, offered in 21 languages, and the Silver Tour is pitched at first timers with one tasting included. If you've got a teenager who's into the science or history of it, there's enough here to hold their attention. Younger children won't get the tasting bit obviously, but the site mentions a whisky collection with bottles shaped like animals and odd objects, which is the sort of detail that'll actually get a laugh out of a nine-year-old dragged along by curious parents.

The Silver Tour is £25 a head, the Gold Tour £39.75 with five whiskies, and the Taste of Scotland at £95 includes six whiskies and a three-course meal, that top tier feels aimed squarely at adults treating themselves rather than anyone bringing kids. Everyone gets asked for photo ID if they look under 25, so bring it even if you're sure you won't need it, that's just how they run it.

You don't need to do a tour at all if you just want the shop or the restaurant. Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar opens from noon for lunch and dinner, and the shop's open till 8pm, so it works as a stop-off even without booking a tasting. Tours run 10am to 7pm.

It's all indoors and fully accessible, with lift access and carers admitted free if they're not tasting, which makes it a solid option on a wet Edinburgh afternoon when you need somewhere warm and don't mind the kids being spectators rather than participants.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Better for curious teens than young children

Food

Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar open daily from 12 noon with lunch and dinner menus

Wheelchairs

Fully accessible with lift access, accessible toilets, and carers admitted free

Dogs

Assistance dogs welcome. Water bowls available at box office

• Bring physical photo ID even for teenagers, they check anyone who looks under 25
• The shop and restaurant don't need a tour booking, handy if half the group isn't fussed on whisky
• Tours run in 21 languages if that matters for your group
• The Taste of Scotland tour includes a full three-course meal, not just tastings

Plan your visit

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