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

Gin’s path from early distilled spirits to today’s Scottish bottles makes for an unusual history lesson, and this one takes place underground at The Lost Close. Your guide leads you from John’s Coffee House & Tavern into vaulted rooms with a past as a bank and a prison.

I like two things in particular: the four gins are tied to the stories, so the tasting has a clear thread, and the group is capped at ten, which leaves room for questions. Guides such as Sara and Dan bring humour and personality to the hour.

One consideration: this is a history-led tasting, not a tour devoted to sampling a long list of current gin brands. If you mainly want a distillery visit or a broad product showcase, this may not be the right fit.

At a glance

• A tasting with a timeline: Follow gin from early spirits and Dutch genever to modern Scottish examples.
• Four gins: Each pour connects to the stories your guide tells, with the gins mixed to your tastes.
• A rare setting: The Lost Close occupies underground rooms once used as a bank and later as a prison.
• A small group: The maximum is ten, a useful size for conversation and questions.
• One focused hour: The tour starts and ends at John’s Coffee House & Tavern in Parliament Square.
• A practical price: At $37.29 per person, you get a guided tasting and a distinctive venue, not just four drinks.

From early spirits to modern Scottish gin

The central idea here is simple: understand gin by tracing what came before it. Your guide links the four samples to the story of distillation, moving through early spirits, Dutch genever and the modern gins made in Scotland. That gives the tasting a purpose beyond comparing flavours.

You can expect the guide to explain how distillation developed and how botanicals became part of gin’s character. The tasting is meant to help you notice differences between the spirits, while the stories give those differences context. It is a more engaging way to learn than hearing a list of dates and ingredients without a glass in hand.

The exact gins may vary, so don’t book expecting a particular brand or a fixed set of bottles. What matters is the range: the four pours are chosen to illustrate different stages or styles, and the guide explains why each one belongs in the sequence.

This approach also works if gin is not your usual order. You do not need to arrive with a trained palate or a cupboard full of bottles. The guide sets out what you are tasting and why it matters, and the informal format makes it easy to ask questions as you go.

The Lost Close, below Parliament Square

The venue is part of the story, not just a place to sit. The Lost Close lies beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town, in vaulted underground rooms near St Giles. The space was first built as a bank, later converted into a prison, and then lost for years before it was uncovered during more recent work.

That history gives the tasting a fitting setting. Gin’s early reputation was not always polished, and the close, enclosed rooms help the talk feel connected to the city’s older layers. You are not touring a distillery or watching gin being made; you are hearing about the spirit in a place with its own past.

The setting is unusual, but it is also intimate. Expect an underground room rather than a grand hall or a modern tasting bar. If you enjoy old stone spaces and stories about how a city changes, the venue adds real value. If confined or underground spaces are not your thing, keep that in mind before booking.

The space was only uncovered in recent years, which helps explain why it feels less familiar than the better-known Old Town sights. You do not need to be an architecture enthusiast to enjoy it, though the building’s change from bank to prison to lost passageway gives the hour an extra thread to follow.

Meeting at John’s Coffee House & Tavern

The tour begins at John’s Coffee House & Tavern, at 1a Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Your guide meets you upstairs, then leads the group underground. The activity finishes back at the same meeting point, so you can plan the rest of your Old Town day without arranging a separate return trip.

Arrive at the named address and look for your guide inside the coffee house. This matters because the tasting takes place below street level, not at a separate gin bar entrance. If there is activity or construction nearby, meeting inside gives you a clear place to find the group.

The location is close to public transportation, and the activity uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking. The tour is offered in English, and service animals are allowed.

Four pours, with a story behind each

The tasting includes four different gins, mixed to your tastes. The key is not simply the number of samples, but how the guide connects each pour with gin’s development. That makes it easier to see how the spirit changed and to think about what you prefer.

The journey can include the earliest drinks that led toward gin, Aqua Vitae, Dutch genever and modern Scottish gin. These are useful reference points: genever helps explain gin’s roots, while contemporary Scottish bottles show how far the category has travelled. The guide ties the drinks to methods of distillation and the use of botanicals.

The gins are selected for contrast and historical relevance, rather than as a roll call of famous labels. You may encounter unusual examples you would not normally choose for yourself. That is part of the appeal, especially if you want to broaden your sense of what gin can taste like.

If you already know your favourite style, the tasting can still be worthwhile. It gives you a way to compare your preferences with the history behind the spirit. But if your main goal is to sample as many modern Scottish brands as possible, four historically chosen pours may feel limited.

A guide-led hour, not a lecture

The group can have no more than ten people. That cap is helpful in a tasting where conversation matters: you have a better chance to hear the guide, ask questions and talk through what is in your glass. The hour is short enough to fit into a busy Edinburgh schedule, yet focused enough to give the subject room.

Guides named by people who have taken the tour include Sara, Sarah and Dan. The experience depends in part on the person leading it, but the format invites a lively style: stories, humour, explanations of the gins and time for questions. You can expect an informal session rather than a formal classroom talk.

A small group can also make the event comfortable for a solo booking or a couple, rather than only a good choice for a larger party. It is suitable for an evening activity, and the one-hour length can work well on an arrival day when you want something engaging without committing to a long excursion.

Keep in mind that the tasting is social. You are sharing a room with a small group and listening as the guide moves through the story. If you prefer to explore a tasting at your own pace or want a private session, that is not what this format offers.

What $37.29 buys you

At $37.29 per person, the price covers a one-hour guided experience, four gins and access to a distinctive underground venue. I see the value in the combination: you are paying for context and a place with a story, not only for the liquid in the glasses.

The strongest value is for anyone who enjoys history as much as tasting. The guide connects the drinks to the development of gin and to Edinburgh’s past, giving the session more substance than a quick flight at a bar. The small group limit also supports a more personal feel.

For a dedicated gin collector, the value depends on what you want to learn. There are only four samples, and the focus is on how gin evolved rather than on an exhaustive survey of current producers. If you want a broad brand comparison or a production tour, put your money toward a different activity.

The tour is about an hour, so it also fits neatly between other plans. It can be a good choice when you want a sit-down activity that offers a change from walking the city streets, without taking up half a day.

Who will enjoy this tasting most

Gin fans who want more than a basic tasting will get the clearest benefit. You can connect familiar flavours to the spirit’s past, try contrasting examples and hear why the guide selected them. The venue adds a sense of place that a standard bar tasting may lack.

It also suits curious visitors who are not regular gin drinkers. You do not need prior knowledge to follow the story, and the small group leaves room for simple questions. If you are travelling with someone who likes history but is less keen on spirits, the building and city stories give them another reason to join.

This is a good fit for couples, solo visitors and small groups looking for a relaxed activity in central Edinburgh. It can also work on an arrival day: an hour of stories and tasting is a mellow way to settle into the city without signing up for a long outing.

I would skip it if you want a full distillery tour, a lesson in gin production on site, or a large number of brand samples. Those are not the point here. The draw is the combination of a short tasting, a guide-led history and an underground Old Town setting.

Booking and practical notes

The experience is booked an average of 27 days ahead, so it is sensible to reserve early if you have a particular date in mind. That is an average, not a guarantee that every session sells out or that last-minute places will be available.

You receive confirmation when you book. The ticket is mobile, and the activity is offered in English. The group has a maximum of ten people, and the start and end point is John’s Coffee House & Tavern.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Should you book The Lost Close gin tasting?

Book it if you want to connect gin with Scottish and Edinburgh history in a memorable setting. The strongest parts are the four-story-linked pours, the small group and the unusual underground rooms. At $37.29 for an hour, it offers solid value if you care about the stories as much as the drinks.

Choose another activity if you mainly want a production tour or a long list of contemporary gins. For a compact, conversational tasting that traces the spirit’s evolution beneath the Old Town, this is a distinctive way to spend an hour.

FAQ

How long does the gin tasting last?

The activity lasts about one hour.

Where does the tour start and end?

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

How many gins are included?

You taste four different gins, mixed to your tastes.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is ten people.

What language is the experience offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Is the ticket mobile?

Yes. A mobile ticket is available, and booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund or change.