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

Edinburgh’s newest underground venue gives this gin tasting its hook. The Lost Close was once a purpose-built bank, later a prison, and then disappeared from view until recent building work uncovered it. You meet upstairs at John’s Coffee House and Tavern before following your guide below street level for four gins and a lively account of how the spirit evolved.

I like the small group of up to 10 because it leaves room for questions and conversation. I also like that the drinks follow a story, from Aqua Vitae and Dutch genever to modern Scottish gin, rather than serving four unrelated samples. The one-hour format is useful, but it means the history moves at a brisk pace, and this is more a guided lesson with drinks than a long, leisurely tasting session.

Key points at a glance

• Four gins with a purpose: Each sample helps explain a different stage, style, or flavor profile in gin’s development.
• A genuinely unusual venue: The Lost Close occupies underground spaces once used as a bank and prison.
• Guides shape the mood: Sara, Sarah, and Dan have been singled out for humor, storytelling, and clear explanations.
• Small groups matter: With a maximum of 10 people, you can ask questions and discuss what is in your glass.
• Good for uncertain gin drinkers: The range of styles can broaden your taste, even if gin is not your usual order.
• Central meeting point: Start at John’s Coffee House and Tavern, 1a Parliament Square, near public transportation.

Why the underground setting changes the tasting

A gin tasting can happen in almost any bar. Here, the room does much of the work before the first drink arrives.

The Lost Close is an underground space near Edinburgh’s Old Town passageways. Its earlier lives as Scotland’s first purpose-built bank and later as a prison give the setting an odd mix of respectability and rough edges. It was then lost for years, only to be uncovered during work on the building. That makes the venue more than a backdrop for the drinks.

You meet at John’s Coffee House and Tavern at 1a Parliament Square. Your guide meets you upstairs and leads the group underground. This arrangement is worth noting because the meeting point is a functioning coffee house and tavern, not simply a marked museum entrance. If construction or street work affects the area, look for the guide outside or ask staff inside for help, as this has been useful for some arrivals.

The rooms below are described as vaulted and cosy. Expect atmosphere rather than polished distillery-tour presentation. The old stone and enclosed layout fit gin’s less respectable early image, especially when the talk turns to the spirit’s rough beginnings. If you prefer bright tasting rooms, working stills, and a view of production, this is not that kind of visit. The focus here is on place, storytelling, and tasting.

The first sip: Aqua Vitae and the roots of gin

The tasting traces gin back before the modern clear spirit became a fashionable Scottish drink. The opening part covers the early history of distillation and the drink known as Aqua Vitae, then moves toward Dutch genever.

That sequence gives you a useful frame. Instead of hearing a list of brand names, you learn why spirits changed over time and how flavor came from different distillation methods and botanicals. The talk also covers infusion, which helps explain why two gins can taste so different even when both are served with tonic or used in a cocktail.

The guides use the samples to make the story practical. You do not just hear about an old style and then move on. You taste examples tied to the period or idea being discussed. That is especially helpful if you know gin mainly as a sharp, juniper-led drink. The early samples may challenge that simple picture.

The exact order and brands can change, so you should not book this expecting a fixed menu. What remains consistent is the structure: four different gins selected to show change over time and variation in flavor.

From genever to modern Scottish gin

The middle part of the session connects Dutch genever with later forms of gin. This is where the tasting becomes most useful for comparing styles.

You can expect the guide to explain the origins of each gin, the role of botanicals, and the methods that shape the final drink. The selection is intended to show different profiles, not simply four versions of the same standard pour. Past tastings have included unusual gins and samples that would not normally appear in a basic bar flight.

That variety is a major reason I would recommend this to someone who is unsure about gin. You might find a flavor you prefer, or at least learn why certain bottles taste floral, herbal, spicy, citrus-led, or more earthy. The point is not to force you into becoming a gin fan. It is to give you enough reference points to order with more confidence later.

Modern Scottish gin receives special attention toward the end. Scotland is now strongly linked with small-batch gin, and the final part of the tasting shows how current makers use local identity, botanicals, and new flavor ideas. The experience does not treat Scottish gin as an isolated product. It presents it as the latest stage in a longer story.

What the one-hour itinerary feels like

The itinerary has one main stop, The Lost Close, but the hour has several distinct parts.

First, you find the meeting point at John’s Coffee House and Tavern. Once the group gathers, the guide takes you below ground. The transition from a public square into the old underground rooms is part of the experience, so allow yourself enough time to arrive without rushing.

Next comes the introduction to the site and the early story of distillation. The venue’s past provides a natural opening. You learn how the space changed from bank to prison, and how it was later uncovered. This local context helps connect the drink to the city rather than treating gin as a separate subject.

The main tasting then unfolds across four samples. Your guide mixes them to your tastes, according to the description of the experience, while explaining the story attached to each one. This is not a self-guided flight where you sip in silence and read a card. The value depends heavily on the guide’s ability to link flavor, production, and history.

The final portion brings the story to modern Scottish gin. You end back at the meeting point. Since the whole session lasts about an hour, you can fit it into a busy Old Town day, perhaps before dinner or after a sightseeing stop nearby.

One practical limitation is the pace. Four drinks, the site’s past, and the evolution of gin make a lot to cover in 60 minutes. The format works well for a focused introduction, but you should not expect a long seminar on every distiller, botanical, or production method.

The guides are part of the drink

The strongest element of this activity is the guide. The drinks provide the structure, but the stories and personality make the hour work.

Sara appears repeatedly in the guide feedback, with praise for her storytelling, humor, and ability to make the material easy to follow. Sarah is also named, and Dan is noted for explaining the origins of each gin with warmth and wit. The spelling of Sara and Sarah varies in the supplied information, and the guide on your date may be different.

That matters because this is a spoken experience. A guide who simply recites facts would make the one-hour format feel narrow. A guide who invites questions and responds naturally can turn the same four samples into a social evening. The small group helps here. With no more than 10 people, you are not lost in a crowd, and the discussion can stay casual.

Several descriptions also point to folklore, Edinburgh stories, and humor alongside the technical material. That mix should suit you if you like history presented through anecdotes rather than a formal lecture. The tone is friendly and interactive, not solemn.

Still, guide-led activities always vary slightly by personality. If you want a completely standardized tasting with detailed written notes, this may feel informal. If you enjoy asking questions and learning through conversation, the format is a good fit.

Is four-gin tasting good value at $37.29?

The listed price is $37.29 per person. That is not a bargain if you judge the activity only by the amount of alcohol in the glass. You are paying for four samples, a guide, access to an unusual underground venue, and a structured account of gin’s development.

The value improves if you care about context. A standard bar could pour four gins, but it would not necessarily explain Aqua Vitae, genever, distillation, botanicals, Edinburgh’s underground spaces, and the rise of modern Scottish gin in one connected hour. You also avoid spending an evening guessing what makes each sample different.

The small group adds practical value. A maximum of 10 people creates a more personal session than a large tasting, and you can discuss what you are drinking. That is particularly useful if you are new to gin and want to ask basic questions without feeling out of place.

I would call the price fair for a central Edinburgh activity with a distinctive venue and a guide-led format. It is less compelling if you already know gin well and mainly want to sample current Scottish bottles. In that case, a specialist bar or distillery visit might offer more product detail.

The average booking lead time is 27 days, so this is not an activity to leave until the last hour of your trip if your schedule is tight. It has free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this Edinburgh gin experience?

You do not need to be a gin expert. In fact, the historical structure makes this a good choice if you are curious but unsure about the spirit. The samples give you a way to compare styles, while the guide explains what you are tasting.

It also suits gin lovers who want something beyond a standard distillery tour. The venue is not a conventional production floor, and the emphasis is on the spirit’s long development rather than a close look at one maker’s stills.

I would recommend it for:

• Couples seeking a compact evening activity
• Solo visitors who enjoy small-group conversation
• Friends looking for an alternative to a regular bar tasting
• History fans who like local stories with their drinks
• People who want an easy first look at Scottish gin
• Visitors with a free hour in central Edinburgh

You should think twice if you dislike enclosed underground spaces, want a full meal with your drinks, or prefer to taste a large number of contemporary gins. The session is also not designed as a long pub crawl. It begins and ends at the same central meeting point, with the tasting contained within one guided hour.

Service animals are allowed, and the venue is near public transportation. The available details do not explain every feature of the underground rooms, so if you have specific mobility needs, contact the provider before booking.

How to get the most from the tasting

Arrive at John’s Coffee House and Tavern with a few minutes to spare. The guide meets you upstairs and leads you down, and finding a coffee house in a busy historic square can take longer than expected.

Come ready to talk about flavor. You do not need technical vocabulary. Say what you like or dislike, and the guide can connect that reaction to botanicals, style, or the gin’s place in the timeline.

Pay attention to the reason each sample was chosen. The tasting works best when you treat the drinks as chapters in a story. Notice how the profiles change as the session moves from early distilled spirits and genever toward modern Scottish gin.

You may also want to avoid scheduling this as the only event in a rushed hour. The activity itself lasts about 60 minutes, but you need time to locate the meeting point and settle into the change from street level to the underground rooms.

The final call

I would book The Evolution of Gin and Underground Gin Tasting if you want a focused Edinburgh activity with character, not just four drinks at a counter. The Lost Close gives the hour a memorable setting, and guides such as Sara, Sarah, and Dan bring humor and clear storytelling to the subject.

At $37.29, the experience earns its price through the setting, small group, and carefully linked samples. Book it if you like local history, unusual venues, and guided tastings. Skip it if your main goal is a long list of modern gin brands or a behind-the-scenes look at distilling equipment.

For most curious drinkers, including people who do not yet consider themselves gin fans, this is a smart use of one hour in Edinburgh.

FAQ

Where does the gin tasting begin?

It begins at John’s Coffee House and Tavern, 1a Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, United Kingdom.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the gin tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four different gins, mixed to suit your tastes as the guide explains their place in gin’s development.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How many people can join the group?

The activity has a maximum of 10 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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