For 10GBP per person, we decided it was about time to go on a whisky tour. Located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre is located in a convenient location. The tour includes a taste testing. The tour guide will show you the correct glass to use when drinking scotch and how to drink your scotch. There is a science to this as there is a science to drinking wine. You get to keep your glass after you have your Whiskey.

You then begin your tour where you learn more about the difference between Scottish and Irish whiskey. First they will tell you that Scottish whisky tastes better. Then they discuss that Scotch whisky needs to be distilled twice, whereas Irish whisky will be distilled 3 or more times. There are five regions in Scotland that make scotch, and they explain all of the differences of Whiskey within Scotland. There is a miniature reproduction of a real distillery. A "ghost" talks about whisky and you end with a barrel ride through the history of Scotch.

After the barrel ride, you are left at a bar-like area where you can sample whisky (at an additional price). When you are ready to leave, you can get souvenirs of your tour by stopping in the gift shop. Here you will find Scotland, Edinburgh and Whisky Tour branded items. Best of all, there are over 270 varieties of whiskies. They range in age, size, rarity. It is really difficult to choose just one. The staff will try to help you, or you can purchase a variety pack. Whatever you choose, it will be delicious.

You do not have to go on the tour to go to the shop, but the knowledge you get on the tour definitely helps.

For more information about the tour, visit them online.

I missed the tour, but the shop and information center were fun. I was able to find some nice gifts at a reasonable price. If you are a fan of Scotch Whisky, stop by.

My mom and I stopped in here after a thorough tour of the castle, and boy, were we ready for something to warm us from the inside out! We went around 4pm and stayed for about an hour--it seemed to be the off-peak period, which was nice, since we got some extra attention from the bartender. She knew her scotch whiskeys, and was she eager to share her knowledge.

We managed to wheedle her into bending the rules for us and switching out the preselected whiskeys in the tasting flight to ones we requested. All told, the whole tasting experience was $30 (after exchange), plus I think we tipped her, which was well worth the warm, glowy, relaxed feeling we walked away with!

The four we tried were the Auchentoshan 10 year, Glengoyne 10 year, Glen Elgin (this was my favorite and wouldn't you know it, only available at their shoppe), and the Caol Ila 18 year. She helped us devise a "flight" of whiskeys that ranged from smokey to peat-y.

This whiskey bar was the perfect way to cap our first day in Edinburgh, especially for scotch whiskey novices like us (and less so now).

At the top of the Royal Mile, just outside Edinburgh Castle, lies the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre. Though it's not an actual whisky mill, you do still get to sip a taste of whisky. For a couple pounds more you can do a tasting of four scotch whiskies; I found it well worth the extra expense.

As a student (must show valid ID), the tour with tasting was just 13.50 GBP (otherwise 15 GBP for regular; tour only is 9 GBP). Let me say this: the tour is "cheesy" - BUT, enjoyable. I did it after walking from Edinburgh Castle down the "Royal Mile" (which is a bit less than a mile) and then back up. So I was happy to sit and watch the somewhat silly movie about how scotch is made.

The girl who led us through was very good. After the initial film she led us to a room where we got to sniff the different states of scotch - little did you know! From there we were led to another room for another somewhat silly film about "nosing"; again, interesting still! And finally, the silliest of it all, we hopped on a slow moving "ride" through a maze of life-size diorama of each major parts of the history of scotch whisky; this was narrated through speakers in each of the "cars".

The tasting I paid for at the end was great. Now, I'm not a major connoisseur - which is why I did this. I always liked the smell of scotch and in general the taste albeit a slooow sipper. For your tasting you get to choose from two groupings: regional or specialty. I chose regional and enjoyed them each (all 4) thoroughly. With this purchase I was given a membership to the society and a 10% discount off any 70cl purchase in the shop - which I used.

So, yes, silly. But it was a great end to a long day of walking and I really did learn something. The help were fabulously helpful and friendly. I'd do it again.

Scotch whiskey. Need I say more? You'll drink a lot of scotch while you're in Edinburgh (or at least you should) and this place is the definitive (slightly self-proclaimed, perhaps) source for all things Scotch--see how it's made, the culture behind it, and did I mention drinking it? This place's great location next to the castle means you won't have to go off the beaten path to get your drink on.