Mercat Tours - Tour & Whisky Tasting

King James IV has been referred to as the world’s first famous whisky drinker and it was to Edinburgh he granted a monopoly of the manufacture of aqua vitae or whisky. He believed in the medicinal properties of whisky which was produced by the Guild of Surgeon Barbers; it’s just one of the transformations of whisky over the centuries.

Upon meeting your expert Mercat Tours guide you’ll hear about Edinburgh’s role in taking whisky to the rest of the world. Learn about how the 19th century changed whisky production in Scotland and of the locals that embraced whisky, from George Ballantine on South Bridge to Andrew Usher Jr at Nicolson Street, the pioneers that created their own whiskies and exported worldwide.

Colourful history, tradition and a candlelit whisky tasting

The tour continues with a whisky tasting in our candlelit Megget’s Cellar. There’s no better way to warm the spirits. You’ll taste four Scottish whiskies, under the guidance of our whisky specialist – in a kilt, of course.

Our expert will cover everything you need to know about the water of life; from how whisky is made to the effects that different elements such as water, barley, peat and the cask have on the production process. Nose and taste your way through the whisky regions, with sample whiskies from Speyside, Highland, Islay and Lowland distilleries. Just consider this your first step to becoming a whisky connoisseur!