Rum lovers, you’ll make your own bottle.

This small-group class at Sip Antics turns Edinburgh’s pub back rooms into a hands-on distilling workshop where you pick up to 10 botanicals and run them through mini copper stills. I especially like that you start with actual rum sampling (not just theory), and I love the end result: you label, name, and wax seal a 500ml bottle you made yourself. One consideration: the experience is only about 3 hours, so it’s built for making and taking, not for a long, slow rum-education journey.

In plain terms, you’ll arrive, get a rum and mixer right away, then go through the process with a host who keeps it relaxed. The class is capped at a very small size (no more than three people), which matters because this is detailed, hands-on work.

If you’re the type who enjoys smelling herbs and comparing flavor profiles, you’ll have a great time. If you want a casual stroll with drinks tasting only, this is more active than that.

Key things to know before you go

• Small group size (max three): you get real attention during tastings and recipe decisions.
• Three rum tasting samples: you compare flavors early, then build your own style.
• Choose up to 10 botanicals: you’re not stuck with a preset flavor.
• Individual mini copper still: your ingredients are distilled to your custom batch.
• You take home 500ml (50cl): it’s bottled, named, and wax sealed.

A Rum Workshop in Edinburgh’s Pub Basement

This isn’t the kind of distillery tour where you stand behind a rope and watch someone else work. The setting is more like a private micro distillery room inside a classic Edinburgh pub—cozy, practical, and designed for learning by doing.

You start at the Cumberland Bar (1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT). The experience is timed to begin at 12:00 pm and ends back at the same meeting point, so it’s easy to plan around the rest of your afternoon in town.

Getting Your Rum and Mixer on Arrival

The first thing that helps this class feel fun instead of intimidating is the welcome drink. When you arrive, you’ll be given rum and a mixer right away, so you’re in the mood before anyone starts explaining the process.

Then you settle in for an outline of the class—what you’ll taste, how you’ll choose botanicals, and how distillation leads to the bottle you take home. I like this structure because it gives you context before you start making choices that affect your final rum flavor.

Three Tasting Samples That Teach Your Palate Fast

Before you design your own recipe, you taste three different rum samples. That part is more useful than it sounds, because it quickly trains your brain to think in flavor profiles rather than just sweetness or strength.

You’ll taste, discuss, and narrow down what kinds of flavors you want to steer toward. This is also where a good host makes a real difference—names like Gary and Neil show up in people’s stories about this class for a reason: they keep questions comfortable and explain details in a way that makes the whole process feel doable.

Designing Your Custom Rum with Up to 10 Botanicals

This is the big creative moment: you design a bespoke recipe using ingredients available for the class, with the option to choose up to 10 botanicals.

In practice, you’re deciding on a flavor direction—think of it like building a blend. You’ll smell and select herbs, fruits, spices, and other botanicals, then translate that into a mix you’ll actually distill.

Why this matters for value: you’re not just tasting rum. You’re shaping the character of the rum you’ll bottle. And since the group is tiny, you can take your time and adjust your choices without feeling rushed.

Mini Copper Still Time: Distilling Your Batch

Once your recipe is set, you move into the distilling portion using an individual mini copper still. That part is hands-on in the literal sense: your selection is what ends up getting distilled for your bottle.

Distillation can feel technical, but the class is set up to guide you step by step. You’ll also be informed about the measures/proof used before bottling, which helps you understand that this isn’t just a craft project—it’s also a controlled process.

While your rum is distilling, you don’t sit around bored. You’ll enjoy a cocktail as you wait, which keeps the pacing friendly and helps the time pass while the still does its work.

The Cocktail While You Wait

The cocktail break isn’t just a perk—it helps the flow of a process that takes time. When you’re making alcohol, you can’t speed up the key step, so the experience uses a drink pause to keep energy up.

This also helps if you’re trying to make decisions about flavors. Having something in hand while you watch the process unfold makes the whole session feel more like an evening out and less like a workshop you’re trying to endure.

Tasting Your Distilled Rum Before Bottling

When your rum is ready, you taste your newly made batch before it goes into the bottle. This is a smart decision on their part because it turns the class into feedback-driven learning: you can taste the result and connect it back to the botanicals you chose.

Then comes the fun part again: bottling, labelling, naming, and wax sealing. It feels like a finishing ceremony, and it’s the moment when your experience becomes something you can physically keep.

Your Take-Home Bottle: Label, Name, Wax Seal

The finished product is a 500ml (50cl) bottle of rum that you take home. It’s not just filled and handed over; you get to label and name your bottle, then seal it with wax.

I love that the bottle-making feels personal. Even if you don’t plan to drink it right away, it becomes a memorable souvenir you made—better than a bottle of something you just bought off a shelf.

One practical note: some people like to let their rum rest for a bit after distillation before enjoying it. If you want a smoother pour, that’s a simple thing you can do at home with your own bottle.

Price and Timing: Is It Worth $123.40?

At $123.40 per person for a roughly 3-hour class, you’re paying for more than a tasting. You’re paying for three components that are hard to replicate on your own: a structured introduction to flavor, the chance to choose up to 10 botanicals, and your own mini copper still session that ends with a take-home 500ml bottle.

This also tends to be a strong option if you’re traveling as a small group or as a couple who likes doing “one real thing” instead of hopping between attractions. The class is scheduled for a midday start (12:00 pm), so it can work nicely as a centerpiece activity during an Edinburgh day.

Who This Rum Class Is Best For

This experience is a great match if you’re a rum fan, or if you just like experimenting with flavors. You’ll likely enjoy it even more if you enjoy tasting and comparing, because the process leans on palate choices rather than memorizing facts.

It’s also a good pick for people who want a social activity without a big crowd. The class is limited to no more than three people, which makes it easier to ask questions and actually talk through your choices with the host.

If you’re a gift-giver, it’s straightforward: you’re taking home a bottle you made, with your own name on the label. That beats most edible gifts because it’s personal and fun to share later.

Getting the Most From Your Session

Go in curious, not competitive. When you taste the three rum samples, treat it like learning your own preferences rather than trying to pick a “correct” flavor.

If you’re choosing botanicals, don’t be afraid to follow your nose. People enjoy this part because the herbs and spices you smell during selection are part of the story of the final rum.

Finally, plan for an afternoon that’s okay with small delays. The distillation needs time, and the class uses a cocktail break to keep things moving—but it still runs as a 3-hour experience.

Should You Book This Edinburgh Rum Distilling Class?

Book it if you want a hands-on activity with a clear payoff: you’ll create a custom rum blend, distill it yourself, and leave with a 500ml bottle that you named and sealed with wax. It’s a fun, practical way to turn Edinburgh’s drink culture into something you personally made.

Skip it if you only want a quick tasting stop, or if you’re expecting a long lecture-style tour. This is about making decisions, tasting, and producing a take-home result in a short window.

If you do book, I’d plan ahead—this sort of small-group experience tends to get scheduled well in advance, and you’ll want a time that fits your Edinburgh day.

FAQ

How long is the rum distilling experience?

It’s about 3 hours.

Where does the experience start and end?

It starts at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people are in the class?

The experience is limited to a maximum of three travelers.

Do I get to take something home?

Yes. You’ll produce and take home a 500ml (50cl) bottle of rum.

How much customization do I get?

You can choose up to 10 botanicals to create your bespoke rum flavor recipe.

What alcohol activities happen during the class?

You’ll receive rum and mixer on arrival, taste three rum samples, enjoy a cocktail while your rum distills, and then taste your finished rum before bottling.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.