Gin tastes better underground in Edinburgh. I love the Underground venue access at The Lost Close and the chance to taste four very different gins, each paired with tonics and garnishes you can mix to your own taste. One consideration: it’s a short, alcohol-focused session, so it’s not the kind of activity that works for everyone.

More than a pour-and-judge tasting, this one maps gin’s changes across time, from Jenever to Old Tom, Navy Strength, and London Dry. You’ll also hear how tonic water went from medicinal use to gin’s go-to mixer, which makes the whole flight feel like it has a point, not just a backdrop.

The vibe is helped by the guide’s storytelling style and the atmospheric space you’re led into from the Royal Mile. Still, keep expectations realistic: you need to be comfortable with alcohol tasting, and it’s not suitable for pregnant women or children under 18 (and babies under 1).

Key highlights worth showing up for

• The Lost Close underground venue with exclusive access that feels like a secret room in the Old Town
• Four gins in different styles plus guidance on flavor profiles and ideal mixer pairings
• Tonic water’s story, starting as medicinal and evolving into gin’s perfect partner
• Mix-it-yourself format so you control how strong or refreshing your serve becomes
• A lively, question-friendly guide, known for entertaining delivery and historical detail

Why The Lost Close changes the way you taste gin

A gin tasting usually happens in a bright room where you focus on labels and flavor notes. This experience adds a layer that’s hard to fake: you’re led underground into The Lost Close, Edinburgh’s atmospheric hidden setting.

That setting matters because gin is sensory. When the space is dark, close, and full of character, it’s easier to pay attention to what’s happening in your glass: juniper-forward aromas, citrus lift, spice notes, and how different tonics push or soften those flavors. In a room like this, the tasting stops feeling like a checklist and starts feeling like an event.

The other big win is that you’re not stuck with one “correct” drink. You’re given options—different tonics and suggested garnishes—then you build your own serve, whether you lean bold and strong or lighter and refreshing.

Meeting point near St Giles: getting there fast, no stress

You start outside John’s Coffee House & Tavern, just off the Royal Mile, behind St Giles Cathedral on Parliament Square. From there, the group heads underground.

This is a good setup for two reasons. First, it’s a short walk from a major landmark, so you’re not hunting for something obscure at the last second. Second, it keeps the whole experience compact: you’re not spending an hour commuting across town before you even taste.

If you’re planning your day, build in a little buffer for getting everyone together. Underground venues can mean a moment of waiting while the guide manages the group and gives instructions before heading down.

The 1-hour flow: from gin’s origins to modern styles

The tour runs for about 1 hour, and the structure is built around an evolution story. You’re taken on a journey of gin’s development and its links to Scotland, with stops along the way that match the main styles you’ll hear about.

Here’s what that “timeline” experience is designed to do: it gives your tasting meaning. When you learn how a gin style developed—its likely purpose, how production changed, and how tastes shifted—it becomes easier to understand why one gin feels brighter, another feels warmer, and another lands heavier on the palate.

The sequence you’ll hear about includes:

• Jenever
• Old Tom
• Navy Strength
• London Dry

That list isn’t just trivia. It’s a practical tool. Even if you don’t remember every detail later, you’ll start recognizing what direction each style tends to go: smoother versus sharper, stronger versus more restrained, and what to expect before you even add tonic.

Four gins, guided pairings, and the freedom to mix

You’ll sample four different gins, and each one comes with expert guidance on flavor profiles and likely mixer pairings. You also get tonics and garnishes.

The key word here is guidance. The guide helps you understand what you’re tasting—what notes might show up first, what tends to linger, and how different tonics change the character of the gin. And then you get to decide.

That “mixing is up to you” approach is the part I’d actually recommend you lean into. If you only do one version per gin, you might miss the fun. Instead, taste, then adjust:

• Try a stronger tonic if a gin feels too sharp.
• Go lighter if the gin feels heavy or intense.
• Use garnishes suggested by the guide to see whether aroma changes what you perceive.

You’re essentially doing tiny experiments. In an hour, that’s a great way to learn your preferences quickly, especially if you’re the type who orders gin cocktails and always wonders why one version tastes better than another.

Tonic water’s switch from medicine to mixer

One of the smarter parts of this experience is that tonic water isn’t treated like a background ingredient. You’ll hear its story: tonic water originally used for medicinal purposes, and how it became gin’s perfect partner.

Why does that matter to you as a taster? Because tonic’s signature bitterness and the way it carries citrusy notes isn’t random. Once you know where that bitterness comes from and why people originally used it, you start tasting with more intention instead of just hoping your drink is good.

It also makes your choices during the tasting feel logical. You’re not just picking a tonic because it sounds fancy—you’re responding to what that tonic does to the gin’s flavor.

The guide makes it land: storytelling that stays practical

This is the kind of activity where the guide can make or break the hour. The tone here is consistently described as enthusiastic, entertaining, and packed with detail. Names mentioned include Sara and Sarah, and I like that the delivery isn’t stiff.

What I’d look for in a good host on this tour is exactly what people seem to praise: a guide who can explain production and history without turning it into a lecture, and who keeps energy up while you’re tasting.

You’ll also have chances to ask questions. Some groups have been noted for getting extra time answering queries, which is a sign the guide isn’t rushing the story just to finish on schedule. That’s valuable, because gin is personal. If you tell the guide what you usually like—bright and crisp, spicy and warming, strong and botanical—you can get more useful feedback for your next order later.

Price and what you actually get for $36

At $36 per person for about 1 hour, this isn’t just “pay for a drink.” You’re paying for several things that add up:

• Four gin tastings
• Tonics and garnishes
• An expert guide
• Exclusive access to The Lost Close underground venue

If you translate it into practical value, it’s a good deal when you consider how many ingredient options are included. Tastings like this often charge for the experience, but here the included mixers help you taste and compare rather than just sample.

Also, the time is right. One hour is long enough to learn the evolution story and try multiple combinations, but short enough that it fits easily into an evening plan around Edinburgh’s Old Town.

The main cost “gotcha” to keep in mind: transportation isn’t included, so factor in how you’ll get back once you’re done.

Group size and the atmosphere

You’re in a space that’s intimate by design—an underground close. That naturally pushes the tour toward small groups, and you’ll likely get more personal attention than you would in a large, noisy lineup.

Some groups have been described as around six people, which tends to work well for conversation and questions. It also makes it easier for the guide to guide tasting choices and keep everyone on track.

The venue atmosphere is part of the draw, but it also means you should expect a few “close-quarter” moments as you move, listen, and taste in the underground setting.

Who should book this (and who should skip it)

This tour fits you best if:

• You like your experiences with a story, not just a flight of drinks
• You want to learn how gin styles differ and how to order more confidently
• You enjoy hands-on tasting where you control the mixer

It’s not a fit if:

• You can’t do alcohol tastings
• You’re traveling with children under 18 (and babies under 1)
• You’re pregnant (not suitable)

One more practical note: smoking indoors is not allowed, so if you’re a smoker, plan around that before you meet.

Practical tips to make the hour feel worth it

You’ll get more out of this experience if you come with an open mind. A few small choices can help:

• Pace your tasting: you want to compare, not sprint through the glass.
• Pay attention to tonic changes: the gin-to-tonic ratio is where a lot of the variation happens.
• Ask for guidance based on what you actually like: the guide can steer you toward better pairings if you tell them your usual preferences.

Also, wear comfortable shoes. You’re starting near a major Old Town area and then moving down into an underground setting, so you’ll want to stay stable and relaxed.

Should you book this Underground Gin Tasting in Edinburgh?

If you want an evening activity that’s fun, different, and genuinely instructional, I think this is a solid choice. The combination of The Lost Close atmosphere, a structured evolution story (Jenever through London Dry), and four guided tastings with mix-and-match tonics makes it feel like more than a standard gin stop.

Book it if you’re the kind of person who likes learning what you’re drinking and you’d enjoy building a drink to your own taste. Skip it if alcohol-focused tasting won’t work for your group, or if you’re looking for something family-friendly.

If your goal is to spend an hour doing something memorable in Edinburgh’s Old Town without overplanning, this one earns its spot.