Edinburgh: Rum Distillation Workshop with Rum Tasting

The most interesting part of this Edinburgh outing is that you do not just sip rum. You make a bespoke 500ml bottle, taste it before bottling, then label and wax-seal it for the trip home. Host Neil leads the three-hour session at Sip Antics Micro Distillery, located downstairs at the Cumberland Bar.

I like the tiny group size of two, which gives the workshop a personal feel rather than a crowded tasting-room mood. I also like the balance of learning and play: you hear about rum production, sample three flavoured rums, build your own blend, and enjoy a cocktail while it finishes.

The main drawback is simple: this is not a food tour, and the room is downstairs without wheelchair access. The session is also for adults only, with no admission for children under 18 or pregnant women.

Key points at a glance

• Your own 500ml bottle: Choose ingredients, distill your rum, taste the result, then take it home with a label and wax seal.
• Neil leads the session: His lively teaching style combines rum facts with plenty of entertainment.
• Three rum samples: You taste different flavoured rums before creating your own blend.
• Two-person group: The small format allows for direct help and a more relaxed pace.
• Three drinks included: You receive a rum and mixer on arrival, three sample pours, and a rum cocktail during the distillation.
• Cumberland Bar location: Enter the main bar about 15 minutes early, then meet your guide upstairs before heading downstairs.

A rum workshop rather than a standard tasting

Many drink tastings ask you to sit back and compare a few pours. This one gives you a task. You are learning how rum is made, making choices about flavour, and leaving with a bottle that reflects those choices.

That difference matters. If you simply want a quiet flight of premium rums, this may feel too hands-on. If you enjoy craft workshops and like the idea of taking home something you helped produce, the format has much more appeal.

The session lasts three hours, so it is not a quick stop between castle visits. Set aside a full part of your Edinburgh day. The pace allows time for explanation, tasting, distillation, conversation, and finishing the bottle properly.

Host Neil is a major part of the evening. He explains the story of rum and the work of the micro distillery, then keeps the mood light as the process unfolds. His approach suits people who want facts without a dry lecture. You should expect an active host who talks you through the work and keeps the session moving.

Meeting Neil at the Cumberland Bar

The workshop takes place downstairs in the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street. The practical tip is to enter through the main entrance about 15 minutes before the scheduled start. Your guide waits upstairs and leads you to the room where the rum school takes place.

That arrangement is worth noting because the workshop is not presented as a separate street-level shopfront. Arriving early gives you time to find the bar, check in, and avoid rushing into the first explanation.

The room itself is downstairs and is not wheelchair accessible. This is an important limitation, not a minor footnote. The activity is also not suitable for children under 18, pregnant women, or anyone who needs step-free access.

Once everyone is settled, Neil explains how the evening will work and gives a short account of the micro distillery. This opening provides useful context before the glasses arrive. You learn why rum production involves more than simply adding a flavour to a spirit, and you get a clear sense of what you will be doing later.

Starting with a rum and mixer

You receive a rum and mixer when you arrive. It is a relaxed way to begin, especially if you have come straight from sightseeing and want a little time to settle in.

The opening drink also sets the tone. This is an evening built around enjoying rum, not a technical class where every moment is spent taking notes. You can listen, ask questions, and get used to the style of the workshop before you begin making your own bottle.

Food is not served, so plan to eat beforehand or arrange a meal afterward. The drinks provide part of the value, but they should not be mistaken for dinner. That practical point matters because three hours can carry you well past the time you might normally eat.

Three flavoured rums before your own blend

The next stage is a tasting of three different flavoured rum samples. This is more useful than it may sound. Before you choose ingredients for your own bottle, you get a chance to compare how flavour changes the character of the spirit.

I like this part because it gives you a reference point. You are not making choices in the dark. The sample tasting lets you think about what you enjoy, what feels too strong, and which flavours might work together.

The exact flavour combinations are not specified in advance, so you should treat this as a guided introduction rather than a fixed menu of named pours. Neil helps put the samples into context and explains the rum styles as you taste.

The tasting is also where the session becomes social. With only two participants, you can discuss the differences directly with the host instead of trying to hear an explanation across a busy room. That small-group setup is one of the strongest reasons to choose this workshop over a larger tasting.

Making and distilling your 500ml bottle

After the samples, you create your own rum. Each person makes a bespoke handmade 500ml, or 50cl, bottle to take home.

The process is personal because you select your ingredients and build a blend rather than receiving an identical bottle prepared for everyone. You are not simply putting your name on a ready-made product. The workshop gives you a role in shaping the finished drink.

Neil guides you through the distillation and helps you understand what is happening. The instructions are designed for participation, so you can expect to handle the process rather than watch from the side. This is where the limited group size pays off again. With just two people, there is room for individual guidance and questions.

You should keep your expectations sensible. This is a three-hour workshop, not professional training in commercial rum production. You will come away with a practical look at the process and a bottle made during the session, but the focus is enjoyment and understanding rather than a formal qualification.

The bottle size is a good middle ground. At 500ml, it is substantial enough to share or enjoy over time, but it is still manageable to carry home. If you are flying, remember to consider your airline and baggage arrangements for liquids. The activity information confirms that the bottle is yours to take home, but it does not provide separate shipping or airport handling.

A cocktail while the distillation finishes

Distillation takes time, so the workshop includes a rum cocktail while you wait. This is a smart part of the schedule. Instead of standing around or watching equipment in silence, you get another drink and more time to talk with Neil.

The cocktail also breaks up the tasting and making stages. The evening moves between explanation, hands-on work, and relaxed drinking, which helps the three hours feel varied.

Keep in mind that the included drinks add up. You begin with a rum and mixer, taste three flavoured samples, and then receive a cocktail. Pace yourself, especially if you have not eaten. The absence of food makes that advice even more useful.

The cocktail is part of the fixed program, so this is not a session where you choose a full cocktail menu. You can expect a rum-based drink as part of the workshop, with the main focus still on making your bottle.

Tasting the finished rum before sealing it

When your distillation is complete, you taste the new rum before bottling. This moment gives you a final check of the result and lets you experience the connection between the choices you made and the drink in the glass.

You then bottle the rum, label it, and finish it with a wax seal. The final steps give the workshop a satisfying sense of completion. You are not leaving with an anonymous sample in a plastic container. You have a marked bottle that records the work you did that evening.

The label and wax seal also make the bottle a stronger souvenir. It can serve as a reminder of your Edinburgh visit, and it is more personal than a standard bottle bought from a shop. If you are attending as a couple or with a friend, comparing the two finished blends gives you another reason to talk about the session afterward.

The activity does not promise that every blend will taste perfect. That is part of the charm of making something yourself. Your bottle reflects your choices, and the final tasting lets you see what worked and what you might change next time.

What the $122 price means

At $122 per person, this is not a cheap drink stop. You are paying for three hours of instruction, a small two-person format, several tastings, a cocktail, and a handmade 500ml bottle to take home.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for both a tasting and a craft activity. You receive more than a few sample glasses, and the take-home bottle gives the session a tangible result. The personal attention from Neil is also more realistic in a two-person group than in a large class.

The price is less convincing if you mainly want to drink rum or buy a bottle. A shop or bar will cost less for those individual aims. This workshop earns its price through participation, guided instruction, and the souvenir you produce yourself.

The included drinks should also be judged as part of the full package, not as a meal replacement. Since no food is served, budget for a separate meal before or after. That extra cost does not make the workshop poor value, but it should be part of your planning.

Flexible booking helps if your Edinburgh schedule is still changing. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option allows you to hold a place without paying immediately. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

Who will enjoy this workshop most

I would recommend this to adults who like spirits, practical classes, and small-group activities. It works especially well for a couple because the group is limited to two and the bottle-making process gives both people something to compare.

It also suits a rainy Edinburgh afternoon or evening. The activity is indoors, structured, and long enough to feel like a proper outing rather than a brief tasting. English is the teaching language, so you should be comfortable following an English-speaking instructor.

The workshop is a good fit for someone who enjoys learning through conversation. Neil’s style is lively and direct, with enough information to make the process meaningful and enough humour to keep it from feeling like a classroom.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, need wheelchair access, are pregnant, or are looking for a family activity. It is also not ideal if you dislike flavoured spirits or do not have room in your schedule for three hours.

Practical verdict for your Edinburgh plans

Book this workshop if you want to make something, not just taste something. The strongest parts are the two-person format, Neil’s energetic teaching, the chance to choose ingredients, and the final bottle with its label and wax seal.

Skip it if you want food included, a short tasting, or a step-free venue. For the right audience, $122 buys a personal activity with a clear souvenir and plenty of drinks. For someone only seeking a glass of rum, it is more than you need.

FAQ

How long does the rum workshop last?

The workshop lasts three hours.

Where does the activity take place?

It takes place downstairs in the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street in Edinburgh.

How early should I arrive?

Enter the main entrance of the Cumberland Bar about 15 minutes before the start time. Your guide will be waiting upstairs to take you to the workshop room.

Who leads the workshop?

The host is Neil, who leads the explanations, tastings, distillation, and bottling process.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to two participants.

What drinks are included?

Each person receives a rum and mixer on arrival, three flavoured rum samples, and a rum cocktail while the distillation finishes.

Do I take home the rum I make?

Yes. You make a bespoke 500ml, or 50cl, bottle, then bottle, label, and wax-seal it to take home.

Is food included?

No. Food is not served during the workshop.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

No. The workshop room is downstairs and is not wheelchair accessible.