Sip and Savour Edinburgh Gin Meets Mellis Cheese

Gin and cheese, done properly in Edinburgh. This Edinburgh Gin experience mixes a real distillery tour with four cocktail-and-cheese pairings, then you get to make your own drink. It’s the kind of event where you learn fast, taste a lot, and still leave with a better sense of what makes gin tick.

Two things I really like: you get both the spirit side (Flavour Arch, Still Room, and the story of Edinburgh Gin) and the food side (IJ Mellis cheese pairings with crackers and chutneys). And the hosting matters here. Guides like Gregor and Sam, and also Rosie and Freddie or Kylie and Gregor, keep it lively while still explaining what you’re tasting.

One possible drawback: you’ll be drinking multiple gins and cocktails, so you should plan your afternoon accordingly and not drive afterward.

Key highlights you’ll feel during the 1 hour 45 minutes

• Small group size (max 12) means questions don’t get lost
• Flavour Arch + Still Room gives you a clear picture of how the spirit is made
• Four mini classic cocktails paired with IJ Mellis cheeses, plus crackers and chutneys
• Shake-your-own cocktail is the part that makes it memorable, not just edible
• Distillery Bar visit is possible if available, adding a little extra time for a final taste
• Edinburgh Gin shop promos help you turn the experience into a takeaway

Where the tour starts at Edinburgh Gin’s Arch 16

Your experience begins at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery at The Arches, Arch 16, E Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8FS. It’s set up for easy access by public transportation, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point, so you don’t have to stitch together your own route afterward.

The session runs about 1 hour 45 minutes, and it starts at 2:00 pm. If you’re trying to fit this into a sightseeing day, I’d treat it like a mid-afternoon anchor: you’ll be tasting most of the time, so plan something quieter afterward.

This is also one of those experiences that tends to work better when you arrive a little ready. If you know you like gin and cheese, you’ll get more out of the pairing logic, and the host explanations will make immediate sense.

The welcome drink and Edinburgh gin history you can actually use

You’ll start with a welcome drink and a talk that connects gin to Edinburgh’s story. The focus isn’t on fancy theory. It’s more practical: how gin became a signature spirit, and how Edinburgh Gin fits into that tradition.

Then you get the story of Edinburgh Gin itself—why it’s made the way it is, and how that affects the flavor you’re about to taste. Even if gin isn’t your usual order, the tone here helps you pick up the basics quickly.

I also like that the tour is built to move from explanation to sampling without long pauses. You’re not sitting through a lecture while everyone waits for the first sip.

Flavour Arch and Still Room: the behind-the-scenes stops

A big part of the value is that you don’t just taste. You see where flavors come from.

You’ll tour the Flavour Arch, followed by the Still Room. This is where the tour earns its keep, because you’ll start to understand how the distillery’s method translates into the taste profile in your glass. The hosts explain what you’re seeing in plain language, and they keep linking it back to what you’ll sample next.

What to watch for: when they describe how the process affects flavor, pay attention to the words they use around balance—how something can feel dry, aromatic, or warming. Those descriptions become your cheat sheet for the later cocktail-and-cheese pairings.

And because the group is capped at 12 people, you’re more likely to get follow-up questions answered in real time, instead of having them disappear into the crowd.

Four mini classic cocktails paired with IJ Mellis cheese

This is the heart of the experience: four mini classic cocktails, each paired with artisanal cheese from IJ Mellis, Scotland’s celebrated cheesemonger. Alongside the cheeses, you’ll have crackers and chutneys to help you explore different flavor directions.

Here’s why this section feels so satisfying: the pairings aren’t random. Gin flavors often include botanicals, citrus, and herbal notes, and cheese can either sharpen those flavors or smooth them out. The structure of four mini cocktails helps you compare, so you’re not forced to commit to one big drink and one big cheese for the entire session.

Expect each pairing to guide your palate. If the gin in that cocktail feels more crisp, you’ll often want a cheese that gives you contrast. If a cocktail leans more rounded, the pairing tends to emphasize richness. You’ll likely notice those shifts fast, especially because the drinks are mini versions meant for trying—not for getting lost in.

Also, IJ Mellis cheese is the kind of upgrade that changes the whole mood. This isn’t a generic tasting with anonymous wedges. It’s the real cheesemonger angle, and it’s a big reason the whole event works for food lovers, not just gin fans.

Shake-your-own cocktail: hands-on gin learning

After the tours and tastings, you get to do the most fun part: you shake your own cocktail. This is where you stop being a spectator and start becoming part of the process.

Why I think this matters: tasting teaches your palate, but shaking teaches your sense of balance. The host will guide you, and you’ll get a clearer feel for how mixing affects aroma and texture—especially with gin-forward cocktails where dilution and temperature can shift how botanicals come across.

If you’re the type who likes to remember how things work, this step turns the experience into something you can recreate at least in spirit. Even if you don’t become a home bartender overnight, you’ll leave with muscle memory about how the drink should feel.

Distillery Bar and shop promotions when availability allows

There’s also an option to visit the Distillery Bar, but it’s subject to availability. If you’re offered the chance, treat it like bonus time to keep tasting or to ask a few extra questions with less structure.

Then there’s the shop. You’ll have time to visit the Edinburgh Gin Distillery shop, where there are special experience promotions. This is practical, because it helps you turn what you learned into a purchase that actually makes sense for your taste—especially if you want to bring home a gin that matches the style you enjoyed during the tour.

One caution: if you’re sensitive to alcohol, keep your pace slow through the earlier tastings. The bar option can add extra temptation, and you’ll enjoy the shop more if you still feel steady.

Price and value for $89.97 per person

At $89.97 per person, this isn’t the cheapest thing on the Edinburgh food-and-drink circuit. The way it justifies the price is that you’re paying for a full package, not a single tasting.

You get:

• a guided distillery tour with two specific behind-the-scenes stops (Flavour Arch and Still Room)
• a welcome drink plus four mini gin cocktails
• IJ Mellis cheese pairings with crackers and chutneys
• a hands-on element where you shake your own cocktail

When you price it out like that, the cost becomes easier to stomach. You’re basically getting a guided premium tasting experience with both spirit education and serious food pairing, all in one sitting.

If you already know you love gin and you love food pairings, this feels like good value. If you mostly drink socially and don’t care about pairing logic, then the price may feel steep for a 1 hour 45 minutes event centered on alcohol.

Who should book this, and who might skip it

This tour is a strong fit if you’re:

• a gin person who wants more than tasting notes
• a cheese lover who enjoys pairing flavors instead of just sampling
• the kind of couple or small group that likes guided food experiences
• someone who wants an interactive step, not just watching and sipping

It may be less ideal if:

• you’re not comfortable with drinking multiple cocktails in one afternoon
• you don’t care for cheese pairings, since the program is built around them
• you’re hoping for a long, walk-through distillery day with no tasting focus

The small group size (max 12) makes it easier for the host to keep things personal, and that’s a real benefit for anyone who likes asking questions.

Should you book Sip and Savour Edinburgh Gin Meets Mellis Cheese?

I’d book it if you want a well-structured afternoon where the learning is practical and the food is genuinely part of the show. The pairing of Edinburgh Gin cocktails with IJ Mellis cheeses is the main draw, but the real secret is the combination: distillery tour + four pairings + shake-your-own cocktail.

If you’re on the fence, check your schedule and your transport plans first. Since this is a tasting experience with multiple alcoholic drinks, plan for no driving after. If you’ve got that covered and you like both gin and cheese, this one is hard to beat for a memorable Edinburgh craft-food moment.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Sip and Savour tour?

It lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery at The Arches, Arch 16, E Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8FS, UK.

What time does it run?

The start time is 2:00 pm.

What’s included in the tasting?

You’ll have a welcome drink, a distillery tour, and sip four mini classic gin cocktails paired with IJ Mellis cheeses. You’ll also have crackers and chutneys.

Do I get to make a cocktail myself?

Yes. You’ll shake your own cocktail during the experience.

Is there time for the Distillery Bar or shop?

There is an option to visit the Distillery Bar if available, and you can also visit the distillery shop for special experience promotions.

How big is the group?

The experience has a maximum of 12 travelers.

What if my plans change and I need to cancel?

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.

Is the location easy to reach by public transport?

It is near public transportation, and the meeting point is in Edinburgh at The Arches.