Edinburgh: Rum Distillation Workshop with Rum Tasting

The best part of this Edinburgh experience is that you do not just sip rum and hear a talk. You make your own 500ml bottle, choosing ingredients and watching the distillation process unfold under the guidance of Neil from Sip Antics Micro Distillery. It turns a drink tasting into a small piece of practical craft.

I like the tiny group size, limited to two participants, because it gives the workshop a personal feel. I also like the rhythm of the evening: three flavoured rum samples, a cocktail while your own rum is being made, then a final taste before bottling and sealing it.

The main drawback is clear: this is an alcohol-focused experience with no food served. The workshop also takes place downstairs at the Cumberland Bar, and the room is not wheelchair accessible.

Key points at a glance

• Make a personal 500ml bottle: Choose ingredients, distill your rum, then bottle, label, and wax-seal it yourself.
• Led by Neil: The host brings knowledge of rum production along with an entertaining, energetic style.
• Three flavoured samples: The tasting helps you compare different rum profiles before creating your own blend.
• A cocktail during the wait: Your rum needs time to finish, so you receive a rum cocktail while the process continues.
• Limited to two participants: This is a close-up workshop rather than a large bar demonstration.
• Central pub meeting point: Enter the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street 15 minutes before the start time.

Starting at the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street

Your meeting point is the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street in Edinburgh. Enter through the main entrance about 15 minutes before your scheduled start time. Your host will meet you upstairs and lead you down to the rum school.

That detail matters because the actual workshop room is downstairs rather than in the main bar area. The room is not wheelchair accessible, so anyone with mobility concerns should take that seriously before booking. The experience is also for adults only, and children under 18 cannot participate.

The booking price is $122 per person for three hours. That is not a cheap tasting, but it includes several separate parts: a welcome drink, three flavoured rum samples, instruction, your own 500ml bottle, a cocktail, and the chance to taste and finish the bottle yourself. You are paying for a hands-on activity and a take-home product, not just a couple of bar pours.

The small group format helps justify the cost. With only two participants, Neil can give attention to your choices and explain what is happening as your rum is made. If you are looking for a lively night out with a big group, this may feel too intimate. If you want to ask questions and take part at each stage, the format works in your favor.

A welcome rum and an introduction from Neil

The session starts with a rum and mixer for each participant. It is a useful way to settle in, but it also establishes the main subject quickly. This is not a dry classroom presentation followed by a token drink at the end. Rum is part of the experience from the opening minutes.

Neil then explains the history of the micro distillery and the plan for the evening. His style is one of the main reasons this workshop works. He brings plenty of information about rum while keeping the tone lively and entertaining. You will hear how the small distillery operates and what you will do during the next three hours.

The introduction is important because the rest of the activity involves several stages. You taste first, make decisions next, wait while the distillation takes place, and finish by tasting and packaging the result. A clear explanation at the start helps you understand how the pieces fit together.

The workshop suits curious beginners especially well. You do not need to arrive with specialist knowledge of rum. If you already know your way around a rum menu, you will still have room to compare flavours and create something of your own.

Three flavoured rums before you make your choice

Next comes a tasting of three different flavoured rum samples. This is more than a warm-up. It gives you a reference point before you start making your bespoke bottle.

Pay attention to what you actually like. A rum that smells impressive may not be the one you want to drink later. Think about sweetness, spice, fruit, and the general balance of each sample. The supplied information does not list the exact flavours, so you should expect the selection to be explained during the workshop rather than arriving with a fixed menu in mind.

This part also gives Neil a chance to explain how different ingredients affect the finished drink. The tasting has a practical purpose: you are not simply sampling products, you are gathering ideas for your own rum.

I like this stage because it makes the final bottle more personal. You are not handed a standard recipe and told to wait. You can use the samples as a guide, then make choices based on your own taste. The result may be traditional, sweet, bold, or simply unusual. That uncertainty is part of the fun.

It is worth remembering that a tasting of three samples plus the welcome drink and cocktail adds up to several alcoholic drinks over a three-hour period. Pace yourself, especially if you are planning to continue your evening in Edinburgh afterward.

Making and distilling your bespoke rum

The central activity is creating your own rum. Each participant gets to distill and make a bespoke 500ml, or 50cl, bottle to take home.

The word bespoke matters here. Your bottle is not just a souvenir purchased from a shelf. You choose the ingredients and take part in the process that produces the finished rum. The exact equipment and technical method are not specified, so I would treat this as a guided craft workshop rather than a professional distiller training course.

Neil guides you through the practical side of the work. He explains what you are doing, helps you make your choices, and keeps the process moving. His enthusiasm is useful here because distillation can sound technical on paper. In person, the process becomes easier to follow when someone talks you through each step.

You should also keep your expectations realistic. A three-hour workshop cannot cover every detail of commercial rum production. You will gain a working introduction to the process and make one bottle, but this is not a qualification or an advanced course in spirits production.

The personal element is the real value. You can remember the ingredients you selected, compare the bottle with the original samples, and open it later as a reminder of your time in Edinburgh. It makes a better souvenir than another generic bottle from a shop, especially if you enjoy drinks with a story attached.

A rum cocktail while your bottle finishes

The distillation takes time, so the workshop includes a rum cocktail while you wait. This avoids the dead period that can weaken hands-on demonstrations. You have something to enjoy while Neil monitors the process and the rum moves toward its finished form.

The cocktail also shows rum in a different setting. The first drink is rum with a mixer, the samples focus on flavour, and the cocktail demonstrates how rum can work in a mixed drink. Together, those stages give you several ways to think about the spirit.

No food is served, so plan around that. If you need dinner, eat before the session or arrange food afterward. The supplied details do not specify whether outside food is allowed, so do not assume you can bring a meal into the workshop room.

This is one of the practical points I would take seriously when planning the evening. Alcohol on an empty stomach can change the tone of a three-hour event very quickly. A proper meal beforehand lets you focus on the tasting and the making without treating the cocktail as dinner.

Tasting your finished rum before the final seal

When the distillation is complete, you taste your new rum before it goes into the bottle. This is a satisfying step because you can connect the finished drink with the choices you made earlier.

The final taste is also a chance to see how your plan worked. Perhaps the flavour is exactly what you expected. Perhaps one ingredient is stronger than anticipated. Either result gives you a better sense of how ingredients shape a spirit.

After tasting, you bottle, label, and wax-seal the 500ml bottle. These finishing steps give the experience a clear ending. You leave with something that looks like a finished product rather than a half-completed experiment.

The handmade label and wax seal are small details, but they matter. They turn the bottle into a keepsake and make it suitable for giving to someone at home, assuming you can bear to part with it. You should also check current airline and baggage rules if you plan to fly with it, since the details supplied for this experience do not explain transport requirements.

What the small group changes

The experience is limited to two participants. That is unusually small for a scheduled workshop and shapes the whole evening.

You have a better chance to ask questions without waiting for a large group to move on. Neil can focus on your flavour choices, explain the process at a comfortable pace, and keep the workshop conversational. The format is particularly good for couples or friends who want a shared activity rather than a crowded tasting.

The trade-off is that the atmosphere depends heavily on the two participants and the host. A larger group can create instant social energy. Here, the evening is more like a private lesson with drinks. The personal attention is a strength, but anyone who prefers a busy, social bar setting may find it quiet.

The host is central to the experience. Neil has been praised for his enthusiasm, clear explanations, and entertaining approach. He also brings enough detail to make the rum production feel substantial without turning the event into a lecture. That combination of practical instruction and personality is a major reason to choose this workshop.

Who should book this rum workshop?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy tasting experiences but want more than a flight of drinks. It is a good match for couples, friends, and anyone who likes bringing home a souvenir they helped create.

It also suits people who are new to rum. The three samples provide a simple starting point, and Neil explains the process as you go. You do not need to arrive with a detailed understanding of distillation.

This may not be the right pick if you want food included, dislike alcohol-based activities, or need step-free access. It is also not aimed at children or anyone under 18. The three-hour duration requires a proper commitment, so do not book it as a quick stop between other attractions.

If your main goal is a formal technical course, check the exact teaching level before paying. The supplied details support a fun, guided introduction with a take-home bottle, not an advanced professional qualification.

Booking details worth knowing

The activity is conducted in English. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

Check the available starting times when booking, since the duration is fixed at three hours but the start time can vary. Arrive at the Cumberland Bar 15 minutes early so you can find the main entrance and meet Neil before the group goes downstairs.

The $122 price is easiest to justify if you value the whole package: tasting, instruction, cocktail, personal creation, and a sealed bottle to take home. It is less attractive if you mainly want to sample rum and have no interest in making or carrying away a bottle.

Should you book the Sip Antics rum workshop?

Book it if you want a personal Edinburgh activity with a strong hands-on element. The two-person format, Neil’s energetic teaching, and the chance to choose, distill, taste, label, and wax-seal your own 500ml bottle give the evening a clear sense of purpose.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, want food included, are under 18, or prefer a simple tasting without a three-hour commitment. For rum fans and curious drinkers who like making something they can take home, this is a thoughtful use of an evening in Edinburgh.

FAQ

Where does the rum workshop take place?

The experience takes place downstairs in the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street in Edinburgh. Enter through the main entrance about 15 minutes before the start so your guide can meet you and lead you to the workshop room.

How long does the experience last?

The workshop lasts three hours.

How many people take part?

The group is limited to two participants.

What drinks are included?

Each participant receives a rum and mixer on arrival, three flavoured rum samples, and a rum cocktail while their own rum is being distilled.

Do I take home a bottle of rum?

Yes. Each participant makes a bespoke 500ml, or 50cl, bottle, then bottles, labels, and wax-seals it to take home.

Is food included?

No food is served during the experience.

Is the workshop wheelchair accessible?

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

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also allows you to book without paying immediately.