Edinburgh’s not short of things to do, but The Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street is one I keep coming back to. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been now and, while whisky’s obviously the main draw, you genuinely don’t need to be a whisky drinker to enjoy it.
Across eight floors you’ve got immersive whisky experiences, tastings, cocktails, food and one of my favourite views of Edinburgh Castle. It’s a long way from the traditional idea of a whisky tour, which is probably why I like it so much, and has been named the World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience every year since 2023.
A Journey of Flavour
The Johnnie Walker Signature Experience, A Journey of Flavour, is the obvious place to start, and it’s the one I’ve done most often.
It runs about 90 minutes and, on paper, it’s basically the story of Johnnie Walker and Scotch whisky. In practice, though, it feels more like an attraction than a traditional guided tour. You’re not just standing in a room listening to someone talk about casks for an hour and a half; you’re moving through different spaces, with live performances, projections and interactive moments that keep it moving.
The team do a good job of making it feel less like a lecture and more like a show. Even if you don’t care about whisky (I’ve brought friends who barely drink), there’s enough history and storytelling to keep you engaged without feeling like you need a crash course beforehand.
The clever bit is the flavour angle. At the start you do a quick flavour quiz – sweet, smoky, fruity, that kind of thing – and your answers actually influence the drinks you get later. So it doesn’t feel like everyone’s being handed the same three pours; it’s a bit more personal than that.
You get three drinks included and at £30 per person, that’s decent value for a 90-minute experience that mixes tastings, theatre and a bit of interaction. It’s probably the one I recommend first to anyone who tells me they “don’t like whisky”. You can enjoy the story and the performance without being an expert, and the personalised pours might just nudge you towards a style you actually enjoy.
Whisky, Chocolate and Four Premium Drams
On my most recent visit I also tried the Luxury Whisky & Chocolate Tasting, which is a very different vibe.
Where the Signature Experience is all energy and theatre, this one’s slower, more intimate, and gives you proper time to focus on what you’re drinking. There’s space to ask questions, dig into the pairings and actually think about the flavours rather than just moving on to the next room.
You get four premium drams, each paired with handcrafted Scottish chocolates from award‑winning chocolatier Iain Burnett. There are five chocolates in total, plus a welcome cocktail to start.
The pairings are what make it interesting. Instead of just tasting four whiskies back to back, the chocolates give you another way into the flavours of each dram. It sounds simple, but it genuinely changes how you experience the whisky – you notice things you’d probably miss otherwise.
The team running the tasting are happy to go into detail if you want: where the flavours come from, why certain chocolates work with particular drams, that kind of thing. But they’re also fine if you just want to sit back, taste and enjoy.
It’ll obviously appeal to anyone who already knows their whisky, but I think it works just as well if you’re curious and want to learn a bit more without feeling like you’re in a classroom.
Don’t Leave Without Visiting The 1820 Rooftop Bar
For me, one of the biggest reasons to visit The Johnnie Walker Experience is actually upstairs.
1820 Rooftop Bar is a bit of a hidden gem and, in my opinion, has one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle. You can spend hours wandering the city and still easily miss the fact there’s a rooftop bar sitting above Princes Street with a view like this.
It’s also the perfect place to head after an experience. After a couple of hours learning about whisky, it’s very easy to settle in with a drink and take in the view.
But let’s be clear, this is not a whisky bar! Think more innovative cocktails, sharing plates and a glimpse into the story of Johnnie walker on a global level
The cocktail menu covers a huge range of flavours and styles: whisky‑based serves alongside plenty of options that don’t feature whisky at all. There’s also a solid selection of premium non‑alcoholic drinks, so anyone who doesn’t drink isn’t left feeling like an afterthought.
My current favourite is the Roller Skate Sour, which is seriously refreshing and exactly the sort of cocktail I want when I’m sitting above Edinburgh with the castle in view.
The food is worth sticking around for too. The new menu from award‑winning chef Scott Smith focuses on seasonal small and sharing plates, which works well whether you’re stopping by for a bite after sightseeing or settling in with friends and ordering a few things for the table.
The Wagyu and courgette are two of my favourites, but I’d definitely save room for the choux bun.
There’s also live music at weekends, which adds to the atmosphere and makes 1820 somewhere I’d happily visit even if I wasn’t doing one of the whisky experiences beforehand.
Who Should Visit The Johnnie Walker Experience?
Pretty much anyone, I’d say.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, the Signature Experience is a fun way to spend a couple of hours and offers something a little different from the city’s more traditional tourist attractions.
If you’re a whisky enthusiast, there are plenty of opportunities to go deeper, particularly with the smaller tastings.
If you think you don’t like whisky, I’d still give it a go. The Signature Experience is as much about the story, flavour and theatre as it is about the whisky itself.
And if you’re a local, The 1820 Rooftop Bar is reason enough to make the trip. The food, cocktails, non‑alcoholic options and, of course, that view, make it a pretty compelling place to meet friends or spend an evening.
It’s also picked up the World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience award for three consecutive years. Having visited several times now, I can see why.
What I like most is that it doesn’t feel like somewhere you visit once, tick off the list and forget about. There are different experiences depending on how much you want to get into whisky, while 1820 gives you another reason to come back for food, cocktails and that view.
So, whether you’re planning a weekend in Edinburgh, looking for something to do with friends, arranging a date or simply want to see the city from a different perspective, I’d put The Johnnie Walker Experience firmly on the list.
And whatever you do, don’t leave without heading up to 1820.
The Johnnie Walker Experience is located at 145 Princes Street, Edinburgh. Visit The Johnnie Walker Experience to book your visit or reserve a table at 1820 Rooftop Bar.
Paid partnership with The Johnnie Walker Experience. Please Drink Responsibly. DrinkIQ.com.
