Raising a Dram to Edinburgh's Spirit: An Unforgettable Journey at Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Edinburgh, Scotland is a city steeped in history, brimming with charm, and is home to an absolutely captivating journey into the world of Scotch whisky. I’m a big bourbon and American Whiskey, but have only dabbled with Scotch. Generally, I’ve found it to be a bit too peaty for my taste at the price ranges that I prefer to drink at. But in my heart, I knew I was being unfair to the spirit, so when we did our Travel with Anne group trip to Scotland we checked out the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavor, their basic whiskey experience at Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
We have done many distillery and brewery tours so we weren’t expecting this to be a vibrant, multi-sensory adventure… we were in for a surprise. From the moment you step through the doors, the energy is palpable. The Waiting Area is fully branded with lots of pre-tour photo/selfie opportunities. If you haven’t filled out your flavor profile in advance, they provide kiosks to get it done now. It’s the perfect prelude to what's to come, setting a sophisticated yet playful tone that carries through the entire visit.
The tour itself is a masterclass in engaging storytelling. This isn't just about learning how whisky is made; it's about experiencing it. It’s a journey of the senses as they guide you through different rooms that stimulate sight, touch, hearing, and smell. From the earthy notes of the malting barley to the rich, oaky hints of aging whisky, your sense of smell is in for a real treat. Our guide was Julie, a fiery red head that brought the entire tour alive with her infectious energy.
We learned about the distinct flavors of the four corners of Scotland, the difference between peated and non-peated whiskey, the difference between single batch, single malt, and blended, and the history of the distillery. There’s one section of the presentation where a live presenter interacts with so many moving pieces and does a long monologue to perfection to sync with the audio visual elements. That woman should be in film.
One of the highlights, and a truly unique touch, is the curated Whiskey Highball they offer mid-tour. Those questions that helped describe your flavor profile pre-tour come into play now. You’re sorted into Creamy, Smoky, Tropical, Fresh, Fruity, or Spicy, grab the glass that correlates with your profile, and voilà – a perfectly personalized highball gets poured for you.
Each profile gives you a different spirit from Johnnie Walker’s portfolio matched perfectly with ingredients to both showcase the whiskey and compliment your personal tastes. I got to try the Creamy, Tropical, Fresh and Spicy (it’s great to have a group that doesn’t mind sharing and wants to try everything). All delicious. At the seating area there are lots of garnishes waiting that pair perfectly with your drink. It's a delightful and refreshing pause that showcases the versatility of whisky in a truly unexpected way.
I’m not going to give it all away, because you really need to experience this. Room after room kept us thoroughly engaged with audio/visual and interactive elements. Probably one of my favorite booze related experiences anywhere in the world. Other distilleries and breweries have some catching up to do.
At the end of the journey, you get to truly explore the whisky itself as Julie and the bartenders gave us options to taste almost anything on the menu in any way we wanted. Highballs, old fashioneds, straight drams… however you want to try it in their chic tasting room. Now is the perfect time to taste some of those flavor profiles that you’re curious about, or to taste some of the blends that are only available here. It's a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, encouraging conversation and genuine appreciation for the craft.
As the experience draws to a close, you emerge into the retail area, a treasure trove for any whisky enthusiast (or someone looking for the perfect souvenir!). Beyond the impressive array of Johnnie Walker expressions, we stumbled upon an absolute gem: the opportunity to pour your own bottle of whisky and personalize it!
We chose their spring/summer seasonal blend that you can only get in store. Anne poured the bottle while Tim picked the design. Of course, we couldn't resist etching "Visas and Vistas Travel," onto our bottle and drams – a perfect memento of our Edinburgh adventure.
You even get to sign the distillers book and get put into Johnnie Walker’s archives. It's such a unique and personal touch that truly elevates the souvenir game.
And just when you think the experience couldn't get any better, you ascend to the rooftop bar, 1820.We had reservations because we had a bigger group, but the tour guide offered to get you seating as well and others on our tour took advantage.
What a view! Overlooking the majestic Edinburgh skyline, with its historic architecture bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, it’s the perfect spot to savor delicious food and even more delightful drinks. It’s the ultimate grand finale, a chance to reflect on an unforgettable journey with good company and even better spirits.
We tried the dunbar crab beignets, chunky chips, smoked cheddar croquettes, charcuteries and various drinks. I was still curious about the four corners of Scotland that feed the whiskey of the country so I put together my own flight of Glenkinchie 12 year (ok), Cardhu 12 year (good), Clynelysh 14 year (great) and Caol Ila 12 year (great). It was crazy that even though they were technically from the same distillery, the different regions of the country produced such different tasting whiskeys.
This was the perfect way to start our Scotland adventure and helped me build the foundations of an appreciation for Scotch Whiskey that only grew throughout the trip. So, if you're planning a trip to Edinburgh, do yourself a favor and book your visit to Johnnie Walker Princes Street. It's more than just a whisky tour; it's a celebration of Scottish spirit, perfectly blended for an unforgettable day out. Cheers (Slàinte mhath) to that!
