Booze alchemy in a tiny Edinburgh room. I love the hands-on mini copper still part and the fact that you leave with a truly custom 500ml bottle. One consideration: this is a 3-hour class built around tasting and alcohol, so if you prefer low-key sightseeing, you might find it a lot.

I also like that it stays small, with a maximum of three people, which makes the explanation and feedback feel personal. Hosts like Gary and Neil come across as genuinely invested, walking you through the process step by step, then guiding you while you sniff herbs and spices and put flavors together. If you have allergies, make sure you tell the organizers ahead of time, since ingredients matter here.

You meet at The Cumberland Bar (1–3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT) at 12:00 pm and the experience ends back at the same spot. It runs about 3 hours and is offered in English, with a mobile ticket and service animals allowed.

Key things to know before you go

• A small group of up to three means more attention while you work at the still.
• Choose up to 10 botanicals to design a flavor that matches your taste.
• You taste three rum samples before you commit to your own blend.
• You distill on your own mini copper still, not a shared setup.
• You enjoy a cocktail while the rum is distilling, so the time feels social.
• You bottle, label, name, and wax-seal your final 50cl rum to take away.

Arriving at Cumberland Bar and Getting Set Up

The class starts in the heart of Edinburgh at The Cumberland Bar, which is an easy meeting point if you’re already wandering around the Old Town side of the city. You’ll receive your rum and mixer on arrival, then settle in while the host outlines how the afternoon will flow.

This is one of those experiences where the setup matters. A calm start helps, because you’re going to taste, make choices, and then run a small distillation process under guidance. The room itself is described as cosy and relaxed, which is a big deal when you’re doing something practical and a little unfamiliar.

You can also expect the session to be very English-friendly (the class is offered in English). And if you’re coming with a service animal, you’re allowed to bring it along, which is reassuring.

Rum Tasting Before You Build: Training Your Nose and Palate

Before you start mixing your own recipe, you do three rum tastings. I like this order because it turns the class from a hands-on gimmick into a real flavor lesson. You’re not guessing blindly—you’re sampling styles and paying attention to what works for you.

In the room, you’re guided to notice how different botanicals shift the aroma and the way the rum tastes. One review specifically highlights how the host has a fine nose for what works, and that’s exactly what you’re looking for here. When you’re choosing ingredients, smell can matter as much as taste, and this format gets you using both.

The hosts (Gary and Neil are mentioned by name) also make it feel easy to ask questions, even the basics. That matters because distillation can sound technical, but the class approach stays human-sized: learn what you need, then do the work.

Choosing Up to 10 Botanicals: Your Recipe, Your Rules

Here’s where the class becomes personal. You get to design a bespoke rum recipe from available ingredients, and you can choose up to 10 botanicals. That’s a sweet spot: enough variety to make something genuinely different, without turning the day into a complicated chemistry assignment.

A key thing you’ll likely notice: you’re not just picking “flavor ideas.” You’re picking ingredients you actually want to smell and taste together. Reviews mention the joy of smelling herbs and spices and choosing what you like, including people creating themed bottles like Christmas-style rum. Even if your choices aren’t seasonal, the process helps you understand how aromatic ingredients shape the final product.

Practical tip: if you’re deciding between a couple of ingredients, go with the ones you keep returning to. The class gives you a taste-and-choose rhythm, so your instinct after sampling will probably be the best compass for your final recipe.

Distilling on Your Own Mini Copper Still (While You Sip a Cocktail)

Once your recipe is chosen, you move to the production phase. Each guest uses an individual mini copper still, which is a big part of the value. You’re not waiting around for someone else’s turn—you’re actively creating your own bottle.

The experience is structured like this: the host helps you get your distillate process going using your chosen ingredients, then you produce a bottle size of 500ml (50cl). While your rum is distilling, you get a cocktail to enjoy. That’s a smart pacing choice. Distillation takes time, and the cocktail keeps the atmosphere friendly instead of awkwardly waiting.

This is also where you’ll see why the class keeps the group small. With only a few people, you can get answers quickly if you’re unsure about any step. And because the still is individual, the host can check that everything is running properly without rushing you.

One more detail that’s worth knowing: after distilling, the rum is measured for proof before it’s bottled. In other words, the process is not purely show-and-tell. It’s guided enough that your bottle is treated like a real finished product, not a demo.

From Still to Bottle: Proof, Bottling, Labeling, and Wax Seal

When your rum is ready, you taste it again before bottling. That moment is important, because it lets you confirm the result you aimed for—then you continue immediately into the final finishing steps.

You’ll then do the fun part: bottling, labelling, naming, and wax sealing your end product. Reviews mention wax sealing specifically, and it makes the bottle feel like a keepsake, not just a souvenir. Naming it also adds a playful sense of ownership, which is exactly what you want when you’ve spent the afternoon choosing ingredients and running the process.

This is also a reason to treat the class as a “make something” experience rather than just a tasting. The finishing steps take you from liquid to presentation. When you hand it to a friend later, you’re not giving them generic rum—you’re giving them a bottle with your name on it.

Alcohol Included: What That Means for Your Afternoon

Your start includes rum and mixer, you do tastings, and you also get a cocktail while distilling. So yes, the class is boozy by design. I actually like that because it keeps the energy up and makes the flavor learning stick.

Still, take the alcohol seriously in practical terms. You’ll likely be doing multiple tastings in a short window, and your bottle is going home with you at the end. If you’re planning a busy night after the class, keep the rest of your schedule easy—think low-stress dinner nearby rather than a long walk in a full crowd.

If you’re sensitive to alcohol or prefer not to drink, this might not be the right fit. The experience is built around sampling and enjoying the process, and there’s no indication in the provided details that it’s designed as a non-alcohol class.

Price ($123.40) and Value: What You’re Really Paying For

At $123.40 per person for about 3 hours, this is not a cheap activity. But you are paying for several things bundled together:

• You get three rum tastings plus rum and mixer on arrival.
• You enjoy a cocktail while your distillate is working.
• You use an individual mini copper still to produce a finished take-home bottle.
• You leave with 500ml of rum plus presentation work: bottling, labeling, naming, and wax sealing.

So, the value isn’t just the final bottle (though that’s the big draw). The real payoff is the combination of guided learning, hands-on distilling time, and the fact that the result is personalized. For many people, that turns the cost into something closer to a craft workshop than an occasional attraction.

One more detail that affects value: it’s commonly booked ahead (on average 41 days). That usually signals steady demand for this kind of small-group, do-it-yourself experience—meaning if you’re serious, you’ll want to plan.

Where This Fits Best in Your Edinburgh Trip

This class is a single-session activity that starts at 12:00 pm and ends back at the meeting point. Because it’s about 3 hours, it works nicely as a midday anchor. You can do a morning walk, grab lunch nearby, then spend the afternoon making something you’ll actually use.

It’s also a strong choice if you want something different from the typical checklist. Edinburgh has no shortage of sights, but this gives you a skill-based, flavor-based experience rooted in craft. And the small group size helps it feel like an activity you’ll remember for the bottle you created, not just a tour you completed.

If you like gifts that feel personal, you’ll probably enjoy this too. One review mentions it as a birthday gift, and the take-home bottle makes it immediate and tangible. It also pairs well with doing the class with a friend so you can compare what you chose.

Who Should Book Sip Antics Rum on Mini Copper Stills

This is best for you if:

• you’re a big rum fan and want to understand flavor, not just drink it
• you like hands-on classes where you make real output
• you want a small-group atmosphere with time to ask questions
• you want something that feels gift-worthy when you leave

It’s less ideal if:

• you’re not comfortable with alcohol-focused tastings
• you want a pure sightseeing day with no workshop time
• you don’t want to spend most of your afternoon in one place

Between the hosts named in reviews—Gary and Neil—the vibe comes through as friendly, relaxed, and designed to put you at ease. That’s the kind of atmosphere that makes a craft class feel doable even if you’re a first-timer.

Should You Book This Rum Distilling Class?

If you’re looking for a hands-on Edinburgh experience that ends with a take-home bottle you personally designed, I think this is a strong choice. The format hits the sweet spot: tasting first, recipe building, your own mini still, then finished bottling with wax seal.

Book it if you value craft, flavor, and a small-group setting. I’d skip it only if you’d rather be sightseeing nonstop or you’re not up for a tasting-and-cocktail type of afternoon.

If you do go, come prepared to make decisions—trust your nose after the three samples, and don’t overthink it once your recipe feels right. That’s when this class becomes fun, not stressful.

FAQ

How long is the Sip Antics rum class?

The experience runs for about 3 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at The Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK. The class ends back at the same meeting point.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 3 travelers.

What do I take home?

You produce a 500ml (50cl) bottle of rum to take home.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes, the class is offered in English.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

Yes. Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid isn’t refunded.

You Might Also Enjoy

Uncle Nearest Green Distillery Tour from Downtown NashvilleLuxury/Private Day Tour Glasgow to Stirling/Falkirk/DistilleryBourbon Distillery & Horse Farm ToursEdinburgh: The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting