Rum, copper, and your own bottle in Edinburgh. I love the way this class turns booze education into hands-on fun: you taste multiple rums first, then choose up to 10 botanicals to build your own flavor. I also like that the whole thing is run in a small, relaxed setup with mini copper stills, so you’re not just watching from the back. The one possible drawback is that it’s not a sightseeing-style outing, and the main action happens in a compact pub-basement distillery room, centered on alcohol making.

Here’s the rhythm: you arrive to a briefing, get a rum and mixer right away, sample three rum options, and then design a bespoke recipe. While your rum is distilling, you enjoy a cocktail and chat with the host (people like Gary or Neil lead the experience), then you taste, bottle, label, name, and wax-seal your final 50cl bottle to take home.

Key highlights at a glance

• Small group size (max 3 people) for more personal attention and easier questions during the process
• Choose up to 10 botanicals so your bottle feels genuinely yours
• Three rum tasting samples before you commit to a recipe direction
• You distill on an individual mini copper still and produce a 500ml (50cl) take-home bottle
• Cocktail time while your rum distills, so the waiting period isn’t just waiting

Where the rum workshop happens in Edinburgh

This experience runs out of Sip Antics in Edinburgh, meeting at Cumberland Bar (1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT) at 12:00 pm, and ending back at the same spot. Once you arrive, you’ll be brought into a bespoke micro distillery room that’s set up for the class process, not a warehouse tour.

It has a friendly, pub-based feel. One review described it as a cosy basement room under a traditional pub, which matches the overall vibe: practical, close up, and focused on getting you from idea to bottle without fuss. If you’re looking for views, this isn’t that kind of outing—but if you want an Edinburgh day that smells like herbs and spices, it fits.

Language is English, and the class uses a mobile ticket. Service animals are allowed, and if you have allergens, you’re asked to inform the team ahead of time.

Your 3-hour timeline: tastings, recipes, then distilling

The workshop is about 3 hours long, and the best part is that it progresses in clear stages. You start with a warm welcome and a quick run-through, then you jump into sampling so your choices make sense.

First, you arrive to a rum and mixer on the spot. That sets the tone and gives you something to settle into while the host outlines how the session will work. Then comes the tasting portion: each person tries three different rum samples, which is your chance to pick up clues about sweetness, spice, and overall style before you start building.

After the tasting, you move to the creative part. You design a custom rum recipe using the available ingredients, with the freedom to choose up to 10 botanicals. This isn’t just picking from a menu—your choices affect the way your distillation run smells and tastes afterward, so you’ll feel the link between decision and result.

Next, you distill on your own mini copper still. The class setup is hands-on enough that you aren’t just waiting your turn. You produce a 500ml (50cl) bottle, which is a satisfying amount for a take-home souvenir that isn’t tiny.

While your rum is distilling, you’re treated to a cocktail. That’s a smart pacing choice because it keeps energy up during the inevitable wait. Then, once distilling is done, you taste your newly made rum before bottling.

The mini copper still: why doing it yourself matters

A mini still sounds like a gimmick until you realize what you’re actually learning: the connection between ingredient choice and the final spirit. Using an individual setup means you can pay attention to what your own botanicals bring to the process.

Copper also matters. Even without turning this into a chemistry lecture, it’s one of those classic distillation materials that people associate with spirit-making. In this class, the practical takeaway is that you’re watching a process designed for your own blend, not a generic show.

You’ll also get a proof/strength measurement step before bottling. That’s useful because it reinforces that the goal isn’t just flavor; it’s consistency and drinkable balance. After that, you bottle, label, name your rum, and wax-seal it. It’s a fun finishing sequence that makes the bottle feel like an actual product, not a novelty.

Choosing botanicals up to 10: how to make your blend feel intentional

The highlight here is the botanical selection. You can choose up to 10 botanicals, which is enough variety to create something tailored without making the process feel chaotic.

Since you start with three tasting samples, you have a baseline for how different rum directions behave. For example, if one sample tastes more spice-forward, you can steer your ingredient list toward herbs or spices. If another sample reads sweeter or softer, you can balance with fruitier or rounder notes, depending on what’s offered in the ingredient set that day.

A practical approach: don’t try to build a random “everything at once” recipe. I’d treat your botanicals like a small team—pick a main flavor direction, add one or two supporting notes, and use remaining picks to sharpen or round the edges. You’ll end up with a blend you can actually describe after you make it, which makes the bottle more enjoyable once it’s on your shelf.

Also, smell is a big part of the learning. One review mentioned enjoying the chance to smell different herbs and spices while picking ingredients. That’s your real advantage here: you’re not relying only on taste buds. You’re using aroma to guide your decisions before anything goes into the still.

The fun part: tastings, cocktail breaks, and a “label it yourself” finish

The structure is designed to keep you engaged. If you’ve ever done workshops where you mostly watch someone else work, this one avoids that. You actively taste, choose, and then distill your own rum.

Then you get the cocktail while the distillation runs. It makes the waiting time feel like part of the experience, not a pause you resent. It also helps you stay in the right mood for tasting once your bottle is ready.

When distilling finishes, you taste your newly made rum before bottling. That moment matters more than it sounds. It’s your feedback loop, so you aren’t just hoping the flavor worked—you’re checking it.

Finally, the bottle customization is more than decoration. You bottle your rum, label it, name it, and wax-seal the final product. That’s the part that turns it into a memorable Edinburgh keepsake and a gift people actually look forward to opening.

Price and value: what you’re really paying for

At $123.40 per person for about 3 hours, it’s not a budget activity. But the value comes from what’s included, not from the length of the class.

You’re paying for several concrete elements:

• Three rum tasting samples
• A rum and mixer on arrival
• Up to 10 botanical choices for your recipe
• Your own individual mini copper still
• A 500ml (50cl) bottle of rum produced during the session
• A cocktail while distilling
• Bottling, labeling, naming, and wax sealing

That package is why the class tends to work well as a treat. You’re not leaving with advice; you’re leaving with an actual bottle you made.

A quick reality check, though: this price buys a hands-on alcohol-making outcome, not a full-day outing packed with lots of extras beyond the core process. If you want a broad Edinburgh itinerary, you’ll likely pair this with a morning or evening plan outside the workshop.

Who should book Sip Antics for rum distilling

This is best for people who like spirits and want more than a basic tasting. If you’re the kind of person who reads ingredient lists and likes to compare flavor profiles, you’ll probably enjoy the way the session teaches you by doing.

It’s also a solid choice if you want a small-group social experience. With a maximum of 3 people, you get room for questions and conversation without the group feeling too big.

It makes sense as a couple activity too, since you can both build your own distinct recipe. One review even described doing Christmas-style blends, with different people making gin or rum flavors in the same overall framework, which hints that this could be a fun themed gift idea.

If you’re comparing to other alcohol experiences, keep this in mind

This class is focused and alcohol-forward. You will taste rum during the session, and you’ll be distilling and taking home a bottle of finished spirit. If you prefer non-alcoholic experiences, or you’re sensitive to alcohol, you may want to consider a different type of workshop.

Also, it takes place in a dedicated micro distillery room in a pub setting. So while Edinburgh is outside doing its thing, your time inside is more about scent, process, and flavor decisions than wandering city sights.

Should you book this Edinburgh rum workshop?

I think you should book it if you want an actual take-home outcome and you like hands-on craft. The biggest draw for me is the combination of tasting first, then building your own recipe, then distilling on your own mini still, and finishing with a bottle you label and wax-seal yourself. That’s the kind of souvenir that feels personal instead of generic.

You might skip it if you’re mainly after an “Edinburgh highlights” day, or if you don’t enjoy tasting strong spirits. But for rum lovers, and for anyone who enjoys small-group classes with a real endpoint, this is a fun afternoon with a practical result: a unique 500ml bottle you made.

FAQ

How long is the Sip Antics rum distilling class?

It runs for about 3 hours.

Where does the experience start and end?

It starts at Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the class start?

The start time listed is 12:00 pm.

How big is the group?

The class has a maximum of 3 travelers.

How much rum do I take home?

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

Can I customize the rum flavor?

Yes. You can choose up to 10 botanicals to create your own bespoke rum recipe.

Do I taste rum before I make my own bottle?

Yes. Each person tries three different rum tasting samples.

Is there anything to drink during the process?

You’ll be served a rum and mixer on arrival, and you’ll also have a cocktail while your rum is distilling.

Do they accommodate allergies or food restrictions?

You should inform the team if any visitor suffers from allergens. The class also notes that you can communicate allergen needs in advance.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund.