A Sip Through Time

The Real Mary Kings Close and Pickering’s Gin celebrate Gin Month

This July, The Real Mary King’s Close is celebrating Gin Month by offering a specially curated gin tour, ‘A Sip Through Time’, in partnership with Edinburgh distillers, Pickering’s Gin.

Perfect for the discerning gin lover, the historic attraction hidden beneath Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile invites you on an exclusive experience infused with fascinating insights about how the spirit was produced, smuggled and consumed in Edinburgh throughout the centuries.

The one-hour interactive history tour will conclude with a crafted gin tasting session led by local experts, giving the perfect excuse to raise a glass and sample some luxuriously smooth gin.

With over ten years of industry knowledge, Pickering’s Gin will help to immerse guests in the rich history of Edinburgh’s gin trade, taking them on a journey to discover the origins of the spirit’s introduction to Scotland and how the gin craze took off in Edinburgh the late eighteenth century.

During ‘A Sip Through Time’, visitors will also uncover the identity of the infamous ‘Merchant Prince’ and journey back in time to explore the streets and spaces which now lie underneath the vibrant Old Town of Edinburgh.

Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Over the last few hundred years, the popularity of gin in the city of Edinburgh has continued to grow and become deep-rooted into the culture of this vibrant city.

“We are delighted to partner with local distillers Pickering’s Gin to share the fascinating history of the Edinburgh gin trade with a new generation of gin drinkers, all whilst enjoying a responsible tipple or two.

“At The Real Mary King’s Close, we are enthusiastic about telling stories and developing one-of-a-kind experiences that immerse our visitors into special moments in time. We are so excited to welcome guests on our special tour, ‘A Sip Through Time’ and urge those interested in all things juniper to get booking soon as places are limited.”

Rachel Thomson, Head of Marketing at Summerhall Distillery, said: “As a local Edinburgh distiller, we are thrilled to be joining The Real Mary King’s close to share our knowledge and take visitors on a journey through time to discover Edinburgh’s bustling gin trade.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming guests to the tour and letting them sample some of our finest creations, all distilled here in Edinburgh”

Starting today (Friday 7 July), gin tours will be running every weekend throughout the month.

Tours run at 5.30pm and 7.30pm (7th, 8th July). Tours run at 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.15pm (14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th July).

Tickets are £45pp. Pre-booking is strongly recommended as places are very limited. Over 18’s only. 

For more information and bookings please visit: 

https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/event/a-sip-through-time/