The Beers, Whiskies & Gins of East Lothian
1 day tour
Sample a superb selection of gin, whisky and beer on this tour through East Lothian.
Tour map
Highlights
Places you explore
Belhaven Brewery – Scotland’s oldest working brewery uses fine local ingredients to create a delicious beer.
North Berwick – This seaside town has a charming beach and a wonderful array of boutique shops.
NB Distillery – A family-owned gin producer focused on creating the best tasting drinks possible.
Glenkinchie Distillery – Known as the ‘Edinburgh Malt’ this whisky distillery is located within a gorgeous glen.
Your journey
They say you should never mix your drinks. It can lead to a late night and a sore head.
But on this trip, we encourage you to indulge in a cocktail of East Lothian’s delectable beverages.
You travel to a 300-year-old brewery to taste one of Scotland’s most famous beers, you journey to a coastal village to sip on one of the ‘world’s best’ gins, and you savour whisky within a secluded distillery on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
You may feel a little bleary-eyed by the end of your trip, but you’ll also have a head packed full of stories and facts.
Join this tour of East Lothian and mix your drinks in the most memorable way possible.
Tour Details
Students and seniors over 60
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Unfortunately we don't carry anyone under 18 years old on this tour
- Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees and tastings at the distilleries
Itinerary
You leave in the morning and head straight to a brewery.
But you’re not here to simply drink pints and watch the football. Belhaven Brewery is a historic location that dates to 1719. You have time here to learn about their processes and stories on a tour of their recently refurbished establishment.
You continue up the east coast to North Berwick, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in East Lothian. You have time here to browse their artisan shops and enjoy a spot of lunch.
Just a few minutes up the road, you visit NB Distillery. This gin producer launched in 2013 with a mission to develop the 'perfect' gin. After hundreds of test batches, the result is a 42% ABV London Dry Gin made with eight traditional botanicals. Taste it yourself and find out whether they’ve accomplished their goal.
You leave the coastline and arrive at Glenkinchie Distillery nestled in a peaceful glen. Founded in 1825, this distillery languished in obscurity for over 150 years before becoming an international brand at the end of the 1980's. Hear how this distillery became such a success, see the huge stills, and sample the Malt Whiskies.
From here, it’s a short drive through the golden wheat and barley fields back to Edinburgh.
Customer Reviews
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FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies.
What are your cancellation policies?
We have a cancellation period of three days for our one day tours, and 21 days for longer tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
What is a guaranteed departure?
It's simple: you book, you go. This means we'll never cancel your tour because of a minimum numbers policy.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
4 reasons to choose Rabbie's
Travel the local way on small group tours of 16 people or fewer
You'll have a guaranteed experience, or your money back
Guaranteed departures: you book, you go
Our eco-friendly tours support local communities
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