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You all know how much I love my food tours. My first trip to Scotland was no different. Immediately after I arrived to Scotland, I knew I had to take an Edinburgh food tour. Because really, what do I know about Scottish food? Haggis? Whisky? Is there more?
YES – and it’s incredible!
I was introduced to Eat Walk Edinburgh by my sister and brother-in-law, who had a delicious experience with them the previous year. Never one to turn down a great recommendation, I selected the Edinburgh Old Town and New Town food tour.
Table of Contents
1. Hotel Du Vin
When I set out for the food tour, it was a brisk, February afternoon in Edinburgh. Not too cold, but definitely a chill in the air. The food tour began at Hotel Du Vin, a luxury hotel in the Old Town, housed in a series of old stone buildings. Back in the day, the location was once the town’s poor house, insane asylum, science laboratory and blood donation center.
At Bistro Du Vin, we met our guide, Alan, and began our first course – smoked salmon. I’m not sure if people realize, but Scotland has an incredible seafood industry. And their salmon is famous! Unfortunately most of it is imported, so if you get the chance to eat Scottish seafood locally, take it!
The smoked salmon was absolutely delicious! So light and refreshing. A great start to the Edinburgh food tour.
On the way to our second stop, we passed by some cute shops and interesting landmarks in town.
2. Makars Gourmet Mash Bar
Our next stop on the Edinburgh food tour was Makars Gourmet Mash Bar, which calls itself “healthy, Scottish comfort food.”
We tasted some ox-cheek braised for 5 hours over mashed potato, with a side of black pudding. After being braised for so long, the ox cheek melted in your mouth. Our comfort food was paired with raspberry gin from the Edinburgh Gin Distillery. The bubbly (raspberry gin and prosecco) was light and perfect. Beware… I was definitely a little tipsy afterward.
The above photos of the oxtail and black pudding is only a sample portion for the food tour. Imagine my surprise when I went back the following day, and the regular portion was huge!
3. Scotch Malt Whisky Society
An Edinburgh Food Tour is not a real tour without whisky! The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a members-only whisky tasting club and the host for our next tasting. I love that the food tour gives you access to an exclusive whisky club in Edinburgh.
What better way to pad your stomach for the upcoming whisky, than with some haggis, neeps and tatties!
Haggis comprises of sheep’s heart, liver, and lung, along with some minced mutton or beef. Combine it all with oatmeal with spices. It is stuffed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled. Haggis is illegal in the US – it has something to do with the sheep’s lung! So, I really didn’t know what to expect.
It was actually really good – very hearty and heavy. All of these ingredients separately, I may not have enjoyed as much. But together, it’s pretty darn tasty and I highly recommend it. At least to try!
Findlay’s of Portobello, a family run butcher shop, made the haggis that we tasted. Fun fact, most haggis that you see on any menu will have the name of the butcher shop it comes from. Locals often have a favorite butchers for their haggis.
The haggis came with a tasting of whisky, at 62% alcohol. As my first foray into whisky, it was smoky and too harsh for me. At the time, I was not a whisky drink. That changed. I really enjoy the sophisticated, complex flavors and smells. You just have to find the ones you like, since they are all so different from each other!
Fun facts about Scotch Whisky
I’ve written a more technical introduction to Scotch after my visit to Islay – Scotland’s whisky island. So head over there if you want to learn a bit more, coming from an island devoted to the spirit!
Now. Onto the fun facts that I learned.
Whisky is normally a clear-colored spirit, but the color comes from the oils in the wood cask that it sits in. The whisky we tasted is a lighter color than you’d imagine. Most whiskys have a caramel color added to it in the blending process. That way, each bottle looks the same color and tastes the same.
The whiskies they have at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society are unblended. Each cask tastes slightly different from the other, unlike what we are used to in mass production exporting. Each bottle at the society is bottled into their anonymous bottles, labeled only with a number (corresponding to the distillery and cask number) and the color sticker of the taste profile.
Also, two side notes about Scottish whisky.
- Whisky is spelled W-H-I-S-K-Y (without the E) in Scotland, Japan, and Canada. Whiskey, with an e, is American or Irish;
- Apparently, 85% of Scottish whiskys are aged in bourbon casks shipped from the US.
From the first time I visited the SMWS Member Rooms on this Edinburgh Food Tour to now, I’ve collaborated with the SMWS several times. For those wanting to read more about my experiences and the benefits of memberships, read all about:
- an outdoor virtual whisky tasting, on Islay’s famous Three Distilleries Path;
- an exclusive whisky tasting in the Glasgow member room of SMWS;
- all the benefits of becoming a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!
And now that you’re an expert on whisky and haggis like I am, onto the next stop! From here on out, I was full on tipsy and red.
4. Le De-Vin
Our next stop was a French wine bar, Le De-Vin, housed in an old Tudor building, where we snacked on a charcuterie plate with French and Scottish cheeses. I love soft cheeses, so this was obviously a huge favorite of mine.
There was an option to snack on this with a beer, but no more drinks for me! Not on this tour anyway. I still need to be able to walk to dessert.
Also, don’t forget to take a good look at the chalkboard wall inside Le De-Vin. Notable Scots on the left (William Wallace, Sean Connery, and Billy Connolly among others), with notable French on the right (Edith Piaf and Joan of Arc and others).
5. Ghillie Dhu
The final stop on the Edinburgh Food tour – the Ghillie Dhu (pronounced with a hard G, the gilly doo), where we had some dessert. The Ghillie Dhu is a solitary, male fairy, who lives in the northwest highlands. Although he’s described as relatively timid, he also has a wild side. Those fairies… gotta watch out for their antics!
So the dessert. It was a chocolate cup, with some whisky cream inside. Topped with a cookie. I think it was their Ghillie Boozy Cranachan, but don’t quote me on that. Typically a cranachan is a raspberry and cream dessert.
But the Ghillie Dhu take on the cranachan is also worth trying! Think of the ingredients – chocolate, whisky cream, cookie, raspberry drizzle. What’s not to love?
6. Become and honorary Scot on your Edinburgh Food Tour
Bellies full and probably buzzing, you are on your way to becoming an honorary Scot. According to Alan, requirements for the title of honorary Scot:
- Haggis โ check
- Whisky โ check
- Irn Bru โ complete on your own adventure. You canโt miss the bright orange cans of fizzy energy.
Itโd be too easy, if you were made an honorary Scot after taking one tour, right?
7. Parting Thoughts on the Edinburgh Food Tour
And that’s it for my Edinburgh food tour on my first trip to Scotland! And what a great introduction to Scottish food. The Edinburgh food tour opened my eyes to the gorgeous, fresh produce and ingredients that Scotland is full of! Although Scotland isn’t known for it’s food, the food scene is definitely on the rise!
To conclude and reiterate my love for food tours… Food tours really are the best!! The next time I’m in Edinburgh, I want to try their other tours, just to taste different foods and get introduced to new restaurants!
If you’re ever in Edinburgh, I highly recommend Eat Walk Edinburgh!
For other Scotland food inspiration and other Edinburgh activities;
- learn more about a hearty and filling Scottish breakfast;
- if you’re going near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, definitely try the tasting menu at Monachyle Mhor;
- visit the National Galleries of Scotland for free;
- stop by Holyrood Palace and say hello to the King at his official residence in Scotland!
Haven’t figured out how to get to Edinburgh yet? Consider the overnight sleeper train from London and arrive refreshed ready to eat your way through Edinburgh!
8. Edinburgh Food Tour recap + Discount Code
Tour provider: Eat Walk Edinburgh
Total walk length: 2 miles
Total food tour length: approx 3.5 hours
Please check their website for the latest covid-19 and social distancing requirements.
Costs before discount below:
- 2020 food tour for 2 people is 79 GBP | $99 USD per person,
- 3 people 75 GBP | $94 USD per person,
- 4 people 71 GBP | $89 USD per person,
- 5 to 8 people 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.
- 2021 tours costs 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.
Exclusive 5 GPB discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LT5OFF
Valid until June 2021
- Smoked salmon at Hotel Du Vin | map
- Pass by Greyfriars Bobby Bar and Maggie Dickson’s bar
- Walk down Victoria Street
- pass through Lady Stair’s Close alleyway, which is a fun little alley, that of course I forgot to take a picture of
- Eat too much Scottish comfort food at Makars | map
- Try not to drink too much at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society | map
- Nosh on some charcuterie at Le De-Vin | map
- Finish up with some dessert at a traditional Scottish bar, the Ghillie Dhu | map
- Fall in love with Scottish cuisine and tell everyone about this amazing food tour in Edinburgh!
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Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.ย She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!ย She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.
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This food tour looks like a whole lot of fun (and so much included!), Lannie. We’ll definitely have to give this a shot next time around. Can’t believe we’ve not even heard of any of the places, they all look fabulous.
It was definitely one of the best food tours Iโve done! I just edited the post with the price, and I also found a discount code online, so thatโs there too! Thanks for stopping by! ๐