A mini copper still in Edinburgh is a fun way to spend an afternoon. This is a small-group rum-making class where you taste multiple rums, build your own recipe with up to 10 botanicals, then distill it yourself and leave with a 500ml bottle you name, label, and wax seal. I like that it keeps the pace friendly and hands-on, and I like the personal touch of taking home something you actually made.

You’ll likely meet hosts such as Gary or Neil, and the vibe is relaxed and question-friendly while you smell ingredients and test flavor ideas. One thing to consider: the whole session runs about 3 hours, and you’ll want to plan luggage or transport for the 50cl bottle after class.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Small group setting capped at a maximum of three people for a hands-on feel
• Up to 10 botanicals so you can build a truly personal flavor profile
• Taste + cocktail during distilling, not just watch-and-leave
• You distill your own mini batch and then taste it before bottling
• Label, name, and wax seal your bottle as a keepsake gift

A micro distillery class, not a show: the Edinburgh setting

This rum class is built around a real working experience, done in a bespoke micro distillery room. The setting is described as cosy and friendly, and it’s set inside a classic old pub area in Edinburgh, which helps you forget you’re in the middle of a city for a bit.

What I like about this kind of setup is that it supports the main point: learning by doing. You’re not just listening while someone else runs the still. You’re smelling herbs and spices, tasting different rums, and then deciding what goes into your own bottle.

Because it’s small, you also get comfortable fast. That matters when you’re about to spend a few hours with strangers and handle alcohol-making steps. Your best time here usually comes from asking the simple questions, like what ingredient choices tend to taste like, or why a flavor works with rum.

Price and what you really get for $123.40

The price is $123.40 per person, which is not cheap, but it’s easier to justify when you look at what’s included. You get tastings (three rum samples per person), a drink on arrival, and a cocktail while your batch is running. Most importantly, you take home a full 500ml (50cl) bottle made from your selected ingredients.

Think of it as a hands-on workshop plus a souvenir. If you’ve ever bought flavored spirits without knowing what you were getting, this is the opposite. You control the inputs and you taste the outcome before bottling.

One more practical note: the 50cl bottle is a solid souvenir. If you’re flying, treat it like any other liquids check-in and plan accordingly. The class ends back where you start, so you’ll be carrying your bottle right after distilling and sealing.

The 3-hour flow: rum tasting, your recipe, and your mini still

This runs for about 3 hours starting at 12:00 pm, and the class is structured as a smooth sequence rather than a long lecture. You begin with a welcome to the micro distillery room, where you’ll get rum and a mixer right away so you can settle in with something to sip.

Arrival and settling in

When you arrive, you’ll get an outline of what happens during the session. That matters because distilling can sound mysterious, but the format is meant to keep you oriented: you’ll taste first, choose ingredients second, then distill your own recipe third.

A lot of the enjoyment here comes from that order. You don’t decide your botanicals in a vacuum. You taste rums and start noticing what you like, which makes the recipe-building feel more intuitive.

Tasting three rum samples

Next, each person tastes three different rum tasting samples. This is where you start building a mental map of flavor styles, from simpler profiles to more herbal or spiced directions. You’ll also get cues for how different ingredient types can shift the final drink.

I like tastings like this because they turn rum from a vague category into recognizable tastes. You start thinking less in labels and more in scent and flavor notes.

Building your custom rum with up to 10 botanicals

Now comes the creative part. You choose a custom flavor recipe using the available ingredients, with the option of selecting up to 10 botanicals.

From the experience descriptions, the emphasis is on smelling ingredients and making thoughtful combinations. People talk about fruits, herbs, and spices in particular, and that makes sense: botanicals are where rum can go from sweet and gentle to aromatic and more complex.

If you’re the type who likes to experiment, this is your moment. If you’re more cautious, you’ll still be able to pick a direction and build a balanced recipe. Either way, this is the part that turns the day into something personal rather than a generic tour.

Distilling on your own mini copper still

After you choose, you use an individual mini copper still to distill your selected ingredients. The goal is a 500ml bottle that you will take home.

This is the hands-on payoff. Watching distillation is one thing, but doing it yourself changes how the process feels. You’re part of the workflow, not just observing it.

While your rum is distilling, you get a cocktail. That keeps the timeline from feeling like a waiting room, and it gives you a chance to enjoy the setting rather than stare at equipment.

Tasting your finished rum, then bottling, naming, and sealing

Once distilling is done, you taste your newly made rum before bottling. Then you move into the fun packaging stage: bottling, labelling, naming your bottle, and finishing with a wax seal.

This is one of the most memorable parts, because it makes your bottle feel like a real product, not a throwaway souvenir. It’s also great if you’re buying for someone else. A wax-sealed bottle with your own name on the label looks like you planned it for weeks, even though you made it in a few hours.

Hosts and the small-group advantage in Edinburgh

The class is limited to a very small number of people, with booking info listing a maximum of three. Some past descriptions mention different class sizes, so if you’re comparing info online, it’s smart to confirm the current cap at the time you book.

In a group this size, you get time to ask questions and actually have a conversation. Hosts like Gary and Neil are described as personable and good at explaining the process in a way that makes you comfortable. The style seems to mix clear guidance with an easy laugh, which matters because rum tastings can feel intimidating if you worry about getting it wrong.

If you want a hands-on hobby-style experience rather than a big-group production, the small group format is the main reason this class works so well.

What to expect from the ingredients and flavor choices

The key promise here is custom flavoring, and the ingredient selection is framed around botanicals. Since you can choose up to 10 botanicals, you can create a spectrum: a tighter recipe with fewer ingredients, or a layered one that mixes herbs, spices, and fruit-like notes.

Here’s how to make your choices work in practice:

• Pick based on scent first. If you like how an ingredient smells, you’ll usually like how it translates.
• Start with a simple backbone, then add one or two accent notes. Too many accents can make the profile feel chaotic.
• Think about what you’ll do with the bottle later. A spiced-leaning recipe may feel better in holiday-style cocktails, while something fruit-forward can taste great on its own or with mixers.

One extra tip that comes up in the experience style: many people plan to let their rum sit for a while after making it. That’s not required by the class outline, but it can help flavors settle, especially for aromatic botanicals.

Location at the Cumberland Bar and how to fit this into your day

You start at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. It starts at 12:00 pm, which makes it a good mid-day plan.

It also helps that the venue is near public transportation. Edinburgh can be walk-heavy depending on where you’re staying, so having an easy transit option reduces stress.

If you’re visiting other sites the same day, treat this as your anchor block. Three hours passes faster than you expect once you’re tasting and building a recipe, but you’ll want to keep some time buffer right after to carry your bottle comfortably and cleanly.

Who this is best for (and who it might not suit)

This class fits best if you:

• Love rum or want to learn by tasting
• Enjoy hands-on crafting more than sightseeing
• Want a take-home gift that feels personal (label, name, wax seal)
• Like the idea of choosing flavors using your own nose and taste

It might not suit you as much if you:

• Want a purely educational museum-style experience with no alcohol involved (this is tasting-focused)
• Have tight mobility timing needs, since you’ll spend the session moving through steps from tasting to distilling to bottling
• Are traveling light and can’t plan for a sealed 50cl bottle

Should you book this rum-making class in Edinburgh?

If you’re after an Edinburgh experience that’s actually interactive, this is an easy yes. The value comes from the combination: tastings, a custom recipe built from up to 10 botanicals, and the big payoff of distilling your own bottle to 500ml.

Book ahead because the average booking window is about 41 days, which suggests this one fills up during popular periods. Also, if you have allergies, plan to inform the operator ahead of time, since the ingredient selection is part of the core experience.

If you want a small-group craft day with a real take-home product, do it. Just give yourself enough space after the class to transport your wax-sealed bottle without rushing.

FAQ

How long is the Sip Antics rum distilling class?

It runs for about 3 hours (approx.).

What time does the class start?

The listed start time is 12:00 pm.

Where do I meet for the experience?

You meet at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK.

How many people are in the class?

The maximum group size is listed as no more than three travelers.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Do I take home a bottle, and how much is it?

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

Can I create my own rum flavor?

Yes. You choose a custom recipe using up to 10 botanicals.

What happens while my rum is distilling?

You’ll enjoy a cocktail while the distillation is underway.

How far in advance should I book?

On average, it’s booked about 41 days in advance, so planning ahead is a good idea.

What if I need to cancel?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Is there anything I should tell the operator about allergens?

If you or anyone in your group has allergens, you should inform the operator.