SCOTCH Whisky Bar

My cousin and I, not new to whiskey, ordered the highest and second-highest flights. We asked them to favor things we probably wouldn't find outside of Scotland. They came through for us amazingly. We learned a lot and we had a great time. Expensive but absolutely worth the money. Let them know where you're coming from in terms of your experiences and interests and they'll put together something special for you. Huge thanks to Ross from Jonathan and Joe.

About a week before my flight over to Scotland (From USA), we emailed and were able to make a reservation. We had multiple recommendations to do the Whisky Experience "A Journey Around Scotland" that is inside The Balmoral hotel at the Scotch Whisky Bar. It was worth every penny and it also was a great kick-off to the start of our road trip around Scotland. The doorman had no clue what we had a reservation for but once we found the proper location inside we were set. Fraser was our guide. He did a great job. The breath of my knowledge is in deep into Bourbon, so it was nice to learn more than the basics I know of Scotch drams. He was a trooper and answered a lot of nerdy questions. The pre-selected pours luckily were from brands Ive had but not the collections picked. I would have felt bad if I had a bottle on my home bar that was already pre-poured. If you are a seasoned whisky drinker maybe let them know ahead of time what is on your home shelves so you get all new experiences. My friend who is not a whisky drinker did enjoy a few of the drams... and I had to sacrifice and complete what she didn't like but 3 out of 5 she liked. There was no dress code, however we did feel like under dressed tourist. In the future, will change and freshen up. We did tip in cash, as the staff was so kind and worked hard to make the experience elevated. They were kind to offer beer and cider too, which was great for my friend that isn't a whisky drinker. At one point I requested a Ginger Ale. For a whisk(e)y snob, or newbie. This is a great time. Something I will return for. Also Fraser recommended a few great locations that we ended up going to in other cities in Scotland. We kept going where the Scots recommended and it was a 10/10 trip!

From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted by a warm and elegant atmosphere that immediately signals quality. Our guide took the time to understand my preferences and recommended whiskies that truly impressed me. Hope we can come back! To our wonderful guide hope you get the chance to taste high coast whiskey from Sweden Greeting from the north

The bartender is a lot more than a bartender. He’s your guide into the whisky rabbit hole. Both guys are very passionate, knowledgeable, and patient. The hospitality is way beyond my expectation. I would highly recommend this place if you are looking to explore and learn more about scotch whisky.

Determined to discover a whisky I enjoyed, my challenge to the bar staff of the SCOTCH Whisky Bar at the Balmoral Hotal was to find one I liked on a budget of £20. This was a tall order as I definitely wasn't a fan of whisky before, but the delightful staff rose to the challenge with patience: asked me a few questions, listened to my thoughts and brought out two options for me to choose from out of the impressive selection on display. Ladies and gentlemen, they well-and-truly delivered and I sat merrily in the chic but cosy bar with my wee dram and polished off the lot. What is more: it got better with every drop! The pepper crisps and dark chocolate buttons were a great addition and brought out different 'notes' in the whisky which was fascinating to experience. This is a great spot for a fabulously authentic evening in the heart of Scotland. Even if you think you don't like whisky, give it a go and I'm sure you won't be disappointed. At the very least, you'll get a bowl of chocolate buttons. I 100 % recommend!

When we stepped into Scotch Whiskey Bar, we were just expecting a scotch tasting, but Curtis (our scotch expert) curated a lovely journey of samples. Not only did he meet the challenge of each of our flights, he exceeded our expectations and taught us something new with every sip. This was such a wonderful, unforgettable experience, and I hope someday to return to this magical spot! Thank you for making our last night in Scotland so special!

* A note on grades, I rate outwards from three stars. * An absolute highlight of our trip to Scotland. Called ahead to ensure seating availability and enjoyed both before- and after-dinner drinks in the cozy room with excellent service.

Did the rare and ghosted scotch tasting and had an amazing experience. I'm sorry to say my memory fails me on who did the tasting for me, but he selected whisky's that I was unlikely to have had or could get in the states and all were exceptional. We visited later the same evening and he again assisted us with selecting whisky that met our preferred taste profiles. I'd give them 10 stars if I could.