Hmmm, let’s see. ‘Monster’ Brussels sprouts are in the news; the Christmas lights are up and 5pm Christmas Gifts is well underway.
Yup, the festive season is officially in full swing.
The 5pm Dining blog got into the spirit of things last night when we toddled up to The Scotch Whisky Experience on Edinburgh’s Castlehill at the top of The Royal Mile.
Running every night until Christmas Eve, The Scotch Whisky Experience is hosting a Whisky Enlightenment tour to coincide with Virgin Money’s Street of Light – a sound and light spectacular on the Royal Mile.
Single malt whisky
On arrival, visitors will warm up with a winter toddy, before taking a light-hearted look at the world of Scotch whisky.
Next, while sampling a specially selected single malt matched with chocolate, guests can enjoy a relaxed viewing of all 3,384 bottles in the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky, something we scribbled about here.
It’s a fun experience rather than an in-depth, specialised whisky tasting.
Naturally, we still learned something. Apparently, there only seven single grain whisky distilleries in Scotland compared to more than a hundred single malt distilleries.
Never let it be said that the 5pm dining blog is not educational.
You’ll thank us when it comes up in a pub quiz.
Warm up with a dram
Susan Morrison, director and general manager of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said: ‘Christmas is a very special time of year in Edinburgh but much of the buzz is often concentrated in Princes Street Gardens and the annual markets. This year, we’re really excited to bring some attention to the Royal Mile with Street of Light, and being so close to the action, we thought it would be a great idea to welcome people in from the cold and warm them up with a dram!
‘Visitors can either join us before their walk through the illuminated arches, or stop by afterwards, as we’ve timed the Whisky Enlightenment tour to coincide with Street of Light’s twice daily performances.’
Comprising 26 arches and 60,000 lights, The Virgin Money Street of Light is a canopy of light which is synched to music and songs from a variety of Edinburgh choirs.
It is gloriously kitsch and as camp as, well, Christmas.
Restaurant offers
The Whisky Enlightenment tour lasts for one hour and runs Monday to Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 6:15 p.m. The price is £15 and the tour is for adults only. Tix here.
If all that whisky, wonder and winter air has sharpened your appetite then there are plenty of appetising offers among 5pm’s selection of Edinburgh Old Town restaurants.
