Exploring More

Sharing a window on the world

  • Home
  • More Explore
  • UK & Ireland
  • Europe & the Med
  • Going Global
  • News
  • Let’s Go
  • Travel Shop
  • Recommended

PADI launches world map diving guide

A breath of fresh air from Specialist Journeys

A turbulent start to 2020 for travel industry

Cycling Europe the e-asy way

You are here: Home / Lead story / Uncovering Edinburgh’s gin history

Uncovering Edinburgh’s gin history

31st July 2019 By James McDonald Leave a Comment

Uncovering Edinburgh’s gin history – Real Mary King’s Close, the five-star visitor attraction located underneath Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, has teamed up with local herb and gin experts – The Old Curiosity Distillery – to offer unique gin-tasting tours.

Paying homage to the famous illicit gin trade of 18th century Edinburgh and the plague doctors who used botanical remedies to ward off disease, the late-night tour will be an opportunity to learn about the origins of gin production in the city while enjoying a range of exclusive and specially selected Old Curiosity gins, deep underground in the historic city.

Visitors will learn about why the Dutch traded genever (gin’s precursor), the adventures of local smugglers, and the distilling innovations that led to Edinburgh’s lengthy love affair with this chameleon spirit.

They will get the chance to explore the life and times of Edinburgh’s first plague doctor – Joannes Paulitius – to discover why herbs were thought to protect the doctor from deadly plague epidemic and why he wore the distinctive beaked mask.

The late night 1.5 hour guided tours cost £35 and will take place every Wednesday in August and Saturday in September. Accompanied by a gin expert, visitors will be given four gins to taste, including: Apothecary Rose, Lemon Verbena, and Chamomile & Cornflower, followed by a plague doctor inspired Lavender & Echinacea gin cocktail.

Paul Nixon, General Manager from The Real Mary Kings Close, said: “There is a wealth of stories waiting to be told about the illicit stills, plague doctors and their connection with herbs and botanicals, including their characteristics, flavours and supposed magical properties.

“Real Mary King’s Close is a truly unique attraction and this tour allows visitors to explore these underground streets in a totally different context – bringing history alive.

Francesca Martin, Events and Marketing Manager at Old Curiosity added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with The Real Mary King’s Close. We can’t wait to share the interesting history of gin and showcase our creations in a unique setting.”

The Real Mary King’s Close is a five-star visitor attraction located on Edinburgh’s historic and world-famous Royal Mile. Visitors are taken on a journey into a warren of uniquely preserved 17th century streets, which were once home to a thriving community

More at www.realmarykingsclose.com and www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk

 

Filed Under: Lead story, UK & Ireland

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 × two =

A turbulent start to 2020 for travel industry

A turbulent start to 2020 for travel industry – So far, it’s been a very bumpy ride for the travel industry this year. And all the signs point to further tourism turbulence over the next few months as the fallout from the coronavirus continues to unfold. Shall we book or shall we wait – that‘s […]

Cycling Europe the e-asy way

Cycling Europe the e-asy way – Explore has the perfect e-bike cycling trips for those worried about punishing uphill climbs and sore legs. Boost your peddle power while still enjoying the incredible scenery on our most exciting cycling trips, from circumnavigating Mount Etna to cycling through vineyards in the Douro Valley. Cycling the Baltic States […]

Saving finest view at Blenheim Palace

Saving finest view at Blenheim Palace – A massive civil engineering project to help save the ‘finest view in England’ is set to get under way at Blenheim Palace later this year. The multi-million pound project will see more than 300,000 cubic metres of silt – enough to fill Wembley Stadium – removed from the […]

Culture calls from Dresden

Culture calls from Dresden – After seven years of part-closure and extensive renovation work, Dresden’s Old Masters Picture Gallery will officially reopen to visitors on February 29 – including a special late-night opening on February 28 and free admission until 1 March. Located in the Semper building gallery wing of Dresden’s Zwinger Palace, the Old […]

Bridge building at the Budock Vean Hotel

Bridge building at the Budock Vean Hotel – If you know your Major Suit Fits from your Splinters and Weak Twos but need some confidence for putting them into action, a new Bridge holiday at the Budock Vean Hotel on Cornwall’s Helford River could be just the trick. For 25 years scores of keen competitors […]

Recommended

For those of us who prefer the DIY approach to travelling – that’s Design it Yourself – good, accurate and reliable information is worth its weight in gold.

Our editorial columns already offer ideas and inspiration for the travelling public and Exploring More Recommended goes one step further, helping you to plan ahead with confidence when looking for quality accommodation and where to have a decent meal.

All establishments listed in Exploring More Recommended have been personally visited and endorsed by members of our reporting team. They score highly for quality, comfort, ambience and value for money.

Happy travelling

David Pike

Editor – Exploring More

Let's Go

Let’s Misbehave – Blenheim Palace in the 1920s

Let’s Misbehave – Blenheim Palace in the 1920s – They are turning the clock back at Blenheim Palace to celebrate a famously decadent decade. Running from 15th February to 13th April, 2020, ‘Let’s Misbehave – Blenheim Palace in the 1920s’ offers a fascinating insight into the heady world of the upper classes – not surprisingly […]

A Liverpool date with Michael Bublé

A Liverpool date with Michael Bublé – Grammy Award-winning global superstar, Michael Bublé is in the middle of one of his biggest ever world tours, taking in 108 shows across 22 countries and three continents.  He makes a welcome return to the UK in the run up to Christmas, with shows at the M&S Bank […]

Golf breaks in the Dordogne

Golf breaks in the Dordogne – Golfers can take advantage of the most affordable golf in Europe when staying at Souillac Golf & Country Club this spring and summer – with seven-night unlimited golf breaks available from just €175 per person. Souillac’s breathtaking location in France’s Dordogne Valley is matched by great value breaks  for […]

Recent Posts

  • Getting into gear for the spectacular Via Emilia
  • PADI launches world map diving guide
  • A breath of fresh air from Specialist Journeys
  • A turbulent start to 2020 for travel industry
  • Cycling Europe the e-asy way
  • Saving finest view at Blenheim Palace
  • Culture calls from Dresden
  • Bridge building at the Budock Vean Hotel
  • A hotline to Festival Elijazzen
  • Travel in style with award winning Viking
  • Magical moments at Christmas markets in Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Let’s Misbehave – Blenheim Palace in the 1920s
  • Christmas trail at Belton House says it with willow
  • Avoiding car hire holiday potholes
  • Time travelling with Andante
  • Have we Scot a good read for you

Tags

Activity holidays in Liguria Andante Travels art Best Loved Hotels Blenheim Palace Burgundy Burgundy Franche Comté City tours Costa Rica Croatia Edinburgh Eurocamp European Waterways Explore Exploring More Family Half-term Hiking Holiday Italy Kipling Liguria Murcia National Civil War Centre Newark Nicaragua river cruises Rudyard Kipling Sardinia's steam heritage Scottish Borders Walking Festival Scuba diving Murcia Semur Semur-en-Auxois Shearings Holidays South west Spain Steam railways in Sardinia Tenerife The Jungle Book The Railway Touring Company Touriocity Trujillo Villas Turkey Villas in Spain Volcano trail Western & Oriental

Copyright © 2021 · Exploring More - Privacy Policy