Distill a Bottle of Rum on mini copper stills

The most unusual part of this Edinburgh outing is simple: you make a bottle of rum from scratch. In a small room beneath the Cumberland Bar, you taste different rums, choose up to 10 fruits, herbs, and spices, then run your recipe through your own mini copper still.

I like the personal scale, with no more than three people listed for the session, and I like that the bottle is genuinely yours to shape. Gary and Neil are praised for making beginners feel at ease. The main thing to consider is the price, $123.40 per person, which is fair for a three-hour, hands-on class but high if you only want a quick tasting.

Key points before you book

• Choose up to 10 botanicals: Build a rum recipe from fruits, herbs, spices, and other available ingredients.
• Use your own mini copper still: Each person distills a 500ml bottle rather than simply watching a demonstration.
• Taste three rum samples first: The tasting helps you decide what flavor direction suits you.
• Enjoy cocktails during the process: Your rum needs time to run, so the class includes a drink while you wait.
• Leave with a wax-sealed bottle: You bottle, label, name, measure, and seal your finished rum.
• Small-group setting: The listed maximum is three people, making this more personal than a large workshop.

A rum-making class in a basement room

Sip Antics operates from a bespoke micro distillery room connected with the Cumberland Bar at 1 to 3 Cumberland Street. That address puts you in Edinburgh’s New Town area, close to public transportation and an old-fashioned pub setting rather than a large industrial distillery.

The class begins at noon and lasts about three hours. You meet at The Cumberland Bar, then finish back at the same meeting point. This is useful to know if you are fitting the experience between other Edinburgh plans. It is not a quick stop you squeeze between breakfast and lunch. Give yourself the afternoon.

The room is described as cosy, relaxed, and friendly. That matters here. Rum-making includes plenty of small choices, and a cramped but informal class can work better than a polished showroom. You can smell the ingredients, ask basic questions, and change your mind before committing to a recipe.

Your host may be Gary or Neil. Gary is praised for his warm Irish humor and clear explanations, while Neil is described as an enthusiastic host who gives close attention to the people in the room. The host names may depend on the date, so do not book on the assumption that one particular person will lead your session.

The opening drink and rum tasting

You receive a rum and mixer when you arrive. The welcome drink gives you a relaxed start while the host explains how the three-hour session will work.

Next comes a tasting of three different rum samples. This is more useful than it may sound. If you already have a favorite rum style, the samples give you a starting point. If you normally drink rum only in cocktails, the tasting helps you notice how spice, fruit, sweetness, and other flavors change the base spirit.

The class is aimed at rum fans, but you do not need specialist knowledge. The host explains the ingredients and flavor profiles in plain terms, and the small group makes it easier to ask questions without feeling self-conscious. That is one of the strongest reasons to choose this over a standard guided tasting.

The tasting also keeps the practical side of the class from becoming a guessing game. You are not simply handed a shelf of botanicals and told to invent a drink. You taste first, listen to the explanation, then decide what you want your bottle to do.

Remember that this is a boozy afternoon. You receive a welcome drink, try three rum samples, and later enjoy a cocktail. Eat sensibly beforehand and plan your day around the alcohol rather than treating this as a quick pre-dinner activity.

Building your own recipe with 10 botanicals

The creative center of the experience is choosing your ingredients. You can select up to 10 botanicals from the available fruits, herbs, spices, and other flavoring ingredients.

Ten is a generous limit. It lets you create a layered recipe, but it also creates the risk of adding too much. A good combination may be more memorable than a crowded one, so listen closely when the host explains which flavors work together. Gary is praised for having a good nose for combinations, and that guidance is valuable if you are unsure how to balance your choices.

You might choose a seasonal theme, such as a Christmas rum, or build a recipe around flavors you already enjoy. The experience supports both approaches. One person can make something personal and restrained, while another can treat the ingredient table like a laboratory.

I especially like that the recipe is not preselected. You make the decisions yourself, and those decisions become part of the souvenir. The final bottle is not just a purchased product with a gift-shop label. It records an afternoon, a flavor idea, and the people who made it with you.

Allergens matter here. Tell Sip Antics about any allergies when booking or before the session. The available ingredients are part of the central activity, so this is not a detail to leave until the last minute.

Distilling on individual mini copper stills

Once you have selected your botanicals, you use an individual mini copper still to distill the ingredients. This is the point where the class shifts from tasting and planning to hands-on production.

You are not merely watching a staff member make one batch for the room. Each participant produces a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle. The individual stills give the class a clear purpose and help explain what happens during distillation.

The process takes time, which is why the experience runs for roughly three hours. While your rum is distilling, you enjoy a cocktail. This waiting period is built into the class rather than treated as dead time.

The distillation stage is also where expectations need to be realistic. You are making a small personal bottle in a workshop setting, not operating a full commercial distillery. The value comes from learning the process and making your own recipe, not from producing a large quantity of rum at a bargain price.

When the rum is ready, you taste it before bottling. This gives you a chance to experience the result as part of the process, rather than taking a sealed bottle home without knowing what you made.

Bottling, naming, and wax sealing

The final stage has the feel of a proper finishing ritual. Your rum is measured for proof, then bottled, labelled, named, and sealed with wax.

Those details are more than decoration. Naming the rum makes the bottle personal, while the label helps preserve the memory of your recipe. The wax seal gives the finished product a gift-ready look, which is one reason this can work well as a birthday present or shared activity.

You take home 500ml of your own rum. The bottle is the lasting part of the experience, but it is not the only value. You also leave with a better sense of how ingredients affect a spirit and how a recipe develops from tasting to final product.

Some people may want to open the bottle right away. Others may let it sit for a few weeks before sharing it with family. The class encourages that second kind of anticipation, though the timing of when to open it is not specified.

Why the small group matters

The listed maximum is three participants. That is a major advantage for anyone who prefers direct instruction and conversation over a large class.

You can ask questions about basic distillation, flavor profiles, or ingredient combinations without waiting for a full room to quiet down. The host can also respond to your particular recipe rather than giving only a general presentation.

The format suits couples, close friends, and small family groups especially well. It can also work for a solo visitor who enjoys meeting people through a shared activity. The class has enough structure to keep things moving, but enough flexibility for each person to create a different bottle.

The small size has one practical drawback: availability may be limited. The experience is booked an average of 41 days ahead, so you should not assume you can find a place a day or two before your Edinburgh visit. Book early if the date matters.

What the $123.40 price includes

At $123.40 per person, this is not a low-cost drink tasting. You are paying for about three hours of guided instruction, a welcome rum and mixer, three rum samples, a cocktail during distillation, use of a personal mini copper still, and a 500ml bottle to take home.

The price makes the most sense if you value participation. A standard tasting may cost less and may offer more samples, but it will not give you a recipe, a finished bottle, or the chance to handle the process yourself.

The value is also stronger when you are choosing this as a gift. A named and wax-sealed bottle has more personality than a conventional bottle bought from a shop. The experience itself becomes part of the present, which helps justify the cost for a birthday, holiday, or special afternoon with a friend.

It is less suitable if you want a serious professional qualification, a long tour of a working distillery, or a large take-home quantity. The class is a playful, practical introduction to rum-making on a small scale.

Who will enjoy this Edinburgh experience

You should consider booking if you:

• Already enjoy rum and want to understand flavor choices better.
• Like hands-on workshops more than passive sightseeing.
• Want a distinctive gift for a friend, partner, or family member.
• Enjoy creating seasonal recipes, such as a Christmas rum.
• Prefer a small group where you can ask questions freely.
• Want a souvenir you helped make rather than a standard Edinburgh purchase.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, have ingredient allergies that cannot be accommodated, or prefer a short activity with little waiting. The class includes several drinks and takes most of an afternoon.

It is also worth checking your plans after the session. The activity is relaxed, but you will be tasting multiple rums and enjoying cocktails. A quiet evening afterward may suit you better than a packed schedule of museums and reservations.

Practical details for planning your visit

The meeting point is The Cumberland Bar, 1 to 3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT. The class starts at 12:00 pm and ends back at the meeting point.

A mobile ticket is provided, and the session is offered in English. The location is near public transportation. Service animals are allowed.

Confirmation arrives when you book. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The experience is listed for no more than three people. Since it is popular enough to be booked well ahead, reserve early if you need a particular day during a short Edinburgh stay.

Should you book the Sip Antics rum class?

I would book this if you want an Edinburgh activity that is social, practical, and a little different from another historic building tour. The best parts are the tiny group, the freedom to choose your own botanicals, and the bottle you finish yourself.

The price is the main hurdle, and the alcohol content deserves some thought. But for a rum fan, a couple looking for a shared activity, or someone buying a personal birthday gift, the experience offers more than a tasting. You learn the basics, make flavor choices, use a mini still, and take home a bottle with your own name on it.

Book early, tell the host about allergies, and leave the rest of your afternoon open. If that sounds like your kind of Edinburgh memory, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the rum-making experience start?

It starts at The Cumberland Bar, 1 to 3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK.

What time does the experience begin?

The listed start time is 12:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately three hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $123.40 per person.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum of three participants.

What do I make during the class?

You make a custom 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of rum using a mini copper still.

How many botanicals can I choose?

You can select up to 10 botanicals from the available ingredients.

Are drinks included?

Yes. You receive a rum and mixer on arrival, taste three rum samples, and enjoy a cocktail while your rum is distilling.

What do I take home?

You take home your distilled rum in a bottle that you name, label, and seal with wax.

Is cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.