The Scotch Whisky Experience

You'll spot the crowds queuing outside this Castlehill institution and might assume it's just another Royal Mile tourist magnet. You'd be half right, but dismissing it entirely would be daft. The barrel ride is wonderfully naff in the best possible way, and the tutored tastings are genuinely decent - especially if you're trying to sort your Speysides from your Islays. The collection spans the whole of Scotland's whisky regions, and the staff actually know their stuff rather than just reading from scripts. Yes, it's pricey and packed with tour groups, but if you've got visiting relatives or fancy brushing up on your whisky knowledge without trekking to actual distilleries, this does the job properly. The shop downstairs will seriously damage your wallet, mind.