My Gift Guide for Food & Drink Experiences to buy this Christmas
Some people are extremely hard to buy gifts for - they’ve been there, done that and have products and trinkets from around the world and everything their wee heart desires inbetween. Some people are super passionate about one particular thing and its extremely easy to buy them something that compliments their hobby but sometimes it can be overwhelming.
Here are my Top 10 Food and Drink Experiences that you can purchase vouchers for, for that particular food and drink aficionado in your life. Most of these are Edinburgh based, some across Scotland.
Here is my Gift Guide of Food and Drink Experiences TO BUY THIS CHRISTMAS
TIPSY MIDGIE WHISKY & GIN DRINKERY CHOCOLATE & WHISKY PAIRING
Using only distillery edition and unique single malts to pair with incredible chocolates, Colin will pair 5 delicious drams with exciting results to contrast, compliment and challenge the palate.
£40.00 per person. You choose your date and time from dates available.
BREWLAB BARISTA COFFEE EXPERIENCE
The perfect gift for the coffee lover. There are 4 experiences to choose from : Introduction to Speciality Coffee,Filter Brewing masterclass, Espresso Masterclass and Latte Art. All experiences take place in Brewlabs Training Lab.
Pricing starts from £40.00 per person
WINE EVENTS SCOTLAND, ONLINE OR IN PERSON TASTINGS
Diana runs informative and fun wine tastings. There are several wine events to choose from including Winemakers Series Online Zoom Tastings, Wine Workshops held every Monday in person and Wine Lunches & Dinners. You can purchase tickets in advance of most events.
Tastings start from £15.00 per person or household
BELHAVEN BEER TOUR AND TASTING
Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar, East Lothian won the Best Visitor Attraction 2022 at the World Beer Awards. It’s a superb brewery who deliver a great tour and who have a fabulous bar in which to sample their beers in afterwards.
Tour is £15.00 per person or you can buy gift vouchers
EDINBURGH FOOD SAFARI
A local guide will take you to five or six pre-arranged different but very authentic bars or restaurants or shops. You will get a sample size at each stop. There are three safaris – two feature the best of local Scottish food – Eat Scotland and Sunday Morning and Eat The World celebrates Edinburgh’s international outlook on food.
Tours cost £63.00 per person
SUMMERHALL DRINKS LAB
Edinburgh’s only dedicated drinks tasting venue, host to fun, interactive drinks experiences with a variety of spirits. Try a carefully curated selection of beautifully crafted spirits on one of their gin, rum, tequila tastings, and gin cruises and learn the history and flavours found in every sip.
Prices start from £22.50 per person
GERONIMO SAILING WITH MARINE TROON
If you are in need of some rejuvenation, a reconnection with nature; if you want to feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your back and spend the day drinking prosecco followed by a blissful sleep and pampering, then book yourself a Marine Troon x Geronimo Sailing activity. They sail from Ardrossan harbour up the West Coast taking in Isle of Cumbrae, Arran, Jura and Islay.
Prices to stay at Marine Troon start from around £150.00 per room www.marineandlawn.com/marinetroon/
Prices to charter Infinity yacht start from £250.00 per person www.geronimosailing.com
RAGING BULL COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS
Get hands-on behind the bar with Edinburgh’s best mixology experience. Their professional, award winning bartenders will guide you through the masterclass and help you make your very own cocktails! You’ll laugh, you’ll party, and hopefully you’ll learn some tricks of the trade! This is the perfect event for any Birthday Party, Hen-Do or special occasion!
Silver package - £35.00 per person and Gold package - £45.00 per person
WHISKY FOOD SAFARI - SPIRIT AND SPICE WITH GHILLIE BASAN
Join Ghillie at her home in the Cairngorms for a unique whisky and food pairing. By breaking down the aromas and tastes in the whisky you then build them up in the food so that they compliment one another on your flavour journey. Together you prepare spice pastes and ingredients and assemble them on a slate from Ghillie’s roof!
But don’t be fooled – this is no ordinary whisky tasting and food pairing experience and the food is not just a nibble – it is a relaxing and memorable experience to enjoy as your midday or evening meal. Allow 3-4 hours of your time to step into a time warp with a stunning view, a log fire and good company.
Enquire re pricing
RESTORATION YARD, HAMPORIUM
Restoration Yard is stocked with amazing local, Scottish and independent food and drink producers. Your wee eyes will twinkle with delight, your jaw might even drop at the incredible range of tasty treats in store. The Hamporium has a number of ready made hampers available but you can also make your own bespoke hamper.
Prices vary.