Distill a Bottle of Rum on mini copper stills

The best part of this Edinburgh experience is that you do not just taste rum, you make a bottle of your own. In a cosy micro-distillery room beneath the Cumberland Bar, you sample different rums, choose up to 10 botanicals, and distill the result in a personal mini copper still.

I like the very small group, capped at three by the current booking details, and the chance to take home a finished 500ml bottle. I also like the relaxed teaching style of Gary and Neil, who explain rum, herbs, spices, and flavour balance without making beginners feel out of place.

The main consideration is the price, $123.40 per person, which is more than a standard tasting. You are paying for a three-hour class, drinks, personal instruction, equipment, and a one-off bottle, so it makes best sense as a special outing or gift.

Key points at a glance

• Your own mini copper still: Distill your chosen ingredients rather than simply watching a demonstration.
• Up to 10 botanicals: Build a recipe with fruits, herbs, and spices to suit your taste.
• A 500ml bottle to take home: Your rum is bottled, named, labelled, and finished with a wax seal.
• Three hours with a hands-on format: Tastings, cocktails, instruction, distillation, and bottling all fit into one session.
• A tiny group: The stated maximum is three people, allowing plenty of time for questions and personal guidance.
• Central Edinburgh meeting point: Meet at The Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland Street, at 12pm, then finish at the same place.

Making rum instead of just ordering it

Many spirit experiences ask you to stand back, listen, and sample. This one gives you a working role. You choose the flavour direction, load your ingredients into an individual mini copper still, and take responsibility for the final blend.

That matters because rum can be understood in a practical way here. You are not just told that herbs, fruit, or spices affect a spirit. You smell the ingredients, consider how they might work together, and then taste the result. Even if your bottle is not destined for a drinks competition, you leave with a better sense of how flavour is built.

The class takes place at Sip Antics, a bespoke micro-distillery room associated with The Cumberland Bar. The setting is described as a cosy room in an old-fashioned pub, rather than a large commercial distillery. That gives the session a personal feel, though it also means you should expect an intimate room rather than a grand production site.

At the start, you receive a rum and mixer while the host runs through the plan. This is a useful opening. You can settle in, meet the other people in your group, and understand what the afternoon will involve before the stills come out.

Meeting Gary or Neil at The Cumberland Bar

Your meeting point is The Cumberland Bar, at 1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT. The experience starts at noon and ends back at the same meeting point. It is near public transportation, which helps if you are fitting the class into a wider day in Edinburgh.

The hosts named in the supplied information are Gary and Neil. Gary is described as a warm, funny Irish host who puts people at ease and answers basic questions as readily as technical ones. Neil is also presented as an enthusiastic host who takes care with the experience from beginning to end.

That style is important in a class like this. You will spend about three hours in a small room with people you may not know. A stiff, lecture-heavy approach could make the session drag. The format instead appears designed around conversation, questions, tasting, and practical choices.

You do not need to arrive as a rum expert. The class is aimed at people who enjoy rum, but the teaching also covers the basics of distillation and flavour profiles. If you are curious but unsure about the difference between ingredients, this is the kind of setting where you can ask without feeling foolish.

Three rum tastings before you choose

The tasting begins with three different rum samples. This gives you a reference point before you create your own recipe. You can compare the samples and start thinking about what you like, rather than choosing botanicals without any sense of direction.

The tasting is not only about alcohol strength or brand preference. It helps you notice how a rum changes when fruit, herbs, or spices enter the picture. A sweet, fruity idea will lead you toward a different recipe from a warming, spiced one.

You also receive cocktails during the session. The exact cocktails are not specified, so you should not book this expecting a fixed cocktail menu. The useful point is that the drinks are part of the teaching and social rhythm, rather than an unrelated bar stop.

Pace matters here. Three hours is long enough for the host to explain the process, let you make decisions, and give the spirit time to distill. It is not a quick tasting that you squeeze between sightseeing stops. Leave room in your afternoon, especially if you plan to continue drinking afterward.

Choosing up to 10 botanicals

The ingredient selection is the creative heart of the class. You can choose up to 10 botanicals from the available range, including fruits, herbs, and spices. You smell the options, consider the flavour profile you want, and create a recipe that is yours alone.

This is where the host’s guidance has real value. Ten ingredients can sound generous, but more is not automatically better. Strong spices or bold herbs may dominate a blend, while fruit can push it in a softer direction. Gary is described as having a good nose for combinations, and the hosts can help you avoid building a recipe that fights with itself.

The best approach is to arrive with an idea, but not a rigid plan. A Christmas rum, for example, can take a spiced direction. One person may prefer a festive bottle, while another chooses something fruit-led or herbal. The format allows you to make those decisions at the table.

You should also tell Sip Antics about allergies before the session. That information is specifically requested, and it is especially relevant when you are smelling and handling a range of ingredients. Do not assume every botanical will be suitable for you.

Working at your own mini copper still

Once you have selected the ingredients, you use an individual mini copper still. This is more engaging than watching a large still operate from a distance because your recipe remains at the centre of the process.

The still is the practical link between the lesson and the bottle you take home. You have chosen the ingredients, watched the distillation process, and then tasted the freshly made rum. That sequence gives the afternoon a clear purpose.

The experience is described as producing a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle. The bottle is not a generic souvenir handed over at the door. It is the result of your recipe and your session, which gives it value as a keepsake even if you later decide the flavour needs a little patience.

The precise proof is measured before bottling. This is a useful detail because the spirit is not simply poured into a bottle without explanation. You get a sense of the finished strength before the final presentation.

Bottling, naming, and wax sealing your result

After distillation, you taste the new rum before bottling. That tasting is a key moment. Freshly distilled spirit may not taste exactly as you imagined, and the chance to assess it makes the process feel complete rather than purely decorative.

You then bottle, label, name, and wax-seal the rum. The wax seal adds a satisfying finish, but the naming and labelling matter just as much. They turn the bottle into a personal record of the afternoon.

The result also makes a strong gift. The experience itself can be given as a birthday present, and the bottle gives the recipient something physical to take home. It also works well for friends or family members who want to make the recipe together rather than receive a standard bottle from a shop.

Several people have chosen to let their rum rest for a few weeks before opening it. That is a practical tip rather than a firm rule in the supplied information. You can enjoy the bottle later with family, use it as a shelf piece for a time, or open it when the occasion feels right.

What the three-hour schedule means for you

The stated duration is approximately three hours. The session includes:

• A welcome drink of rum and mixer
• An outline of the class
• Three rum tastings
• Botanical selection
• Guidance on flavour profiles and distillation
• Use of an individual mini copper still
• A cocktail while your rum distills
• Tasting the finished spirit
• Proof measurement, bottling, labelling, naming, and wax sealing

That is a generous amount of activity for one afternoon. You are not paying only for the final 500ml bottle. You are paying for the ingredients, drinks, equipment, time, and instruction that lead to it.

The small group changes the value calculation. With a maximum of three in the current details, the host can respond to individual tastes and questions. A larger class might offer more social energy, but it would give each person less attention at the still and during recipe selection.

The pace is likely to suit you if you enjoy conversation and hands-on learning. It may not suit you if you want a fast, polished tasting with little explanation. The class asks you to spend an afternoon with the process.

Price and the value of a personal bottle

At $123.40 per person, this is a premium activity by ordinary Edinburgh sightseeing standards. You could buy a bottle of rum for far less, and a standard bar visit would cost less than three hours of guided spirit making.

The comparison is not quite fair, though. This price includes a personal 500ml bottle, several tastings, cocktails, raw ingredients, use of a mini still, and direct attention from the host. It also includes an activity you cannot reproduce by simply visiting a shop.

I see the strongest value for a birthday, anniversary, friend’s outing, or rum fan who already owns plenty of bottles. It is also a good choice if you want a souvenir with a story attached to it. The bottle records an afternoon in Edinburgh and your own flavour choices.

The value is weaker if you are mainly looking for a cheap way to drink rum. You may also want to think twice if you do not enjoy making decisions about flavour. The experience is built around participation, not just consumption.

The activity is recommended by 100 percent of the supplied ratings and carries a five-star score from 36 reviews. That is a strong signal, but the format still needs to suit you. Its appeal comes from the host, the small room, and the personal bottle, not from a grand distillery tour or a long list of historical exhibits.

Who should book this Edinburgh rum class

This experience is a good fit for:

• Dedicated rum fans who want to make rather than simply sample
• Couples and friends looking for a shared afternoon activity
• People buying a distinctive birthday or holiday gift
• Curious beginners who appreciate patient explanations
• Edinburgh residents wanting a local activity
• Visitors who can spare three hours and want something beyond standard sightseeing

It is less suitable for anyone avoiding alcohol, anyone with an undisclosed ingredient allergy, or anyone wanting a large social event. The room and group are small, and the focus is on your own bottle.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, and the start and finish are at the Cumberland Bar. Confirmation is received when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

A few practical tips before noon

Tell the operator about allergies when you book or before you arrive. This is the most important practical point because you will work with a selection of botanicals.

Arrive ready to spend the afternoon indoors in a cosy room. The published start time is 12pm, and the activity ends where it begins. You do not need to plan a separate transfer between the meeting point and the distillery room.

If you are buying this as a gift, leave enough time in your Edinburgh schedule for the full session. A three-hour class, plus time before or afterward, is not something to squeeze into a narrow gap between fixed bookings.

You may also want to decide what kind of rum sounds appealing before you arrive. A festive spice blend, a fruit-forward recipe, or an herbal style can help you begin. Keep your plan flexible, since the available ingredients and the host’s advice should guide the final choice.

Should you book Sip Antics?

Book it if you want a personal, hands-on rum experience with a small group and a bottle that carries your name and recipe. The strongest reasons are the individual mini copper still, the choice of up to 10 botanicals, and the friendly guidance from Gary or Neil.

Skip it if you only want a quick tasting, a large distillery tour, or the cheapest possible rum-related activity. At $123.40, the price depends on your interest in the making process.

For a rum fan, a curious beginner, or someone seeking a memorable gift in Edinburgh, this is a thoughtful choice. Book well ahead if your dates are fixed, since the activity averages 41 days of advance booking.

FAQ

Where does the rum-making experience start?

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

What time does the activity start?

The stated start time is 12pm.

Where does the experience finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at The Cumberland Bar.

How long does the class last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join?

The current activity details state a maximum of three people.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $123.40 per person.

What do I take home?

You take home a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of rum that you have distilled, bottled, named, labelled, and wax-sealed.

How many botanicals can I choose?

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

Are drinks included?

Yes. You receive a rum and mixer on arrival, sample three different rums, and enjoy a cocktail while your rum is distilling.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.