one4review | On 16, Sep 2026

Reviewing this show was a challenge. It featured two performers engaging in decent conversation while playing blues music and guiding the audience through a tasting of three, which ultimately became four drinks. Unfortunately, the organisers committed the ‘ultimate’ blunder: they hosted a whisky tasting in Edinburgh, yet served three whiskeys and only one whisky.

Presenting whiskey from China, America and Ireland at a Scottish whisky event was, frankly, mind-boggling in the worst way. It is akin to hosting a Champagne tasting in Paris and serving cava and prosecco instead. I appreciate that this may sound pedantic, but if you’re advertising a whisky experience in Edinburgh, I think it’s reasonable to expect Scotch whisky to feature prominently. To a whisky enthusiast, it borders on heresy.

Setting the drink debacle aside, the blues performance was entertaining, engaging and well-executed. The performers were clearly talented, and there was a relaxed atmosphere that made the hour pass pleasantly enough. However, can it really be considered the ‘ultimate’ blues experience? Honestly, no. There are far superior blues events available, and given that this followed the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival by only a month, such a bold claim is difficult to justify. There are also better blues events at the Fringe itself.

The whisky tasting also fell short for me. The drinks were served in wide plastic tumblers, making it nearly impossible to properly nose the spirits. There was no water provided to adjust the drinks or any discussion of how dilution affects a whisky’s profile, both fairly fundamental parts of a proper tasting experience.

The tasting notes themselves became a rather tedious back-and-forth between the audience and hosts, with participants seemingly trying to outdo one another with predictable clichés such as “vanilla with hints of orange peel”. Compared with some of the other tasting experiences available during the Fringe, it simply didn’t match up.

Ultimately, was it a great blues session? No, it was just okay.

Was it a great whisky tasting? No, it certainly wasn’t.

Was it a decent way to spend an hour? Yes. Decent music and drink, what’s not to like?

Would I go again? No, probably not.

There is definitely a good concept here, and with better drink selection, appropriate glassware and a more structured tasting element, I could see this becoming a much stronger experience. For now, though, two stars feels about right.
**
Reviewed by Mike
The Space Triplex
20.15 to 21.00