one4review | On 18, Aug 2026

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) club at the Vaults in Leith is a perfect place for a whisky tasting; it’s like stepping back in time in the heart of old Leith. The staff are welcoming and friendly, and the main bar would be a great place to while away a few hours, even if it’s just enjoying all the restored features of this beautiful old building. We didn’t get that long though, and were whisked away into a smaller room, still steeped in history and no less grand, to be met by our guide for the afternoon. I did miss the chap’s name so apologies, but he was knowledgeable, charming, and a great host for such an event.

I really think this would make a great date with your partner, maybe an extra wee birthday treat for a loved one, or even just a special ‘thank you for being so great’ treat for yourself. 3 whiskies chosen by your host, 3 different flavour profiles to enjoy; learn about many facets of whisky such as the history of whisky from that region, how to assess body, what the colour tells us, how to smell it properly, different aspects of tasting, and how to adjust to your own preferences etc. It’s really quite a fun break, especially when running from one show to the next gets a bit repetitive; it’s nice to have events like this around to break the Fringe up and just provide alternative things to see and do. I hope we see more activities like this pop up to make the Fringe even more diverse.

Okay, so why not 5 stars you ask? Well, the SMWS themselves have on offer even more fabulous tastings. While I thought I would be giving this one five stars when I left, I attended another event the SMWS are putting on in their other Clubhouse on Queen Street which offers 5 whiskies to try, alongside 5 paired tasting plates, with the same style of education and enjoyment, so there needs to be a way of separating the two. 5 whiskies are better than 3 after all; you can’t beat mathematics. So 4 stars for the smaller sibling of the tasting events, but that doesn’t make it any less great an activity that I will now be adding to my list of Fringe staples, if indeed, as I’m hoping, they do it every year from now on.

****
Reviewed by Mike
The Cask Room at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society – The Vaults
20th to 21st then 25th to 28th August
16.30 (30 mins)