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Total flexibility, no commitment

A world of unique, crafted gins

Easy, free and reliable delivery

Total flexibility, no commitment

A world of unique, crafted gins

Easy, free and reliable delivery

Total flexibility, no commitment

A world of unique, crafted gins

Easy, free and reliable delivery

This Gin Joint in Edinburgh holds 400 different gins!

This Gin Joint in Edinburgh holds 400 different gins!

Aug 20, 2018
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56 North

2 West Crosscauseway
 Edinburgh EH8 9JP
0131 662 8860

If you’re serious about discovering every flavour the world of gin has to offer, there’s no better place to find your feet than 56 North. 

Opened in 2008 by James Sutherland, a gin lover and tasting judge for the Scottish Gin Awards, this Edinburgh treasure bills itself as Scotland’s first gin bar. And, with more than 400 bottles on its ever-evolving menu, they’re serious about this spirit.

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But 56 North is so much more than just a bar. It’s also a working distillery space with a cracking kitchen and lots of experiences on offer for budding ginologists. 
As James says, “We are a relaxed and airy bar, restaurant and distillery space, so we want people to relax and enjoy great food and drinks.” 

With a delicious menu stocked with build-your-own burgers and Scottish delicacies (including a Scottish sharing platter and haggis dippers, both of which would go down a treat with a G&T or two), 56 North is a perfect stop for lunch or dinner. But, however delicious the food, it will always be the gin that takes centre stage here. 

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With so many gins to list, a lesser bar would let their drinks menu descend into chaos. But for James, a true connoisseur, arranging his list with precision is all part of the fun. It’s broken down by flavour profile, allowing you to zero in on the gin you’re most likely to love.  
He says, “We categorise all 400 of our gins by flavour and can recommend loads of different garnishes and mixers. As such, we firmly believe that there’s something in the bar for every guest!”

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And it’s not a static offering, either. He continues, “The list always evolves. We reprint it every two to four weeks, and it’s constantly adapting to reflect new gins, new seasons, new ideas and new mixers.” 
And don’t make the mistake of thinking that 56 North has gone for quality over quantity on their gin list. Far from it. “The gins we stock have to represent the category well,” Jason says. Each new bottle goes through a tasting process, where the staff discuss its story, provenance and, of course, the flavour. 

“We’ll always lean towards our Scottish gin friends,” James says, “but the reality is that we’ll only ever stock things that we think adds something to the list.” 
For a guided tour through the formidable 56 North gin list – and, indeed, the whole world of gin flavour – you simply must book a spot on one of the masterclasses offered by James and his crack team of bartenders and ginologists. 

“They’re interactive sessions led by us,” James says, “so we work with the groups to explore flavours and ideas. It means we help open our guests’ eyes to some new ideas.” 
You can choose between two ace masterclasses. For serious ginologists, the Gin Odyssey is a guided tour through flavour, where you’ll get an overview of gin styles along with a fundamental understanding of different gin flavours – via eight gins tasted alongside chocolates, fruit, premium tonics and servings of North 56’s delicious food. 

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Or, you can opt for the Scottish gin and cheese tasting, where your gins are paired with a stunning cheeseboard to allow you to experience the full range of flavourful bliss that pairing food with the perfect gin can bring into being. 

Whichever you choose, one thing is certain: James and his team will make sure you have an incredible evening. “Quality and how much our guests are enjoying themselves,” smiles James, when asked about what he focuses on. “It’s simple, but effective!”

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