Best Cocktail Making Class in Edinburgh? This is IT!!
If you’re looking for a cocktail making class in Edinburgh that actually feels fun rather than awkward corporate team-building energy, then The Raging Bull absolutely delivered.
Located right on Lothian Road, The Raging Bull is already one of my favourite cocktail bars in the city anyway, so I was really excited to finally try their cocktail making masterclass properly. I’d actually been in the week before just for drinks with my fiancé when I spotted the cocktail making class being advertised behind the bar, which is what made me book it in the first place. That night was also when I first enquired about their downstairs private hire space because I’m currently looking at venues for my engagement party, and even then the staff were unbelievably attentive.
Aidan spent ages chatting away to us, answering questions about the venue and making recommendations, and honestly that level of care seems to run through the entire bar. Everyone we interacted with genuinely seemed happy to be there and it completely changes the atmosphere of a place when the staff are that friendly and welcoming.
For £45 per person, the cocktail making class includes a full two-hour hands-on experience behind the bar, a glass of prosecco on arrival, two cocktails each and two shots, which honestly feels more than worth it considering the quality of the drinks and the amount you get included.
And yes, by the end of it, me and Ivan were very, very tipsy.
As soon as we arrived at 6pm, we were handed glasses of prosecco and got to sit down together to look through the menu while Dougal, who took our class, explained how the evening was going to work. Straight away it felt relaxed and personal instead of overly formal or rushed, which I really liked because sometimes these experiences can feel a bit scripted. We also got little pinnies/aprons before going behind the bar which was such a fun touch and genuinely made it feel immersive.
The class itself was done one at a time, so Ivan went first while I watched, then it was my turn after. Dougal explained every single step in detail, talked us through why certain ingredients worked together, gave us little cocktail tips throughout and even shared bits of cocktail history as we went along. It never felt intimidating either, which I appreciated because although I love cocktails, I’m definitely not an expert bartender.
What I really liked was the pace of the whole experience. We weren’t rushed through making all the drinks at once just to sit down with them at the end. Instead, after each cocktail we got to properly relax, drink them, chat and enjoy ourselves before moving on to make the next one. The bar staff were honestly so attentive the entire night, constantly checking in on us, chatting to us and making the whole thing feel really welcoming.
One thing that genuinely surprised me was how busy the bar got, especially so early into the evening. There were already people coming in while we’d just started around 6pm and by about 7pm the place was properly busy with groups, couples and people out for drinks after work. Honestly, I think that says a lot about the place itself because people clearly come here for the cocktails, not just the atmosphere.
What I appreciated though was that despite how busy it got, we never once felt rushed. We still got loads of attention from the staff the entire night and the experience still felt personal from start to finish, which genuinely impressed me because it would have been very easy for them to just move us along quickly once the bar filled up.
Ivan chose the “Can You Kick It?” and a Leith Old Fashioned.
I went for the Spicy Peach & Passion Margarita, the Baby Bird and of course the iconic Phish Food espresso cocktail.
The Spicy Peach & Passion Margarita is apparently one of their most popular cocktails and after trying it, I completely understand why. It was sweet, spicy, fruity and honestly dangerous because it went down way too easily.
Then came the Baby Bird, which I was told is basically the cocktail that proves whether or not you can bartend because apparently “if you can make the Baby Bird, you can make anything.” No pressure or anything but I was up for the challenge! This one had more presentation and design involved which made it really fun to create and probably the cocktail I felt most proud of afterwards.
But my absolute favourite was the Phish Food.
The Raging Bull are really well known for their Ben & Jerry’s-inspired espresso cocktails and honestly they deserve the hype because they taste unreal. The Phish Food came with marshmallows that we got to roast ourselves before putting them on top of the drink and that alone healed something in me emotionally. Imagine a rich chocolatey espresso cocktail topped with melted marshmallows.
Now the funny part is I don’t actually like coffee.
But the bartenders adjusted the drink for me so the coffee flavour wasn’t overpowering and somehow it still tasted incredible. It was honestly one of the nicest cocktails I’ve had in ages and the fact they were happy to tweak things depending on what we liked made the whole experience feel even more personal.
The shots also deserve their own mention because they weren’t just basic random shots thrown in for the sake of it. The bartenders actually asked us what shots we didn’t like first, then suggested different options based on that. They offered things like Baby Guinness, Tequila Rose and loads of premium choices as well, which I thought was such a nice touch. We ended up choosing a honey tequila shot and a coconut tequila shot and both were genuinely lovely.
Dangerous, but very easy to drink!
Even outside of the cocktail masterclasses, The Raging Bull is absolutely worth visiting just for drinks alone. Their menu is huge with signature cocktails, classics and seasonal specials, so even if you’re not booking the full experience it’s still one of the best spots in Edinburgh for cocktails.
They also have a gorgeous downstairs private function room which honestly surprised me because it feels like its own hidden private bar. The space holds up to 45 people and includes tables, chairs, its own private bar area, a little stage in the corner and the option to plug in your own music, which immediately made me think how perfect it would be for birthdays, engagement parties, hen dos or private events. They also have lagers on draught downstairs too, which is ideal because not everyone in a group wants cocktails all night.
The room itself is free to hire as well, with just a refundable deposit and minimum spend needed on Friday and Saturday evenings, which in Edinburgh honestly feels rare these days. I’m genuinely already looking into it for my own engagement party because it has exactly the kind of cosy but fun atmosphere I’d want for a celebration.
Another thing that makes it even better is the location. Being right on Lothian Road means it’s super central and perfect if you’re heading further into town afterwards or down towards the Cowgate for a night out, but honestly it’s also good enough to be your only stop of the night too. The bar stays open until 1am, so you could easily spend the whole evening there between cocktails, music and the atmosphere.
We actually ended up staying until around 9pm and honestly would probably have stayed even longer if we didn’t already have a birthday party to get to afterwards.
Something else I really loved was seeing Ben, the owner, actually behind the bar working alongside the staff, chatting to customers and joking around with everyone throughout the night. I feel like that says a lot about a place because it would be very easy for an owner to stay completely behind the scenes once a bar gets popular, but you can tell there’s a genuine passion there for the atmosphere and experience they’re creating.
“After 19 years in this industry, this is still my favourite place to be.
Making the drinks, talking to guests, making sure every single one that comes across the bar is right.
That’s what The Raging Bull is built on.”
— Benjamin Leslie (Owner)
Honestly, every single person working there seemed like they genuinely loved their job and I think that’s why the whole place feels so welcoming.
What really makes The Raging Bull stand out to me though is that this isn’t just somewhere that does a good cocktail “experience.” The drinks themselves are genuinely incredible.
I’ve been to other cocktail bars in Edinburgh where the cocktails look fancy and theatrical but the actual taste ends up being a bit disappointing once the novelty wears off. Here, every single cocktail we tried actually tasted as good as it looked. Nothing felt gimmicky. The flavours were balanced properly, the presentation was fun without being overdone and you could tell a lot of care had gone into the menu.
Honestly, this is probably my favourite cocktail bar in Edinburgh right now, not just because of the experience but because the cocktails are genuinely that good and clearly the industry agrees.
