The drinking culture in Scotland is legendary, with tales of alcohol-fuelled exploits easy to find in pubs and bars north of the border.

In recent years, the Scots' reputation for drinking has, not entirely fairly, become a subject for ridicule, thanks partly to sitcom character Rab C Nesbitt and stand-ups such as Frankie Boyle.

However, one thing drink-related that has not changed is the fact Scotland produces the world's finest whisky. The nation has more than 100 distilleries, producing something for every taste.

A group of Edinburgh bar owners have now decided to group together to offer tourists the very best in whisky, producing a guide and map to where to get the best Scottish firewater. So why not book into one of Edinburgh's best hotels, follow their advice and give your taste buds some stimulation.

Whisky Bars of Edinburgh

The bar owners keen to promote Scotland's finest products get few marks for imagination in the choice of name for their group - Whisky Bars of Edinburgh is certainly not going to mislead anyone. But this initiative is not about flash marketing, with the participating pubs and bars focusing on quality of service and product.

Chris Conway, of distillery industry body ScotlandWhisky, explained that the drink is one of the main things that attracts tourists to Edinburgh. By using the guide to choose their bars carefully, visitors will be assured of not just the best produce, but also a great atmosphere.

"Edinburgh is rightly famous for its bars and Whisky Bars of Edinburgh brings together ten fantastic examples of where visitors can enjoy a dram in a traditional setting," said Mr Conway.

Enjoy a drink in regal surroundings

Edinburgh has one of Europe's best-known castles and the Queen's official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Linking the two is the famous Royal Mile, which is home to some of the capital's best hotels, including the Radisson SAS Edinburgh.

The street also has plenty of bars and restaurants, including The Albanach, which serves traditional Scottish food, which can be washed down with your choice from over 100 single malts. Be careful to check the price before ordering, some of the rarer whiskies cost in excess of £25 a shot.

The infamous pub crawl

Edinburgh, of course, is famed for its wealth of cultural attractions, such as the Royal Scottish Academy, Writers' Museum, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Dean Gallery. However, many young adults see the city's main attraction as the Rose Street Challenge - an epic pub crawl down an Edinburgh street packed with bars and restaurants.

Booking into one of Edinburgh city centre's best hotels is advisable if you are thinking of taking on the challenge, as you will certainly need somewhere comfy to rest your aching head the morning after.

At least one of the stops on the drinking marathon is guaranteed to sell some decent liquor, as the Whisky Bars of Edinburgh-approved The Abbotsford is reputed to have one of the finest selections of whisky in the capital.

© Copyright