"Malmaison Edinburgh is situated in an old Former Seamen's Mission in the city’s port of Leith. While this castellated Victorian building – half chateau, half fortress – looks very quaint now, at the beginning of the twentieth century it was in the middle of a notorious dockland slum. Known as the “Angel Hotel”, the Seaman’s Mission was virtually a brothel for many years. With a knowing nod and wink to this, the hotel has been completely refurbished using a lot of black and red, the traditional colours for bordellos, and there is a red light running round reception. Do not worry. The area round the hotel is now very chic and upmarket. So much so that the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored nearby. Book into Room 322 if you want to enjoy one of the sweet little French turrets that crown the buildings, and if you ask very nicely at reception they may take you up on the roof. There are some great views all the way back to Auld Reekie and out into the Firth of Forth."

"While England has been going through its “Ginaissance”, Scotland has seen its national drink –unfashionable as late as the 1980s - reach stratospheric levels of desirability around the world. Wealthy people want to own bottles that retail in four figure sums. Wealthy companies want to own whole distilleries.

Edinburgh doesn’t have any distilleries within the city, but it is full of people who want to experience Scots whisky. Walk down the Royal Mile and you are assailed by shops selling whisky, tartan and cashmere. There is a subtle preponderance of certain retail companies who give their outlets different names but sell all the same whiskies at all the same prices.

So how to get an authentic experience of whisky while visiting in the Scottish capital? Here are ten places worth visiting where you are guaranteed to learn and enjoy – and not get ripped off in the process."