"Edinburgh International Festival, 9 August – 1 September. The mighty Edinburgh Festival was established in 1947 in an admirable effort to "provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit" in post-war Scotland. That same summer eight theatrical companies organised their own performances outside the festival proper and the concept of a festival "fringe” was born. These days Edinburgh’s fringe is as important a showcase for international musical and theatrical talent as the festival proper. In between forays into the busy city relax at Norton House with its quiet gardens and superb oak-panelled residents´ lounge."

"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."