Famous Edinburgh cocktail bar, Panda & Sons, invites world-class bartenders to Winton Castle for a spirited Panda Highland Games
In June, Winton Castle was delighted to welcome the award-winning, acclaimed Edinburgh cocktail bar, Panda & Sons at the launch of their international Panda Highland Games.
This was intended to be a games with a difference, incorporating a four-day bartending showcase as a warm-up, bringing together world-class cocktail talent from across the globe in a spirited celebration of creativity, community, and liquid brilliance, then culminating in a rousing Highland Games at Winton Castle.
As well as a special Winton Highland Games, their company away day included a barbeque, kiltmaking workshop and, of course, plenty of Panda cocktails and drinks.
Panda & Sons at 79 Queen Street in Edinburgh describes itself as ‘a hidden bar fusing the classic Prohibition style Speakeasy and a nod to the Vintage style Barbershop’.
Founder of Panda & Sons, Iain Mcpherson, has been an ever present in the ‘Bar World 100’ list, since its inception, the top 100 most influential people in the Global Drinks Industry List. This year he claimed top spot on the 2025 List, becoming the first Scot to do so.
Iain from Panda & Sons says: “I have been very fortunate to travel the world and learn so much about cultures of amazing countries, which I find very beneficial and special. Scotland has one of the richest histories and cultures in the world, so I wanted to step-up and host an event at home, where there was valuable networking, fun and, most importantly, our guests would leave with a better understanding of Scotland.
“It was important to have a day about Scottish culture that was also fun. That’s where the idea of the Highland Games came from and Winton Castle just jumped out as the perfect venue. The Castle itself provided a stunning backdrop for the Highland Games which were held in the glorious Walled Garden with the Winton Castle team ensuring that all ages, had fun and joined in.”
Piped Up by the Pickled Piper with the Panda & Sons Flag Flying Proudly
The visitors were piped up to the Games by the Pickled Piper with the Panda & Sons flag flying proudly from the castle tower.
After a very energetic afternoon, guests were treated to an insight into the history of tartan and kiltmaking and ‘volunteers’ even had a go at being wrapped in a plaid.
As part of the whole Panda Highland Games experience, each guest bartender was given a bottle of ‘Unite the Clans’, a limited-release blended Scotch whisky created especially for the occasion by Blind Summit Whisky in collaboration with Iain McPherson. This unique bottling was crafted to celebrate unity, creativity, and the global bar community who had gathered in Edinburgh for the Games.
A portion of the profits from Unite the Clans will go to support Wildcat Haven, a conservation charity working to protect the endangered Scottish Wildcat and all participants on the day, were gifted an adoption of a wildcat.
“Perhaps the ‘Panda Games’ will become an annual event? We hope so”, concludes Iain Mcpherson.
You can learn more about hosting your own Highland Games at Winton Castle, the events venue just outside Edinburgh, on their website.
Photography credits to Tiago Maya (Mayuka).
