Dublin: Gin Masterclass with Welcome Drink & Tasting Flight

Stillgarden’s one-hour masterclass takes you inside a working Dublin distillery and its world of 120 botanicals, then puts four house gins in front of you to taste. The session covers distillation, Stillgarden’s approach to modern Irish spirits, and the ideas behind each pour.

I like the onsite production and the chance to ask a liquid expert questions at the end. I also like the welcome drink and mixer, plus the option to request non-gin or alcohol-free choices. The main caution is value: one tasting note says the welcome drink was the strongest pour and found the class less detailed than expected for $45.

Key points

• Four Stillgarden gins: Taste a flight of signature spirits made at the Dublin distillery.
• 120 botanicals on display: Learn how plant ingredients shape gin and flavor.
• One-hour guided format: The class ends with a question-and-answer session.
• Welcome drink included: Your ticket covers a welcome drink, four tastings, and a mixer.
• Community garden connection: Ask about Stillgarden’s botanicals, sustainability work, and Social Botanist Project.
• Friday to Sunday sessions: The experience is for adults 18 and older and is wheelchair accessible.

Inside Stillgarden’s modern Irish spirits story

Stillgarden Distillery presents gin as more than a clear drink with tonic. The class links the finished spirit to the ingredients, equipment, and methods used to make it.

Your guide, one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts, begins with the history of distillation. This gives the tasting a useful foundation. You are not simply handed four glasses and told which one you like best. You first get a sense of how distillation developed and how botanicals enter the process.

The wall of 120 botanicals is one of the most interesting features. It gives you a physical way to think about gin. Instead of treating every bottle as a mystery blend, you can consider how different plants affect aroma, taste, and balance.

The supplied information does not name individual guides, so you should expect the session to be led by a Stillgarden liquid expert rather than a particular host. That matters if you are hoping to meet a named distiller. The benefit is that the session is built around the company’s own spirits and production methods.

The four-gin tasting flight

The main event is a flight of four signature Stillgarden gins. You taste each one as part of the guided class, with a mixer included.

The experience does not provide tasting notes for each gin in advance, so I would not arrive expecting a fixed list of labels or a detailed menu of flavors. Ask your guide what makes each gin different, which botanicals are most important, and how the recommended mixer changes the drink.

That question-and-answer time is important. A tasting flight can feel rushed if you only receive four small pours with no chance to discuss them. Here, the formal session ends with questions, giving you a clear opportunity to ask about ingredients, distillation equipment, Stillgarden’s methods, and the company’s wider aims.

One useful point of balance: the available rating is 4.6 from eight reviews, but the written criticism should not be ignored. One person felt the welcome drink was the best part, found the other gins only average, and thought the class was not detailed enough for the price. That does not make the experience a poor choice, but it tells me to book it for the distillery visit and guided introduction, not only for a guaranteed series of remarkable pours.

What the welcome drink adds

Your ticket includes a welcome drink before the tasting flight. This gives the session a relaxed start and lets you settle into the bar or distillery setting before the formal explanation begins.

The welcome drink is also part of the value calculation. At $45 per person, you are paying for more than four tastings. You are paying for the guided format, the introduction to the distillery, access to the botanical display, a mixer, and the question period.

If you mainly want to sample gin at the lowest possible cost, this may feel expensive. If you want a short educational activity with a drink in hand, the price makes more sense. The difference comes down to your interest in production and the atmosphere, not simply the amount of alcohol served.

The experience lasts 60 minutes, so you should expect a compact introduction rather than a long afternoon at the distillery. That is useful when you are fitting the class between other Dublin plans. It also means the guide has limited time to explain four gins, distillation, botanicals, sustainability, and questions.

The botanical wall and the making of gin

The 120-botanical display is where the class gains much of its character. Gin depends on botanicals, yet many tastings skip over the raw ingredients. Here, the plant material is part of the lesson.

The supplied information does not identify all 120 botanicals or promise a hands-on scenting activity. Still, the display should help you understand why two gins can taste very different even when they share a basic spirit and familiar ingredients.

I would use this part of the class actively. Ask which botanicals are grown in the community garden, which ones are foraged, and which are central to the four gins you taste. Those questions connect the display to the drinks rather than leaving it as decoration.

The class also gives you a chance to ask about the equipment used to make the spirits. If you enjoy the technical side of food and drink, this is where the experience may offer more than a standard bar tasting. If you want a long, technical account of every step, keep your expectations measured. The full session is only an hour.

Stillgarden’s community garden and sustainability work

Stillgarden’s story extends beyond the tasting room. The distillery has an onsite community garden where it grows many of its botanicals.

You can visit the garden after the class. The information provided does not promise a separate guided garden tour, so think of it as an extra place to explore rather than a second formal part of the masterclass.

The garden gives Stillgarden’s botanical focus a practical side. You can see that the company’s interest in plant ingredients is linked to a local growing project, not just a list printed on a bottle. Ask your guide about the garden, sustainability projects, and the zero food waste policy.

There is also a Social Botanist Project. Sunday meetups include gardening, foraging, or wildlife walks, followed by a complimentary drink back at the distillery. This is not presented as part of the one-hour gin ticket, but it may appeal if you want to return and connect with the distillery’s community work.

That follow-up option adds depth for people who care about local food systems, gardening, and responsible production. It is less important if you only want a single drink-focused activity during a short Dublin visit.

Afternoon tea: read the inclusions carefully

The information about afternoon tea is not fully consistent. One description says the ticket includes afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches, while the inclusion details clearly list a welcome drink, four-gin tasting flight, and mixer. Another section places afternoon tea under what is not included.

I would not assume afternoon tea is part of the $45 ticket without confirming it before booking. Ask specifically if the price covers the sandwiches and cakes, or if that is a separate offering.

This matters because afternoon tea can change the value of the experience. If it is included, the class becomes a fuller food-and-drink outing. If it is not, you are paying for the distillery visit, welcome drink, tasting flight, mixer, and guided instruction only.

Do not arrive expecting a meal unless the booking details confirm it. The class lasts one hour, and the clearly stated drink inclusions are the safer basis for planning.

Staying after the class

The experience does not end the instant the Q&A finishes. You are welcome to remain in the bar for additional drinks, at your own cost.

There is also a game of corn-hole, which gives the visit a casual social side. That can be a nice change from a formal tasting where everyone leaves as soon as the final glass is empty.

You might find the extra bar time useful if you are visiting with friends and want to continue the conversation. It also gives you time to compare your impressions of the four gins without trying to do so during the guided portion.

The additional drinks are not included in the stated ticket. Keep that in mind when setting your budget. At $45, the class already sits above a simple bar flight, so extra orders can push the total higher.

Price, timing, and who gets the best value

At $45 per person, this is a mid-priced Dublin tasting experience. The one-hour duration keeps the commitment modest, but the price asks you to value the instruction and distillery setting.

I think the price works best for you if you enjoy learning how spirits are made, want to support a local distillery, and plan to ask questions. The onsite production, botanical display, and community garden give the class more substance than a generic gin-and-tonic session.

The value is less certain if your main goal is a large tasting, a long tour, or highly technical detail. The one critical written assessment found the class not detailed enough and felt the welcome drink was stronger than the other gins. Use that as a warning to keep your expectations realistic.

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions may also be arranged by email. The language is English, and the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Children under 18 are not permitted. Baby strollers and baby carriages are not allowed, and the activity takes place rain or shine. The listed rules also prohibit climbing and bare feet.

Non-gin and non-alcoholic options are available, but you need to request them when booking. This makes the experience easier to share with someone who does not drink gin, though the class remains centered on Stillgarden’s spirits.

How I would plan the visit

I would book this for a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday when I had another Dublin plan nearby, rather than building an entire day around it. One hour is easy to fit into a city schedule, and the chance to stay afterward gives you flexibility.

I would also arrive ready with questions. Ask which botanicals appear in each gin, how the mixer changes the tasting, what equipment Stillgarden uses, and how the community garden supports production. The guide’s answers may make the difference between a basic tasting and a useful introduction.

If afternoon tea matters to you, confirm it before paying. The conflicting information means you should not count on cakes and sandwiches unless they are clearly included for your selected session.

For a friend who avoids alcohol, I would request the alternative in advance. Do not assume the distillery can change the flight on the spot, even though non-gin and non-alcoholic choices are offered.

Should you book Stillgarden’s gin masterclass?

Book it if you want a short, local Dublin activity built around modern Irish gin, botanical ingredients, and the work of a small distillery. The onsite gins, 120-botanical display, welcome drink, and final Q&A give the hour a clear structure.

I would be more cautious if you expect a long technical tour or four unforgettable pours. The price is easier to justify when you care about the production story, sustainability projects, community garden, and chance to speak with a liquid expert.

For most gin fans, this is a worthwhile one-hour introduction, provided you treat it as a compact masterclass rather than a full afternoon tour. Confirm the afternoon tea details, request any alcohol-free alternative in advance, and use the Q&A to get the detail you want.

FAQ

Where does the gin masterclass take place?

The experience takes place at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County, Ireland.

How long does the masterclass last?

The fully guided class lasts 60 minutes.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four signature Stillgarden gins.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, a mixer, guided instruction, and a question-and-answer session with a Stillgarden liquid expert.

Is afternoon tea included?

The supplied details are not consistent. One description refers to afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches, while the clear inclusion details list only the welcome drink, gin flight, mixer, and guided class. Confirm this before booking.

Can someone who does not drink gin take part?

Yes. Non-gin and non-alcoholic options are available, but you should request one when booking.

Is the experience suitable for children?

No. The activity is not suitable for anyone under 18.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is listed as wheelchair accessible. Baby strollers and baby carriages are not allowed.

When are public sessions held?

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions can also be requested by email.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.