Dublin: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience

Roe and Co turns a former Guinness power station in Dublin’s Liberties into a lively, hands-on whiskey stop. The best part is that you do not just watch a guide explain whiskey: you either build a cocktail around your own taste or make a personal blend from three Irish whiskeys.

I like the one-hour format, which fits neatly into a day of sightseeing, and I like the way the workshop gives you proper bar tools and a job to do. Guides such as Andrew, Luke, Erin, Isaac, and Oisin are praised for keeping the session funny, friendly, and easy to follow. The main drawback is that one hour goes quickly, especially if you want a long production tour or a quiet tasting.

Key points at a glance

• A working distillery in the old Guinness Power Station: You visit Roe and Co in Dublin 8’s Liberties district, close to Thomas Street and the James’s Luas stop.
• Two different workshop paths: Choose Flavours for cocktail making, or Beyond The Blend for a guided whiskey tasting, blending, and cocktail session.
• Your drink follows your palate: The Flavours class works with sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami tastes.
• A second cocktail is included: After the workshop, you relax with a signature Roe and Co serving in the Power House Bar.
• Good value for a short activity: At $28 per person, you get a guided tour, a workshop, and at least one further Roe and Co cocktail.
• Adults only: Bring a passport, identity card, or proof of age card. The activity is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women.

Inside the former Guinness Power Station

Roe and Co Distillery sits in Dublin 8, in the Liberties district, inside the old Guinness Powerhouse. That setting gives the visit a useful sense of place. You are not being taken out to a remote whiskey estate. You are in an urban distillery, close to the center, in a part of Dublin long linked with brewing, distilling, and working industry.

From Trinity College, walk along Dame Street toward Christ Church Cathedral, pass the cathedral on your right, and continue onto Thomas Street. The distillery is about 500 meters farther on the right. By bus, routes 13, 40, and 123 run from O’Connell Street or Dame Street, with a journey of roughly 10 to 15 minutes. The nearest Luas stop is James’s on the Red Line.

The building itself is part of the appeal, but the visit is not simply an architectural stop. Roe and Co is a fully operational urban distillery, so the tour connects the brand to an active production setting rather than presenting only a polished tasting room. You get a guided look at the production process, followed by the workshop you selected.

The entire activity lasts one hour. That makes it easy to place before dinner, after a visit to Christ Church Cathedral, or between other Dublin 8 sights. It also means you should arrive ready to move along with the schedule. This is a compact introduction, not a half-day distillery course.

The production story comes first

The guided tour begins with the whiskey-making process. You learn how Roe and Co is produced and how the drink develops its character. The aim is not to bury you under technical terms. It is to give you enough background to understand what you are tasting and why different whiskey styles can seem so different.

This part is strongest when your guide brings energy to it. Andrew, Luke, Erin, Isaac, and Oisin are among the guides associated with sessions described as lively and clear. The best guides use humor, ask questions, and keep the group involved instead of delivering a long speech.

I would not book this expecting an enormous collection of stills or a sprawling industrial tour. The supplied details describe a short guided visit through a working city distillery, followed by a workshop. The reward is the mix of history, production, tasting, and practical drink-making, all in a tight package.

The setting also helps if you are not already a whiskey fan. You can follow the story of Dublin whiskey, see how the product is framed, and then taste it in a cocktail rather than drinking it neat from start to finish.

Choose Flavours for the hands-on cocktail class

The Flavours option is the natural choice for cocktail fans, beginners, and anyone who normally says they do not like whiskey. It begins with the Five Pillars of Flavour: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.

You use those five tastes to work out what suits your palate. That is more useful than being told that one cocktail is sweet and another is bitter. You get a simple way to think about balance, and then you choose a whiskey cocktail based on the flavour you prefer.

The workshop is practical. You work with bar equipment including a shaker, jigger, strainer, bar spoon, ice, and an apron. You learn the steps needed to make your drink, then shake and mix it yourself. The result is not just a tasting sample. It is a cocktail built to your chosen taste.

That setup gives the session a playful feel, but there is a bit of useful drink science underneath. You see how a whiskey cocktail changes when you adjust sweetness, acidity, bitterness, salt, or other flavors. If you like making drinks at home, the class can give you ideas to try later. Some sessions also provide recipes for the cocktails, so keep them if you want to repeat the experience at home.

The Flavours class has a broad appeal. People who prefer gin or usually avoid whiskey can still enjoy it because the whiskey is part of a mixed drink rather than the sole focus. One of the strongest themes in the feedback is that the cocktails taste good even for people who do not consider themselves whiskey drinkers.

Choose Beyond The Blend for more whiskey tasting

Beyond The Blend takes a different route. Instead of focusing mainly on the five taste categories, you explore three premium whiskeys and the wider range of flavors found in Irish whiskey.

The tasting comes with a specially selected artisan confectionery pairing. That pairing gives you a way to compare whiskey with food, and it makes the session feel more like a guided tasting than a quick sample at the bar.

You then create your own whiskey blend. This is the most interesting choice if you want to understand how different whiskeys work together. Rather than simply hearing that blending changes a drink, you take part in the process and then turn your blend into a cocktail.

This option suits someone who already has some interest in whiskey, or someone who wants a clearer look at the drink before mixing it. It may be less suitable if your main goal is to learn classic cocktail technique. For that, Flavours is the better match.

The two options are not interchangeable in spirit. Flavours asks you to think about your palate and make a cocktail around it. Beyond The Blend asks you to compare whiskeys, make a blend, and use it in a drink. Check the available choice carefully when booking.

The Power House Bar finishes the hour

After your chosen workshop, you head to the Power House Bar for a signature Roe and Co serving. This final cocktail is included, so the visit does not end as soon as you put down your shaker.

That closing drink matters for two reasons. First, it lets you sit back after the hands-on section and enjoy something made by the bar team. Second, it gives you a comparison with the cocktail you made yourself. You can notice the difference between a drink shaped by your own taste and a signature Roe and Co serve.

The bar also gives you a little breathing room. The workshop is active and social, while the final drink is a calmer finish. Some sessions provide two cocktails in total: the one you make and the included drink afterward. The exact cocktail style can depend on the option and session, but the supplied experience includes a Roe and Co cocktail at the end.

If you want a long evening at the bar, plan to stay only if the venue permits it under the conditions on the day. The booked activity itself ends back at the distillery meeting point.

Is $28 good value?

At $28 per person, this is strong value for an activity that combines several elements. You get a guided distillery tour, a choice of workshop, your own cocktail-making session or whiskey blend, and a further Roe and Co cocktail in the Power House Bar.

The value is especially good for people who want to do something active. A standard tasting can be over quickly. Here, you learn the production story, smell and taste different flavor ideas, handle the tools, and make a drink. The price also compares well with the amount of time occupied in your Dublin day.

The one limitation is depth. One hour is enough for an entertaining introduction, but not enough for a long technical lesson on distilling or a large whiskey flight. If you want a detailed study of Irish whiskey, you will need a longer tasting elsewhere. If you want a well-priced activity with a drink at the end, Roe and Co makes more sense.

The activity has a rating of 4.9 from 489 reviews, and the most consistent praise is aimed at the guides, the cocktail workshop, the friendly staff, and the amount included for the price. I would place more weight on those repeated practical points than on the number alone.

Getting there and planning your visit

The distillery is easy to reach from central Dublin. Walking from Trinity College takes you through Dame Street and past Christ Church Cathedral before continuing onto Thomas Street. That route makes the activity easy to combine with central sightseeing.

Bus routes 13, 40, and 123 run from O’Connell Street or Dame Street. The stated journey time is 10 to 15 minutes, and you should get off at the Thomas Street or Watling Street stop. The distillery is across the road.

The Luas option is the Red Line to James’s. From there, follow the directions to the old Guinness Powerhouse. The activity begins and ends at the distillery, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Bring a valid passport, identity card, or proof of age card. A regular form of proof of age is required, so do not assume that looking over 18 will be enough. The tour is in English, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option can help if you are still adjusting your Dublin plans.

Who will enjoy Roe and Co most?

I would recommend Flavours to cocktail beginners, couples, small groups of friends, and anyone who wants to make something rather than simply watch. It is also a smart pick if you are unsure about whiskey. The other ingredients and the Five Pillars exercise give you room to find a drink that fits your taste.

Beyond The Blend is better for whiskey drinkers and curious tasters who want to compare three premium whiskeys and make a personal blend. It gives you more direct contact with the spirit itself, plus an artisan confectionery pairing.

The experience also suits a busy Dublin itinerary. One hour is short enough to fit into a full day, and the Liberties location puts you near Christ Church Cathedral, Thomas Street, and other central sights. The activity is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women, and you should plan around the alcohol involved.

Your guide can shape the mood. Andrew, Luke, Erin, Isaac, and Oisin are all named in the supplied feedback, with particular praise for humor, clear explanations, and friendly instruction. If you value a relaxed presenter who answers questions, this is an important part of the appeal.

Should you book it?

Book Roe and Co if you want a short, social, hands-on whiskey experience with real value built into the price. The strongest choice for most first-time visitors is Flavours, since you make a cocktail, learn how taste works, and still finish with a signature Roe and Co drink.

Choose Beyond The Blend if the whiskey itself matters more to you than cocktail technique. You will taste three premium whiskeys, pair them with artisan confectionery, make your own blend, and use it in a cocktail.

Skip it only if you want a long distillery tour, a broad whiskey collection, or a quiet tasting with no workshop element. For everyone else, the combination of Dublin setting, friendly guides, practical drink making, and a second cocktail makes this one of the better one-hour activities in the city.

FAQ

Where is Roe and Co Distillery?

Roe and Co Distillery is in the old Guinness Powerhouse in Dublin 8’s Liberties district. The address is on Thomas Street.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts one hour. Check the available starting times when booking.

How much does the workshop cost?

The listed price is $28 per person.

What workshop choices are available?

You can choose Flavours, which focuses on the Five Pillars of Flavour and cocktail making, or Beyond The Blend, which includes three premium whiskey tastings, an artisan confectionery pairing, personal blending, and a cocktail.

Is a cocktail included?

Yes. The experience includes a Roe and Co cocktail after the chosen workshop in the Power House Bar. The Flavours option also includes the cocktail you make during the class.

Is the tour suitable for children?

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

What identification should I bring?

Bring a valid passport, identity card, or proof of age card. You must present valid identification or proof of age.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later to keep your plans flexible.