Dublin: Gin Masterclass with Welcome Drink & Tasting Flight

Stillgarden’s Gin Tasting Masterclass takes you behind the bottle and into the working ideas of a modern Irish distillery. You’ll learn how botanicals shape gin, see the equipment used in production, and taste four gins made onsite.

I like the 120-botanical wall, which gives the class a clear focus instead of making it only a series of drinks. I also like the welcome drink, mixer, and final Q&A, plus the option to request a non-gin or nonalcoholic tasting. The main caution is value: at $45, one rating found the welcome drink more enjoyable than the four samples and felt the class was not detailed enough for the price.

Key points

• Four Stillgarden gins: Taste a flight of house-made spirits and learn how their botanicals differ.
• A 120-botanical display: The class uses this collection to explain the building blocks of gin.
• A one-hour guided format: A Stillgarden liquid expert leads the session and answers questions at the end.
• Welcome drink and mixer included: The tasting begins with a drink before moving to the four-gin flight.
• More than a bar visit: You can ask about sustainability, zero food waste, and the community garden.
• Options for non-drinkers: Request a non-gin or nonalcoholic choice when booking.

Inside Stillgarden’s modern Irish spirits story

Stillgarden Distillery offers a short, focused look at how a Dublin spirit is made and presented. The class is built around the company’s modern Irish gins, rather than a broad tour of Dublin’s drinking culture or a long production visit.

That focus matters. If you want to understand why one gin tastes floral, citrusy, herbal, or spicy, the botanicals are the key. Stillgarden puts that idea front and center with a wall displaying 120 botanicals. You’ll learn how these ingredients influence the final spirit and how the distillery uses them in its own range.

The experience also covers the history of distillation and the equipment used to create the gins. The supplied details do not promise a full working-facility tour, so I would think of this as a guided tasting class with production context, not an extended behind-the-scenes visit.

A Stillgarden liquid expert leads the session in English. The staff are presented as specialists in the distillery’s spirits, and the class ends with a question-and-answer period. That final section is useful because it lets you steer the conversation toward the subjects that interest you most, from botanical choices to company values.

The welcome drink sets the tone

Your session begins with a welcome drink. This is more than a small extra. It gives you a complete drink before the tasting flight begins and lets the class open in a relaxed way.

The welcome drink was the strongest part of one three-star assessment, while the other gins were judged only average by that same person. That is worth noting if you are already an enthusiastic gin drinker. The opening drink may be the most polished or appealing pour of the hour, depending on your taste.

The details do not identify the welcome drink or specify its size. You should not assume it will be a full cocktail or a large serving. Still, it is part of the $45 package and gives the experience a more generous shape than four tiny samples alone.

A mixer is also included with the tasting flight. That allows you to see how the spirits work with something beyond a neat pour. If you prefer gin in a long drink, this part may help you judge the samples more fairly.

Four gins, four chances to compare

The central part of the class is a flight of four signature Stillgarden gins. These are made onsite, so the tasting connects directly to the distillery you are visiting rather than to a collection of unrelated brands.

I like flights when the guide explains what to notice in each glass. The class promises instruction on the botanicals and equipment used to make the spirits, giving you a framework for comparison. You can pay attention to aroma, flavor, texture, and the way each gin changes with the mixer.

The supplied information does not name the four gins or list their botanical recipes. That means you should book this for the guided tasting format, not because you already know the exact lineup. The selection may vary, or the experience may be designed around the distillery’s current range.

One rating found the four samples merely okay and felt the gin instruction lacked detail. I would take that as a useful warning for serious gin fans. At $45, you may want more than a basic explanation of botanicals and a short introduction to each pour.

For a casual drinker, though, the format may be enough. You get four samples, a welcome drink, a mixer, and a chance to ask questions. The class is likely a better fit if you want a social introduction to Stillgarden than if you are seeking technical training in distilling.

The 120 botanicals give the class a clear anchor

The botanical display is one of the most interesting parts of the experience. Rather than hearing a list of ingredients and forgetting them, you get a visual way to think about what goes into gin.

The number is striking: 120 botanicals. That does not mean all 120 go into one bottle. Instead, the wall shows the broad range of plant ingredients that can inspire or shape a spirit. Your guide can connect these raw materials with the flavors found in the four samples.

This section also gives you a better way to understand gin generally. Juniper provides the familiar foundation, but other botanicals can push a gin in many directions. Citrus, herbs, spices, flowers, and other plant ingredients each affect the balance.

The description does not provide a full list of Stillgarden’s botanicals, so avoid expecting a printed botanical guide or a formal lesson in flavor chemistry. The value comes from seeing the collection, hearing the explanation, and tasting the results soon after.

Questions are part of the hour, not an afterthought

Every session ends with a Q&A led by one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. I consider this an important part of the class because a fixed presentation cannot answer every question you bring.

You might ask about the distillery’s range, the role of a particular botanical, or how the equipment affects production. You can also ask about Stillgarden’s company ethos, sustainability projects, and zero food waste policy.

These subjects give the class more depth than a standard bar tasting. The distillery presents itself as a company with environmental and community aims, not only as a producer of alcoholic drinks. You should use the Q&A to find out how those ideas work in practice.

The experience lasts 60 minutes, so the pace is likely fairly brisk. Four tastings, production information, botanicals, and questions all need to fit into one hour. If you want a long conversation with the guide, arrive ready with a few questions of your own.

Community garden and Social Botanist connections

Stillgarden also has an onsite community garden where it grows many of its botanicals. This adds a direct link between the ingredients discussed in class and a real growing space at the distillery.

You may visit the garden after the class. The information does not promise a separate guided garden tour, so treat it as an extra place to see rather than a scheduled stop with its own full presentation.

If you have an interest in gardening, foraging, or wildlife, Stillgarden offers a Social Botanist Project. Sunday meetups include gardening, foraging, or wildlife walks, followed by time at the distillery and a complimentary drink. This is separate from the one-hour gin class, but it gives you a way to connect with the venue beyond a single booking.

That community side may be the strongest reason to choose Stillgarden over a basic gin bar tasting. You can attend the masterclass as a one-time activity, or use it as an introduction to a local project focused on plants and shared space.

Afternoon tea needs a quick check before booking

The supplied details describe afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches, but the booking information is not consistent about it. One section says tickets include afternoon tea, while another places the afternoon tea description under what is not included. The clearly stated inclusions are the welcome drink, four-gin tasting flight, mixer, guided class, and Q&A.

I would confirm the afternoon tea arrangements before paying if cakes and sandwiches are important to your plans. Do not assume the $45 price includes the food unless the booking page confirms it for your chosen session.

If afternoon tea is included, it would make the class feel like a fuller afternoon outing. If it is an additional purchase or a separate format, you will want to budget for it separately. This is a small but important point because the price feels different when it covers drinks alone compared with drinks plus food.

Is $45 a fair price?

The price is $45 per person for a one-hour class. That is not a bargain tasting, so value depends on what you want from the hour.

I think the price is easier to justify if you care about Stillgarden itself. You are tasting spirits made onsite, hearing about the company’s approach, seeing the botanical collection, and getting a welcome drink, mixer, and four samples. The Q&A and the chance to ask about sustainability and zero food waste add useful local context.

The price is harder to justify if you measure the experience only by the amount of gin in the glass. One three-star assessment found the welcome drink better than the flight and said the class did not provide enough detail. With only eight ratings overall and a combined score of 4.6, the broad response is strong, but the limited number of ratings means you should keep expectations realistic.

For comparison purposes, ask yourself what you would value most:

• If you want a quick introduction to a Dublin distillery, the package has a sensible range of elements.
• If you want a technical distilling lesson, one hour may feel short.
• If you enjoy tasting flights, four gins give you enough variety to compare.
• If you do not drink gin, the price is easier to accept only if the alternative tasting is clearly explained before arrival.
• If afternoon tea is included in your session, the overall value improves.

Who should book this Dublin tasting?

This class suits adults who enjoy spirits, food and drink activities, or small-scale Irish producers. It also works for visitors who want an indoor Dublin experience that does not take half a day.

The one-hour duration is useful in a busy itinerary. You can fit the masterclass between other plans, then remain at the bar afterward for more drinks or a game of corn-hole. The class is not limited to the scheduled hour if you want to spend additional time at the venue, though further drinks are not part of the stated package.

I would recommend it to a gin drinker who likes learning the story behind a local product. The botanical wall, onsite production, community garden, and company policies give you several subjects to explore.

I would be more cautious if you are a serious gin collector expecting rare pours, detailed technical instruction, or a long distillery visit. The class promises a guided introduction, not an advanced course. You should also contact Stillgarden ahead of time if you want a non-gin or nonalcoholic option.

The activity is for adults 18 and over. Children cannot take part, and baby strollers and carriages are not allowed. The venue is wheelchair accessible, which is helpful, but the activity information does not provide further details about entrances, toilets, or seating.

Timing, days, and practical planning

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions can also be arranged by email, which may suit a group looking for a more personal format.

The tour takes place rain or shine. Since the main class is indoors at the distillery, weather should not stop the tasting itself, but the community garden may be less pleasant in poor conditions.

English is the tour language. Check the available start times when booking because the schedule is not fixed in the information provided here.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Dublin plans are still changing.

My call: book it for the setting and story

I would book Stillgarden’s Gin Masterclass if I wanted a compact, local drink experience with more character than a standard bar flight. The four onsite gins, 120 botanicals, welcome drink, Q&A, and community garden make the hour feel connected to the distillery’s wider work.

I would not book it blindly as a premium gin education class. The $45 price is a little high if the explanations stay general or the four samples do not suit your taste. Confirm the afternoon tea details, request any non-gin option in advance, and arrive with questions for the liquid expert.

For an adult gin fan spending a weekend in Dublin, this is a reasonable choice, especially on Friday through Sunday. For a specialist seeking rare spirits or intensive technical detail, save your money unless Stillgarden confirms that the session matches your expectations.

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 made onsite.

Is a welcome drink included?

Yes. Tickets include a welcome drink, the four-gin tasting flight, and a mixer.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The live tour guide conducts the experience in English.

Can someone who does not drink gin take part?

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

Are children allowed?

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

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

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

What days are public sessions available?

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions may also be booked by contacting Stillgarden Distillery.

Can I cancel the booking?

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