2 hour Gin School Experience in Aberdeen

The best part of this Aberdeen experience is that you do not simply watch gin being made. You build a recipe, distil it in a copper alembic mini-still, then leave with a full-sized 70cl bottle bearing your own name and label. It turns a tasting into a hands-on lesson, with a useful bit of Scottish souvenir value at the end.

I like the generous tasting and the chance to choose from more than 100 botanicals. I also like the structure: you learn first, taste while your gin distils, and finish with a cocktail. The main thing to consider is the price, $192.23 per person, which makes this a special-occasion outing rather than a casual drink after lunch.

Key points to know before booking

• More than 100 botanicals: Build a recipe around the flavors you actually enjoy, with help from the Head Distiller.
• A full 70cl bottle to take home: You choose its strength, bottle, cap, label, and name.
• Plenty to taste: The session includes a double G&T, several gin samples, another made-to-order G&T, and a berry prosecco cocktail.
• A practical distilling lesson: You learn about gin’s origins, base botanicals, organic alcohol, and how Aberdeen Gins are made.
• Small enough for a guided class: The maximum group size is 20 people, so the Head Distiller can assist with recipe choices.
• A two-and-a-half-hour afternoon activity: It starts at 2pm and finishes back at the distillery on Palmerston Road.

Starting at City of Aberdeen Distillery

Your meeting point is City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10, Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE. The experience begins at 2pm and ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point or find your way back across the city afterward.

The location is near public transportation, which matters because the experience includes several drinks. You should plan your route before arriving and think carefully about how you will get back afterward. The supplied details do not promise a meal, transportation, or a non-drinking alternative, so this is best treated as an afternoon at the distillery rather than a sightseeing tour with a quick sample on the side.

The class lasts about two hours and 30 minutes, even though it is described in places as a two-hour experience. That extra half-hour gives the session room to breathe. You are not rushed through the botanicals or pushed out as soon as your bottle is filled.

The maximum group size is 20. That is large enough to give the class some social energy, especially for birthdays or celebrations, but small enough for the Head Distiller to help you with your recipe. If you prefer a quiet private lesson, this may not be the right format. If you like comparing ideas and seeing what other people create, the group setting should suit you.

Your first drink, with a lesson attached

The class opens with a double G&T. This is not just a welcome drink to settle everyone in. It sets up the subject of the afternoon and gives you a first taste before you start making choices of your own.

You then learn about Aberdeen’s distilling heritage and the origins of gin. The session also introduces the base gin botanicals and the premium organic alcohol used in the process. These details are useful because they give you a framework for understanding flavor instead of treating every botanical as a random decoration.

Gin can sound simple until you begin separating its smells and tastes. The lesson helps you pay attention to what is in the glass. One of the strongest features of the experience is the focus on developing your nose, which can make the later recipe work feel more thoughtful and less like picking ingredients from a colorful shelf.

You also have a G&T while learning about the botanicals. That keeps the teaching practical. You can taste, compare, and consider what kinds of flavors you want in your own bottle before committing to a recipe.

Choosing from more than 100 botanicals

The botanical selection is where the class becomes personal. You can choose from more than 100 options, then decide which ingredients belong in your gin and how much of each to use.

The sheer number of choices is exciting, but it can also be a lot. This is where the Head Distiller becomes important. Rather than sending you off to guess, the distiller helps you select suitable botanicals and quantities for a balanced recipe.

That guidance is valuable for first-timers. You may know that you like citrus, spice, herbs, or floral notes, but you may not know how strongly each ingredient will affect the final spirit. The point is not to use as many botanicals as possible. A smaller group of well-matched ingredients may produce a cleaner result.

I would go into this part with a flavor direction in mind, but not a rigid recipe. Think about the gin you already enjoy. Do you prefer something bright and citrusy, herbal and dry, or warmer and more aromatic? The class gives you room to experiment, but the Head Distiller helps keep that experiment drinkable.

You then distil your gin using a beautiful copper alembic mini-still. This is the hands-on center of the experience. You are not merely blending a premade spirit into a bottle. You are taking part in the distilling process on a small scale.

The exact amount of time each recipe takes is not specified, but the next part of the class happens while your gin is being distilled. That means the schedule uses the waiting period well instead of leaving you standing around.

Tasting the Aberdeen Gin range

While your own gin is distilling, you sample gins from the Aberdeen range. Each sample comes with an explanation of its background and ingredients, along with a look at how the gins are authentically distilled in Aberdeen.

This is one of the most useful sections for anyone who wants to understand gin beyond the label. You get to compare finished products and see how different ingredients create different styles. The tasting also gives you ideas for your own bottle, even if you have already chosen your botanicals.

The experience includes several samples, not just a token sip. The supplied sample menu lists gin samples from the range, followed by a G&T of your choice. That is a generous amount of tasting for one class, especially when added to the opening double G&T and the other drink served during the botanical lesson.

You can order that later G&T to match your preference from the Aberdeen range. This is a nice detail because it gives you control over the tasting rather than forcing everyone into the same drink. It also lets you test how a gin works in a familiar serve after trying it on its own.

A practical warning is needed here: you are drinking throughout the afternoon. The class includes a double G&T at arrival, a G&T during the lesson, several samples, another G&T, and a final cocktail. Eat beforehand if that works for you, and arrange your return journey with the alcohol in mind. The supplied information does not list food beyond the drinks menu.

Filling, naming, and labeling your own bottle

Once the distilling work is complete, you decide the strength of your gin. You then choose the bottle, cap, and label before filling your full-sized 70cl bottle.

This final stage gives the experience a stronger sense of ownership than a normal tasting. You have not simply selected a bottle from a shop shelf. You chose the ingredients, watched the process, and made decisions about how the finished spirit should be presented.

You also need to name it. That sounds like a small detail, but it adds a playful finish to the class. For a birthday or other special occasion, the bottle can become a personal keepsake rather than a generic souvenir.

The 70cl size is a real part of the value. It is a standard full-sized bottle, not a small sample bottle. You should still consider the total price, though. At $192.23 per person, the bottle alone does not justify the cost. You are paying for the instruction, guided tastings, distilling activity, cocktail, and the social event around them.

If you already enjoy gin and would buy several drinks and a bottle during a special outing, the package may feel reasonable. If you mainly want a cheap drink in Aberdeen, it will not. The class makes sense when you value the process and the personal bottle as much as the alcohol.

Finishing with a berry prosecco cocktail

The class ends with a surprise berry prosecco cocktail to celebrate becoming a distiller. It gives the afternoon a clear final moment and shifts the mood from technical lesson to celebration.

This is a small but effective touch. The session has plenty of information, and the cocktail keeps the experience from feeling like a dry classroom exercise. It also suits the occasions this class is designed for, especially birthdays and other celebrations.

The word surprise means the exact cocktail details are not given in advance. You should expect a berry prosecco drink, but not a specific recipe or presentation. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, ask the provider before booking, since the supplied information does not list substitutions.

Who will enjoy this Aberdeen activity?

I would recommend the class most strongly to people who already enjoy gin or want a more active tasting experience. You do not need to arrive as a distilling expert. The Head Distiller leads the group through the basics and helps with the difficult part, choosing botanicals and quantities.

It is also a natural fit for:

• A birthday outing
• A special occasion in Aberdeen
• Couples who want an unusual shared activity
• Small groups who enjoy tasting and comparing flavors
• Anyone looking for a Scottish-made souvenir with a personal connection

This may be less suitable if you dislike alcohol, want a short one-drink tasting, or need a quiet and private activity. The class runs for roughly two and a half hours, includes several drinks, and may have up to 20 people.

It is not presented as a general Aberdeen sightseeing tour. You will learn about the city’s distilling background, but the main focus is the gin-making process inside the distillery. Pair it with other city activities if you want a full day of sightseeing.

Price, timing, and the practical details

The listed cost is $192.23 per person. That is a high price for an afternoon drink, but a fairer comparison is a guided workshop with multiple tastings, a cocktail, and a full 70cl custom bottle.

The biggest value comes from the combination of instruction and participation. You are not paying only for a flight of samples. You are making decisions, using a mini-still, and taking home the result. The class also includes enough tasting to make the process feel substantial.

The experience is offered in English, with a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the venue is near public transportation.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 2pm start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The activity may also be canceled if poor weather affects the operation or if the minimum number of people is not reached. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The weather rule is worth noting even though much of the activity takes place indoors. Do not assume that a booking is immune from weather-related changes. Check the local time carefully, since the cancellation cutoff is based on Aberdeen time.

Is the Aberdeen Gin School worth booking?

Book it if you want to understand how gin is built, not simply drink it. The 100-plus botanicals, guided recipe choices, Aberdeen Gin tasting, and full-sized custom bottle make this more personal than a standard distillery visit.

The strongest praise I can give it is that the class has a clear purpose from start to finish. You begin with a G&T, learn the basics, choose ingredients, distil your own recipe, compare finished gins, and leave with a bottle you named yourself. The generous tasting and chance to train your nose add real substance.

Skip it if $192.23 feels too steep for a drink-focused afternoon, or if you are looking for a broad introduction to Aberdeen rather than a specialist activity. For a gin fan, a birthday group, or someone who wants an unusual Scottish keepsake, this is a strong choice. Just plan your transport home and remember that the souvenir comes with a fair amount of alcohol before you even reach the door.

FAQ

Where does the Aberdeen Gin School experience start?

It starts at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE, UK. The activity also ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the experience begin?

The experience starts at 2pm.

How long does the gin class last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

How much gin can I take home?

You take home one full-sized 70cl bottle of your own gin. You choose its strength, bottle, cap, label, and name.

How many botanicals can I choose from?

You can choose from more than 100 botanicals, with help from the Head Distiller when selecting ingredients and quantities.

What drinks are included?

The session includes a double G&T on arrival, a G&T while learning about botanicals, samples from the Aberdeen Gin range, a made-to-order G&T, and a berry prosecco cocktail.