Afternoon Tea & Gin Masterclass

Stillgarden’s Afternoon Tea and Gin Masterclass brings two good Irish habits together: a carefully made drink and something tasty to eat alongside it. The interesting part is the 120-botanical wall, which gives you a clear sense of how many choices go into a modern gin before you even begin the tasting.

I like the four-gin flight and the fact that the session is fully hosted by Stillgarden’s liquid experts. I also like the tidy 90-minute format, which gives you a proper introduction without taking up half your day. The main consideration is the price, $74 per person, and the fact that this is strictly for adults.

Key points at a glance

• Four Stillgarden gins: Taste a flight made onsite at the Dublin County distillery.
• A wall of 120 botanicals: Learn how plants, spices, and other ingredients shape a gin’s character.
• Afternoon tea included: Expect sandwiches, cakes, and sweet treats after the tasting.
• Hosted from start to finish: An English-speaking liquid expert leads the session and answers questions.
• Options beyond gin: Non-gin and non-alcoholic choices are available when requested beforehand.
• A manageable 90 minutes: A useful choice if you want a focused distillery visit rather than a long tour.

Starting at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County

This experience takes place at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County, where the gins are made onsite. That matters because the tasting is tied to the place producing the bottles, rather than being a generic gin lesson held in a hotel or restaurant.

You begin with a welcome drink before moving into the main presentation. The welcome pour gives the session a relaxed start, while the host sets out the ginspiration behind Stillgarden’s modern Irish range.

The live guide speaks English, and the session is fully hosted. You are not left to study tasting notes on your own or guess what to do with each glass. A liquid expert leads the presentation, explains the drinks, and keeps the group moving through the different parts of the experience.

The exact starting time depends on the date you choose, so check availability before booking. The full session lasts 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes. That makes it easy to fit into a Dublin itinerary, especially if you want a food-and-drink activity that does not consume an entire afternoon.

The 120-botanical wall and the story of distillation

The educational part begins with the history of distillation and Stillgarden’s collection of 120 botanicals. This is one of the most useful elements for anyone who knows gin mainly as a familiar spirit with tonic.

Gin gets its character from the ingredients used during production. Stillgarden’s botanical wall gives the host a practical way to explain those choices. You can expect the conversation to connect the ingredients with the final gins you taste, rather than treating distillation as a dry technical subject.

The number 120 is not a promise that you will taste every botanical individually. Instead, it shows the breadth of the ingredients available to the distillery and helps explain why gins can vary so much in aroma and flavor.

I like this part because it gives the tasting some context. You are not simply handed four glasses and told which one is which. You first get a look at the ideas behind the range, then taste how those ideas work in the bottle.

The information provided does not specify the individual botanicals, the distilling equipment, or the exact production method. You should think of this as an introduction to Stillgarden’s approach, not a technical distiller-training course.

Tasting four signature Stillgarden gins

The central part of the experience is a four-gin tasting flight. All four are signature Stillgarden gins made onsite, so the flight gives you a compact look at the distillery’s own range.

A tasting flight is useful because it lets you compare several drinks in one sitting. You may notice differences in aroma, sweetness, spice, or the balance of botanical flavors. The host’s explanations should help you connect those differences with the earlier discussion of ingredients and distillation.

The supplied details do not name the four gins or list their flavor profiles. That is worth keeping in mind if you are hoping to choose a particular bottle or sample a specific recipe. The experience promises four signature gins, but you should check with Stillgarden if a certain expression is important to you.

The tasting is also a reason to take this activity slowly. Four pours can add up, especially when paired with a welcome drink, so this is best treated as a guided tasting rather than a race through the glasses. You can pay attention to the host’s comments and decide which styles appeal to you most.

The session is designed for adults aged 18 and over. Children under 18 are not suitable for this activity, even if they would only be joining for the food.

Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes

After the gin tasting, you sit down to an afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes, and other sweet treats. This changes the tone of the experience from a spirit lesson to a more leisurely food-and-drink occasion.

The savory sandwiches give you something substantial to eat, while the cakes and sweet items provide the traditional afternoon-tea finish. The exact sandwich fillings, cakes, serving style, and dietary details are not provided, so you should ask Stillgarden directly about ingredients if you have allergies or specific dietary needs.

The food is an important part of the value. At $74 per person, you are not paying only for four small samples. The ticket also includes the welcome drink, the hosted presentation, the tasting flight, and afternoon tea. The price will make the most sense to you if you want all of those pieces together.

If you only want to sample gin, a dedicated tasting elsewhere may cost less. If you enjoy the combination of drinks, food, and a hosted explanation, the afternoon tea helps make this feel like a complete outing rather than a short sampling stop.

One practical point: the published order places the gin tasting before afternoon tea. That may suit you if you like to taste spirits before eating, but you may want a small meal earlier in the day if you are sensitive to alcohol. Stillgarden does not describe the serving sizes, so it is sensible not to arrive expecting the tea alone to replace a full meal.

The final question-and-answer session

Every session ends with a Q&A led by one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is your chance to ask about the gins, botanicals, distillation, or the tasting itself.

A final question period is especially useful in a short experience. The main presentation has to cover the same core material for everyone, while the Q&A lets you focus on what interests you. You might want to ask about how botanicals are selected, how the four gins differ, or what makes the range modern and Irish.

No individual guide names are supplied, so you should not expect to book a session with a particular host. The useful point is that the experience is led by Stillgarden staff with direct knowledge of the distillery’s products.

The Q&A also helps keep the session from feeling too formal. You get a chance to turn a general introduction into a conversation suited to your own level of interest, from casual gin drinker to serious enthusiast.

Non-gin and non-alcoholic choices

Stillgarden can provide non-gin and non-alcoholic options, but you need to let the distillery know beforehand. This is an important detail, not a minor footnote.

The experience is built around gin, so a person who does not drink should not simply assume a substitute will appear on arrival. Contact Stillgarden in advance and clearly explain what you need.

The available information does not describe the substitute drinks or say whether the non-gin option includes a special tasting flight. It confirms that alternatives are available, but you should ask what form they take before booking.

This flexibility makes the activity more suitable for mixed groups. A gin enthusiast can take part in the four-gin tasting while someone else enjoys a non-alcoholic or non-gin choice. Still, the distillery theme remains central, so a non-drinker should be comfortable joining an experience where the main discussion concerns gin.

Is $74 a fair price?

At $74 per person, this is a mid-to-high priced food-and-drink activity. The value depends on how much you want from the visit.

Your ticket includes:

• A welcome drink
• A hosted introduction to Stillgarden Distillery
• Information about distillation
• A look at 120 botanicals
• Four signature Stillgarden gins
• Afternoon tea with sandwiches and sweet treats
• A final Q&A with a liquid expert

That is a good amount for 90 minutes, but the short duration also sets a limit. You are paying for a focused tasting and tea experience, not a long production tour with several rooms, a full meal, or a take-home bottle. No bottle, souvenir, or transportation is listed as included.

I would recommend the price to someone who values a hosted experience and wants food included. It is less convincing for a person who only wants to drink gin or who is looking for the least expensive way to visit a distillery.

The 4.2 rating from five published ratings gives the activity a positive, though still small, track record. One recorded rating describes the experience as excellent. That is encouraging, but the sample is too limited to treat the score as the final word. The strongest evidence here is the clear structure: welcome drink, four-gin tasting, afternoon tea, and Q&A.

Timing, access, and practical planning

The activity lasts 90 minutes, and you need to check availability for the starting time. Build a little extra time around it for arriving at the distillery, particularly if you are fitting it between other Dublin plans.

The tour runs rain or shine. Since the tasting and tea are held at the distillery, weather should not cancel the session, but you still need to plan your journey to and from the venue in poor conditions.

The experience is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific access needs beyond general wheelchair access, it is wise to confirm the details with Stillgarden before booking.

The live tour language is English. No other language is listed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dublin plans are still taking shape. These terms are useful, but check the booking conditions for the specific date you select.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

I would point this activity toward adults who like both food and drink, especially couples, friends, and small groups looking for a relaxed Dublin County outing.

It suits you if you want:

• A short introduction to a local distillery
• Several gin samples rather than one drink
• A knowledgeable host from the producing distillery
• Afternoon tea included in the ticket
• A chance to ask questions at the end
• A choice for someone who does not drink gin, provided it is arranged ahead of time

It may not suit you if you dislike spirits, need a full meal, or want a long behind-the-scenes production visit. The details do not promise a tour of every production area, a cocktail-making class, or a meal tailored to particular dietary requirements.

The experience also works best when you are interested in the story behind the drink. If you plan to ignore the presentation and simply have a few pours, you may not get the full value from the ticket.

Should you book the Stillgarden afternoon tea?

Book it if you want a polished 90-minute tasting built around four locally made gins, a welcome drink, and afternoon tea. The 120 botanicals, onsite production, and closing Q&A give the outing more substance than a simple bar tasting.

I would be more cautious if $74 feels high for a short activity or if you want detailed technical instruction about distilling. The supplied details do not promise a take-home bottle, a full distillery-production tour, or a specific gin lineup.

For most adult visitors who enjoy gin and want food included, this is a sensible Dublin County choice. Contact Stillgarden before booking if you need a non-gin or non-alcoholic option, check the start time carefully, and arrive ready to give the host your questions.

FAQ

Where does the Afternoon Tea and Gin Masterclass take place?

It takes place at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County, Ireland.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, and afternoon tea with sandwiches and sweet treats. It also includes the hosted distillery presentation and final Q&A.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four signature Stillgarden gins made onsite at the distillery.

Is the experience available in English?

Yes. The experience has a live tour guide and is offered in English.

Can someone who does not drink gin take part?

Yes. Non-gin and non-alcoholic options are available, but you must tell Stillgarden beforehand.

Are children allowed?

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

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.