Dublin: Gin Masterclass with Welcome Drink & Tasting Flight

Stillgarden’s Gin Masterclass puts the making of gin at the center of the visit. You’ll tour the ideas behind its modern Irish spirits, examine a wall of 120 botanicals, and taste four gins made on site. It is a compact Dublin activity with more substance than a simple bar tasting.

I like the welcome drink, which gives the session a strong start, and the chance to ask about sustainability, community gardening, and the distillery’s zero-food-waste policy. The format also works well for mixed groups, since non-gin and non-alcoholic choices can be arranged ahead of time.

The main caution is value. At $45 per person for one hour, the experience needs to deliver more than four small pours. One piece of feedback found the welcome drink more impressive than the tasting flight and felt the class was not detailed enough for the price.

Key points to know before booking

• Four gins made at Stillgarden: You taste four signature spirits produced at the Dublin distillery.
• A botanical-focused lesson: The session covers distillation, the equipment used, and Stillgarden’s collection of 120 botanicals.
• A welcome drink and mixer are included: The opening drink is a particularly important part of the experience.
• A Q&A closes the class: Use this time to ask about gin-making, sustainability, or the distillery’s zero-food-waste work.
• Non-gin choices need advance notice: Non-alcoholic options are available, but you should request them when booking.
• Friday to Sunday public sessions: Afterward, you can remain at the bar, play corn-hole, or visit the on-site community garden.

Entering Stillgarden, a Dublin distillery with a community side

Stillgarden is not presented as a grand old Irish whiskey house. Its focus is modern Irish spirits, made on site in Dublin County and explained by the people who work with the liquid. That gives the class a useful sense of place: you are not simply sampling bottles in a generic tasting room.

The distillery’s identity reaches beyond the bar. You can ask about its sustainability projects, zero-food-waste policy, and community garden. The garden grows some of the botanicals used by the distillery, linking the drink in your glass to plants grown nearby.

That connection will matter to you if you enjoy seeing how a company works, rather than only drinking its finished products. It also gives the hour a wider subject than alcohol. Stillgarden’s Social Botanist Project brings people together on Sundays for gardening, foraging, or wildlife walks, followed by a complimentary drink at the distillery. The masterclass itself does not appear to include one of these gardening sessions, but you can ask about getting involved.

Public classes run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions can also be arranged by email. The supplied details do not give a meeting point inside the building, group size, or a named guide, so check the booking information for those points before you commit.

The welcome drink sets the tone

Your ticket includes a welcome drink before the four-gin flight. This is more than a minor extra. It gives you something to enjoy while the class begins and lets you sample Stillgarden’s style before moving into the more formal tasting.

One available rating specifically singled out the welcome drink as the best part of the experience. That does not mean the four gins will disappoint you, but it does suggest that the opening pour may be the most immediately appealing drink of the hour.

The practical point is to pay attention from the start. Ask what you are drinking, which botanicals shape it, and how it differs from the gins in the flight. The supplied details do not name the welcome drink, so you should not assume it will be a particular cocktail or gin style.

The 120-botanical wall gives the class a useful visual anchor

Gin can be hard to understand if the talk stays at the level of labels and flavor notes. Stillgarden’s wall of 120 botanicals gives the guide something concrete to explain. You can expect the class to introduce the ingredients that flavor gin and show how a small change in botanicals can alter the finished spirit.

The experience also covers the history of distillation. This is not described as a full technical course, and the class lasts only 60 minutes, so expect a clear introduction rather than an advanced lesson in production.

You’ll also learn about the equipment used to create the gins. That detail helps connect the botanicals to the process. A good question to save for the end is how the equipment affects aroma, flavor, or the way each spirit is made.

The class is hosted by Stillgarden’s liquid experts. No individual guide names are supplied, but the format includes a live English-speaking guide and a final question period. If you want a technical discussion, the Q&A is your best chance to ask for more depth.

Four signature gins, tasted in a guided flight

The main event is a flight of four Stillgarden gins, each made on site. The available information does not provide their names, recipes, alcohol strengths, or exact tasting order, so you should expect those details to be explained during the session rather than plan around a set menu.

Four samples is a sensible number for a one-hour class. It gives you enough comparison to notice differences without turning the session into a long drinking event. The included mixer also lets you consider how the spirits work in a longer drink, rather than judging each one only when tasted neat.

Still, your expectations should be realistic. A tasting flight is not the same as a full cocktail workshop. You are learning about the gins and sampling them, not mixing several drinks yourself or receiving a lesson in professional bartending.

The lone detailed criticism of the experience felt that the four gins were only okay and that the class lacked detail. I would treat that as a useful warning rather than a universal verdict. If you already know a lot about gin, the material may feel brief. If you are newer to the spirit, the botanical wall, equipment discussion, and guided tasting may be enough.

Afternoon tea creates an important booking question

The wording for this experience includes a reference to afternoon tea, with cakes and sandwiches, but the inclusion details clearly specify a welcome drink, four-gin flight, and mixer. The same information also describes afternoon tea as not included.

That is a real point to settle before booking. Do not assume that cakes and sandwiches form part of the $45 package unless your selected date and booking confirmation say so. If afternoon tea is important to you, confirm the exact package directly with Stillgarden or the booking provider.

This matters because the value changes sharply depending on what is served. At $45, a welcome drink, four pours, and a well-led class may suit someone looking for a special drinks outing. Add a substantial afternoon tea, and the price becomes easier to justify as a combined food and drink experience.

Without that added food, you are paying mainly for the setting, the guide, the production lesson, and the tasting. The one-hour length makes the cost feel less attractive if you expect a long visit or generous servings.

The Q&A is where you can make the hour your own

Every session ends with questions for one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is a small but useful feature, especially since a one-hour class has limited room for side discussions.

You can ask about the company’s ethos, the sustainability projects, the zero-food-waste policy, or the botanicals grown in the community garden. You can also use the time to return to a gin you liked and ask what shaped its flavor.

I would arrive with two or three questions ready. Ask how the four gins differ, which botanicals are grown on site, or how the distillery approaches waste. These questions should help you get more from the class than simply tasting four pours and leaving.

If your interest is highly technical, keep your expectations measured. The experience promises a guided introduction and Q&A, not a professional distiller qualification or a full production demonstration.

Stay after the class for drinks and corn-hole

Your visit does not have to end when the formal hour is over. You are welcome to remain in the bar for additional drinks, and corn-hole offers a casual way to linger.

This is one of the better features for a small group of friends. The class provides structure, while the bar gives you time to talk about the gins without being rushed out at the end. Additional drinks are not included, so budget for them separately.

The atmosphere is likely to appeal more to people who enjoy a relaxed social visit than to anyone seeking a silent, museum-style tasting. The available details do not promise live music, a meal, or a particular bar menu, so keep the focus on drinks and informal time after the lesson.

You can also visit the on-site community garden. The information does not describe a formal garden tour as part of the masterclass, so ask staff about access when you arrive. If you have an interest in plants, foraging, or local environmental work, this may add a worthwhile extra layer to the visit.

Who will get the most from this masterclass?

I would recommend Stillgarden to adults who want a short Dublin activity built around spirits, local production, and conversation. It suits a couple, a group of friends, or a mixed party where not everyone wants to drink gin, provided alternative choices are requested in advance.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy the story behind a product. The 120 botanicals, on-site production, community garden, and zero-food-waste policy give you several topics beyond the tasting itself.

You should be more cautious if you are a serious gin collector looking for a long, highly technical session. The class lasts one hour, and the available feedback suggests that the explanation may feel light to someone expecting detailed production notes.

Children under 18 are not permitted. The venue is wheelchair accessible, but baby strollers and baby carriages are not allowed. Climbing and bare feet are also prohibited. The experience runs rain or shine, though most of the class is presented as a distillery visit rather than an outdoor activity.

Is $45 a fair price?

At $45 per person, you are paying for more than the liquid in the glasses. The price covers the guided lesson, four signature gin samples, a mixer, a welcome drink, access to the distillery setting, and the chance to ask questions of a Stillgarden liquid expert.

That can be fair if you value local production and want an organized introduction rather than ordering a gin at a pub. The chance to learn about 120 botanicals and Stillgarden’s working methods gives the visit a clear purpose.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to drink. Four samples in one hour may not feel like enough for the price, particularly if afternoon tea is not part of your package. The detailed three-star assessment makes this concern worth taking seriously: the welcome drink was preferred to the other gins, and the class was judged too light for its cost.

My advice is to book it for the setting and the explanation, not simply for the quantity of alcohol. Confirm the afternoon-tea question, request non-gin alternatives if needed, and use the Q&A. Those steps give you the best chance of making the hour feel worthwhile.

Should you book Stillgarden’s Gin Masterclass?

Book this experience if you want a compact, social introduction to modern Irish gin, with a welcome drink, four house-made samples, and a look at botanicals and distilling. The garden and sustainability angle make it more distinctive than a standard bar tasting.

Think twice if you expect a long technical workshop, large pours, or a full afternoon tea included by default. The $45 price is reasonable for a well-led class with a good opening drink, but it is harder to justify if the explanations feel brief or the gins do not suit your taste.

For the best fit, choose it as a relaxed Friday, Saturday, or Sunday outing, ask about the food package before paying, and plan a little time afterward for the bar or garden.

FAQ

Where does the gin masterclass take place?

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

How long does the experience last?

The fully guided class lasts 60 minutes.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, and a mixer. The session also includes instruction about botanicals, distillation, and the equipment used to make the gins, followed by a Q&A.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four signature Stillgarden gins made on site.

Are non-gin or non-alcoholic options available?

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

When do public sessions run?

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private sessions may also be arranged by email.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

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

Can I cancel my booking?

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