2 hour Gin School Experience in Aberdeen

In Aberdeen, you can turn gin geek mode on fast. This 2 hour gin school at City of Aberdeen Distillery pairs hands-on mixing with lots of tasting, including made-to-order G&Ts. I especially like the chance to create your own recipe with over 100 botanicals, and I like that you leave with a full-sized 70cl bottle. One thing to consider is that it runs in a small group setting, so you’ll want to arrive on time and be ready to focus, not just sip casually.

The class is led by the head distiller, so you’re not stuck with vague answers or generic tips. You’ll learn the origins of gin, how base botanicals and premium organic alcohol fit together, and how to think about strength before you bottle. The only potential drawback is that it depends on good weather, so plan a little flexibility if Aberdeen is having a gray day.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Hands-on recipe building with over 100 botanicals, plus the ability to choose your final bottle style
• Lots of tasting built into the flow, including multiple G&Ts and a range of Aberdeen gin samples
• Mini-still distillation experience using a copper alembic setup so you can watch your gin process
• Led by the head distiller, which makes the instruction feel practical instead of scripted
• You take home a full-sized 70cl custom bottle, not a tiny souvenir

Arriving at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Before You Even Sip

Your experience starts at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Rd, Aberdeen AB11 5RE. The start time is 2:00 pm, and the activity ends back at the meeting point, so you do not need to plan a second stop.

I like starting in one clear place because it keeps the day simple. Also, gin school experiences work best when you can settle in early, take in the setup, and get your palate ready for the first tastings.

Welcome Double G&T, Then the Real Gin Lesson Starts

Before you do anything else, you’ll get a double G&T on arrival. You’ll also have a G&T as you learn about botanicals, then more tasting as you compare Aberdeen gins.

This structure matters because it breaks the class into digestible chunks. You taste, you learn, you taste again, and by the time you start choosing botanicals, your nose already has context. It’s a smart way to prevent the common problem of tasting first and learning later, where everything starts to blur.

Meet the Head Distiller and Understand What You’re Actually Making

The group is led by the head distiller, who guides your choices. You’ll start with an introduction to Aberdeen’s distilling heritage and the origins of gin. You’ll also get the basics on gin’s base botanicals and the premium organic alcohol used in the process.

Here’s why that background is useful for you, not just trivia. Gin can taste very different depending on what’s in the recipe and how it’s balanced. When you understand the role of base ingredients and botanicals, your choices stop being random and start being deliberate, like adjusting flavors in a recipe you can repeat later at home.

Choosing Your Botanicals, With Over 100 Options

The core moment comes when you choose from over 100 botanicals and build your “perfect bottle of gin.” You’ll use a copper alembic mini-still to distil your custom gin.

If you’ve never worked with botanicals before, the range can feel intimidating at first. But that is exactly why this format works. You’re not forced to guess alone. The head distiller is there to help you select ideal botanicals and quantities for your unique recipe.

A practical tip: use your first tasting impressions as your compass. If you liked certain sample notes earlier, look for botanicals that match those aromas. If you didn’t, don’t panic. This is the point where you can steer your recipe before it becomes final.

Distilling on a Copper Alembic Mini-Still

After you choose your botanical mix, you’ll distil your gin using the copper alembic mini-still. While it runs, you’re not just waiting in silence. You’ll move into the tasting portion and learn how Aberdeen gins differ by ingredients and method.

Watching a distillation process, even in miniature form, helps you connect aromas to outcomes. Gin isn’t just flavor. It’s also how the distillation carries those botanicals into the final spirit. Seeing the process makes the tasting lesson click faster later.

The Tasting Break: Aberdeen Gin Samples, Plus G&T by Preference

While your gin is distilling, you’ll enjoy samples from the Aberdeen gin range. You’ll learn background on each gin, what ingredients are used, and how each one is authentically distilled in Aberdeen.

Then you’ll also sip a G&T made to order based on your preferred sample. That means you can connect the “I liked that aroma” feeling to an actual glass experience, not just a small sip from a tasting tray.

This part is one of the most praised aspects of the class, and for good reason. You get a generous tasting setup, and the experience is built to help you develop your nose. Even if you’re new to gin, you’ll start to recognize how juniper, citrus notes, botanicals, and sweetness or dryness create different profiles.

Building Your Bottle Choice: Strength, Bottle, Cap, and Label

Once the distillation is done, you shift from tasting and learning into personalizing the final product. You’ll decide the strength, bottle style, cap, and label. You’ll also need to name your gin.

This is where the experience turns from “fun class” into “real keepsake.” A custom bottle means you can actually share what you made, and you can track how your recipe choices influence taste. Naming it is not a throwaway step either. It encourages you to commit to the identity of your gin, which makes the whole thing feel more like crafting than consuming.

You’ll take home your full-sized custom bottle at the end of the class, and it’s a 70cl bottle. That size is a big deal for value. Many tastings hand you tiny samples that disappear quickly. Here, you leave with something you can keep tasting over time.

Finishing Celebration: Berry Prosecco Cocktail

To cap off the class, you celebrate becoming a distiller with a cocktail. The experience includes a berry prosecco cocktail as the dessert-style finale.

I like that the ending isn’t just another sip of the same gin. It gives your palate a different direction at the finish. It also makes the event feel special, which is one reason this class is a strong pick for birthdays or other occasions.

Is the Price Worth It? A Straight Talk Value Check

The price is $192.23 per person, for about 2 hours 30 minutes. That is not a “cheap evening activity,” so you should judge it on what you truly get.

Here’s what you’re paying for, based on the class design:

• A head distiller-led experience, not just a bartender-style tasting
• Multiple rounds of G&Ts and gin sampling throughout the session
• Hands-on gin recipe building using over 100 botanicals
• Distilling your own gin on a copper alembic mini-still
• Taking home a full-sized 70cl custom bottle

When you look at it this way, the cost starts to make more sense. You’re not only buying drinks. You’re paying for instruction, guided selection, a real distillation activity, and a product you can take home in a meaningful size.

If you and a friend are the kind of people who enjoy both tasting and learning, it can feel like good value for Scotland’s gin scene in a single afternoon. If you only want a casual bar stop, it might feel pricey because the format is clearly educational and hands-on.

Who This Gin School Fits Best (and Who It Might Not)

This experience is a great fit if you love gin, you like learning how food and drink are made, or you’re shopping for a memorable birthday-style activity. The small group size helps keep it interactive and lets the head distiller guide your botanical choices.

You’ll also enjoy it if you like structure. The class flows from welcome drinks, to botanical learning, to distilling, to guided tasting, and then to bottling and naming your final product.

If you’re someone who hates the idea of choosing flavors or being guided through tastings, you might find the recipe-building steps a little more hands-on than you want. But if you can enjoy the process even when you’re not sure what you’ll like yet, this class turns uncertainty into a fun experiment.

Timing and Practical Tips So You Enjoy It More

Start time is 2:00 pm, and it runs roughly 2 hours 30 minutes. Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you’re not rushed during the welcome drinks and first intro.

Because you’re sampling multiple drinks, eat something beforehand if you can. The session includes a double G&T on arrival and additional G&Ts during the tasting blocks, plus a berry prosecco cocktail at the end.

Also, since the class operates as a limited group experience with a maximum of 20 people, you’ll likely get more attention than you would in a huge public event. That’s another reason to show up on time.

If you use public transport, the meeting point is near public transportation. And service animals are allowed.

Weather and Schedule Reality (Keep This in Mind)

This experience requires good weather. If it gets canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

There is also a minimum number of travelers needed for the experience to run. If that minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

I like knowing this upfront because it’s easier to choose a backup plan when Aberdeen weather turns unpredictable.

Should You Book This 2-Hour Gin School in Aberdeen?

Book it if you want more than a tasting flight. You’ll learn how gin is built, you’ll get guided help choosing botanicals from a huge selection, and you’ll distil your own gin on a copper mini-still. The big payoff is taking home a full-sized 70cl custom bottle that you named and designed.

Skip it if you’re mainly looking for a low-key drink at a bar or if you know you don’t enjoy hands-on flavor decisions. The class is structured, instruction-led, and built around sampling, so it suits curious drinkers more than passive ones.

If you’re choosing one gin-focused activity in Aberdeen, this is one of the most satisfying formats because it blends education with a real, take-home result.

FAQ

How long is the 2 hour gin school experience in Aberdeen?

It lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Where does the gin school start?

The start location is City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Rd, Aberdeen AB11 5RE, UK.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 2:00 pm.

What language is the experience offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

What is included in the gin school package?

You’ll start with a double G&T on arrival, have a G&T while learning about botanicals, sample a range of Aberdeen gins, have a G&T made to order based on your preferred sample, and end with a berry prosecco cocktail. You also distil and bottle your own gin.

Can I choose my own gin recipe?

Yes. You choose botanicals and quantities to create your own Scottish gin recipe, with help from the head distiller.

Do I take anything home?

Yes. You take home your full-sized custom 70cl bottle of gin at the end of the class.

How big is the group?

The experience has a maximum of 20 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount you paid is not refunded. The experience is also dependent on good weather.