Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare Distillery Gin Tour & Tasting

How Gin Gets Made: Inside Stratford's Only Working Distillery

You walk through a working distillery in Stratford-upon-Avon, see how gin is actually made from botanicals to bottle, taste three spirits with a guide explaining what you're tasting, and finish with a gin & tonic. The 11am ticket includes entry, the full tour, the tasting, and a shop discount you can use the same day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Distillery tour and gin tasting

• Join guided distillery tour
• Learn gin making process
• Discover gin history and ingredients
• Taste 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits
• Enjoy a Gin & Tonic

The experience

"So where do the botanicals actually go?" The question lands the moment you step into the production floor at Shakespeare Distillery, and that's when the tour really starts. You're standing in Stratford-upon-Avon's only working distillery, surrounded by copper stills and glass jars holding everything from juniper to herbs that would've grown in a Tudor garden. The guide walks you through each stage (how the botanicals are selected, how they're infused, what makes the water matter), and it's the kind of detail that makes you understand why gin tastes the way it does instead of just drinking it.

The distillery itself is built around Tudor influences, which sounds like marketing until you see the actual herb garden they reference on the bottles. The award-winning Stratford Gin you'll taste later comes from those specific flavours, and knowing that changes how you taste it. The tour moves at a reasonable pace. You're not rushed through, but you're also not standing around waiting for explanations. After the walk-through of the production space, you move into the tasting room where things get more hands-on.

That's where the tutored tasting comes in. You'll taste at least three different Shakespeare Distillery spirits, and the guide talks you through what you're actually tasting: the botanicals you saw earlier, the finish, how it changes with water or tonic. It's not pretentious. It's just informative enough that you stop sipping blindly. The tour finishes with a proper gin & tonic made with what you've just learned about, which lands differently when you understand the work behind it. Before you leave, there's a 10% discount on anything in the distillery shop, so if a bottle caught your attention during the tasting, you can take it home without the full price tag.

What’s included

Your ticket includes a guided tour of the working distillery, a tutored tasting of at least 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits, a gin & tonic to finish, and a 10% discount on any bottles or products you buy in the shop on the day of your visit.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Shakespeare Distillery

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand how gin is made rather than just taste it, and you're in Stratford-upon-Avon anyway. The distillery is the only working one in town, so there's nowhere else to do this particular tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the Shakespeare Distillery tour?

The tour description doesn't specify an exact duration, but it includes a guided walk through the distillery, a tutored tasting of at least 3 spirits, and a gin & tonic, so plan for at least 90 minutes to two hours.

What's included in the ticket price?

The 11am ticket includes guided access to the distillery, a tutored tasting of at least 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits, a gin & tonic, and a 10% discount on shop purchases made the same day.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The distillery is fully wheelchair accessible, with all areas and surfaces accessible. Service animals are also allowed.

Can I use public transport to get there?

Yes. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the transportation options themselves are wheelchair accessible.

What spirits will I taste?

You'll taste at least 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits during the tutored tasting. The award-winning Stratford Gin is one of them, and it's flavoured based on a Tudor herb garden.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I buy bottles to take home?

Yes. You get a 10% discount on distillery shop purchases made on the same day as your tour, so you can buy any spirits that appeal to you.