Craft Scottish Gin in Aberdeen: 2-Hour Distilling Class

Create a unique recipe with rare botanicals and celebrate with a surprise cocktail

A 2-hour gin-making class in Aberdeen where you craft and distil your own 70cl bottle of Scottish gin under the Head Distiller's guidance, selecting from over 100 botanicals to create a unique recipe. You'll taste samples of small-batch Aberdeen gins, bottle your creation, name it, and finish with a cocktail to mark your new status as a distiller. Minimum age 18. Non-alcoholic alternatives available.

The experience

You arrive with a double G&T in hand and a crash course in gin's origins: specifically Aberdeen's distilling heritage and how the base spirits and botanicals work together. The Head Distiller walks you through the premium organic alcohol and the flavours you're working with, from Macedonian juniper to the 100+ botanicals on offer. Then you move to the copper alembic mini-still and start building your recipe, choosing the botanicals and quantities that appeal to you, with the Head Distiller on hand to help you dial it in.

While your gin distils, you taste through the range of Aberdeen Gins (both London Dry and Fruit varieties), and learn what makes each one distinct. You'll order a G&T made to your preference from what you've just tasted, so you're not guessing at flavour profiles. Once your gin is ready, you decide its strength, bottle it into a full 70cl bottle, cap it, label it, and give it a name. The class wraps with a surprise cocktail to celebrate the fact that you've just become a distiller.

What’s included

• Double G&T on arrival.
• G&Ts during the botanicals introduction and a G&T of your choice from the range.
• samples of small-batch Aberdeen Gins.
• your own 70cl bottle of gin that you distil, bottle and label.
• a surprise cocktail at the end.
• non-alcoholic alternatives including water and soft drinks throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDepartures at 13:00 and 14:00Last departure this season: 19 Dec

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School

Is this one for you?The class runs in the city centre with public transport nearby, so you don't need a car to get there or to carry your finished bottle home afterward. Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to leave Aberdeen with something you made yourself, not just a souvenir you bought.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I make and take home from this class?

You distil and bottle your own 70cl bottle of Scottish gin, complete with a label and a name you choose. It's the full-sized bottle you created during the class, not a sample.

How many botanicals can I choose from, and do I need to know anything about gin before I start?

You choose from over 100 botanicals, and no prior knowledge is needed. The Head Distiller introduces you to the basics of gin-making and the flavour profiles of the botanicals available, so you're guided through the selection process.

What drinks are included during the two hours?

You get a double G&T on arrival, G&Ts while you're learning about botanicals, samples of the range of Aberdeen Gins, a G&T of your choice made from the gins you've tasted, and a berry prosecco cocktail at the end. Non-alcoholic alternatives like water and soft drinks are available throughout.

Where in Aberdeen does the class take place, and how do I get there?

The class happens in the heart of Aberdeen at the distillery itself. Public transportation options are available nearby, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible if you need them.

Is there a minimum age, and can I bring someone who doesn't drink alcohol?

You must be 18 or older to attend. Non-alcoholic alternatives are provided throughout, so someone who prefers not to drink gin or spirits can still participate fully in the distilling and tasting experience.