Dublin: Gin Masterclass with Welcome Drink & Tasting Flight

Stillgarden’s one-hour masterclass puts the focus where it belongs: on the gin itself. You’ll visit the Dublin distillery, learn how botanicals shape flavor, and taste four gins made onsite with guidance from a Stillgarden liquid expert.

I like the look at the 120-botanical wall and the chance to ask about the company’s sustainability work and zero food waste policy. I also like that the experience welcomes non-gin drinkers and those avoiding alcohol, provided you request an alternative when booking.

The main drawback is value. At $45 per person, this is not a quick, cheap sample at the bar, and one published 3 out of 5 rating found the welcome drink more enjoyable than the gin flight. The class may suit curious drinkers best, rather than anyone simply looking for a generous pour.

Key points to know before booking

• Four Stillgarden gins: Taste a flight of signature spirits made at the Dublin distillery.
• A 120-botanical lesson: See how plants and flavor choices shape modern Irish gin.
• A welcome drink and mixer: The ticket includes an opening drink, four-gin flight, and mixer.
• Sixty minutes with a Q&A: The class ends with time to ask a Stillgarden liquid expert questions.
• Non-gin options are available: Request a nonalcoholic or non-gin choice when you book.
• Extra time at the distillery: Afterward, you can remain at the bar, play cornhole, or visit the community garden.

What the Stillgarden gin class is really about

This is a guided tasting rather than a long distillery tour. You spend about 60 minutes learning how gin is made, seeing the botanical collection, sampling four Stillgarden products, and asking questions at the end.

That format matters. If you want a full production visit with a long walk through every stage of distilling, this may feel brief. If you want a clear introduction to modern Irish spirits without giving up half a day in Dublin, the short format is useful.

Stillgarden presents itself as the home of modern Irish spirits, with its own gins made onsite. The class connects the finished drink to the choices behind it: the botanicals, the distillation equipment, and the flavor ideas that give each gin its character.

You are not simply handed four glasses and left to guess what you are tasting. A Stillgarden liquid expert leads the session in English, explains the process, and finishes with a question-and-answer period. The guide’s role is important here because the value of a tasting depends heavily on how clearly the spirit is explained.

Starting with a welcome drink

Your visit begins with a welcome drink. This is more than a small practical detail, since it gives you something to enjoy before the tasting flight begins and lets the session start at an easy pace.

The welcome drink is included in the ticket, along with a mixer for the gin samples. One published 3 out of 5 rating found the welcome drink stronger than the other pours, so I would keep your expectations open. Taste preferences vary, and the appeal of a gin class is often learning what you like, not agreeing with every sample.

The welcome drink may also help you compare a prepared serving with the individual gins in the flight. Pay attention to how the mixer changes the flavor. A spirit that seems sharp or plain on its own may work better in a longer drink, while another may be more interesting neat.

If you do not drink gin, or do not drink alcohol, tell Stillgarden when booking. The activity specifically allows non-gin and nonalcoholic options, but you should not wait until you arrive to request one.

The 120 botanicals and the story behind the spirit

The class brings you to Stillgarden’s wall of 120 botanicals. This is one of the most useful parts of the experience because it turns a vague idea into something you can see and discuss.

Gin depends on botanical choices. Juniper provides the familiar base, while other plants, spices, citrus elements, flowers, herbs, and roots can shift the aroma and taste. The supplied details do not identify every plant on the wall or match each one to a particular gin, so you should treat this as a guided introduction rather than a technical ingredient chart.

Still, the botanical display gives your guide a strong way to explain why two gins can taste very different. You can ask which plants appear in the four samples, how the distillery chooses them, and which ingredients are most important to Stillgarden’s house style.

The class also covers the history of distillation. That gives the tasting some useful context without making it a lecture-heavy museum visit. I like this balance in principle: first understand the basic process, then taste the result.

Four signature gins made onsite

The central part of the session is the four-gin tasting flight. These are Stillgarden’s signature gins, produced at the distillery, so the experience has a direct connection between place, equipment, ingredients, and final drink.

The supplied information does not name the four gins or describe their exact flavor profiles. That means I would not book expecting a set list of particular labels. The selection may be the main way to learn what Stillgarden is currently making.

Use the flight as a comparison exercise. Notice the smell before tasting, then consider the balance, finish, sweetness, bitterness, and botanical notes. Try each sample with the provided mixer if directed by the guide, and ask how the drink is meant to be served.

A fair warning: a tasting flight can feel small if you measure value by alcohol volume alone. You are paying for the guided explanation, the setting, the welcome drink, and the chance to ask questions, not just four samples. If you mainly want a large cocktail, the $45 ticket may seem high.

The published rating is 4.6 from eight ratings, but the small number does not tell you how every gin drinker will respond. One 3 out of 5 assessment found the welcome drink best and considered the gin flight only average for the price. I would take that as a useful prompt to book for the teaching and setting, not as a guarantee that every sample will become a favorite.

The equipment, distillation, and Q&A

The class includes discussion of the equipment used to make the gins. That helps bridge the gap between ingredients and production. Botanicals are only part of the story; how they are treated during distillation also affects the final spirit.

You may want to ask practical questions such as:

• How does Stillgarden use different botanicals across the range?
• Which ingredients are grown at the community garden?
• What makes the gins modern Irish spirits?
• How does the distillery reduce food waste?
• What sustainability projects does Stillgarden support?

The session ends with a Q&A led by one of the Stillgarden liquid experts. This is a good feature because it gives you a chance to steer the final minutes toward what interests you, instead of ending as soon as the last glass is empty.

No individual guide names are provided, so your host will be a Stillgarden liquid expert rather than a named specialist you can request. The class is conducted in English.

Afternoon tea: check exactly what your ticket includes

There is an important point to clarify before you pay. The experience information describes the ticket as including a welcome drink, four-gin flight, mixer, and a 60-minute guided class. Elsewhere, it describes an afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches, but that section is marked as not included.

Because those details conflict, I would not assume afternoon tea is part of the $45 ticket. Confirm the current inclusions with Stillgarden before booking if the food is a major reason you want to go.

If afternoon tea is available as an add-on or part of a particular session, it could change the value of the outing. Cakes and sandwiches would make the class feel more like a leisurely afternoon treat. Without that food, you are paying mainly for the drinks and instruction.

This is also why the wording matters for planning. A one-hour tasting followed by food is a different experience from a one-hour tasting with the option to buy more drinks afterward. Get the food details clear before you commit.

Staying after the one-hour class

The scheduled class lasts one hour, but your visit does not have to end when the Q&A does. You are welcome to remain in the bar for additional drinks, and the distillery has cornhole available.

That extra time can make the visit feel less rushed. You can talk through the tasting, order another drink, or enjoy the setting without trying to squeeze every question into the formal class.

Stillgarden also has an onsite community garden where it grows many of its botanicals. This adds a practical side to the distillery’s story. Instead of treating sustainability as a slogan, the garden shows one way the company connects spirits production with growing and community activity.

The garden is not presented as a formal part of the one-hour class, so I would view it as an optional extra. You can also ask about the Social Botanist Project, which brings people together on Sundays for gardening, foraging, or wildlife walks. After those activities, participants return to the distillery for a complimentary drink.

If you have an interest in plants, food waste, or local environmental work, ask about these programs during the Q&A. They may be more meaningful to you than the standard tasting alone.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend the class to an adult who wants a compact introduction to Irish gin and prefers a guided tasting to sitting alone at a bar. It suits couples, small groups, and anyone building a Dublin drinks itinerary around local producers.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy asking questions. The botanical wall, equipment discussion, and final Q&A give you plenty to talk about, but the experience will feel thinner if you want a long, highly technical production tour.

It also works well for mixed groups. A non-gin drinker does not have to sit out the tasting, and nonalcoholic options are available when requested in advance. That makes the booking more flexible than a standard gin-only flight.

This is not suitable for children under 18. Baby strollers and baby carriages are not allowed, and bare feet, climbing, and similar behavior are prohibited. The venue is wheelchair accessible, which is useful, though the supplied information does not describe every route or facility in detail.

Price, timing, and practical planning

The listed price is $45 per person for one hour. To judge that fairly, remember that the ticket combines a welcome drink, four-gin tasting, mixer, guided instruction, access to the distillery setting, and a closing Q&A.

That can be fair value if you want the story behind the spirit and plan to stay for another drink. It is less convincing if you want only four small samples, especially since one published rating found the flight underwhelming for the cost.

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want. Private sessions can also be arranged by contacting the provider.

The activity runs rain or shine. That matters because the main class is indoors, but the community garden is an optional part of the wider visit and may be less appealing in poor weather.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dublin schedule is still shifting. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Those terms make it easier to hold a spot without locking your plans too early.

Should you book the Stillgarden masterclass?

Book it if you want a short, guided look at modern Irish gin, enjoy comparing several spirits, and like the idea of learning about botanicals, sustainability, and a local community garden.

Think twice if your main goal is a large drink, a full-scale distillery tour, or a guaranteed afternoon tea. The $45 cost rests on the quality of the teaching as much as the liquid in the glasses, and the limited feedback includes one clear warning that the flight may not feel worth the price to every palate.

Before booking, confirm whether afternoon tea is included in your chosen session and request a non-gin or nonalcoholic option in advance if needed. For an adult gin fan with a free Friday, Saturday, or Sunday hour in Dublin, Stillgarden offers a focused introduction with enough extra character to make staying after class worthwhile.

FAQ

How long does the Stillgarden Gin Masterclass last?

The fully guided class lasts 60 minutes and ends with a question-and-answer session.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, a mixer, and guided instruction about Stillgarden’s gins, botanicals, and equipment.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four signature Stillgarden gins made onsite.

Are nonalcoholic or non-gin options available?

Yes. Nonalcoholic and non-gin choices are available, but you should request one when booking.

Is the experience suitable for children?

No. The activity is not suitable for anyone under 18.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

When do public sessions run?

Public sessions run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.