Gin made by your own recipe.

This Aberdeen gin school turns a classic tasting session into hands-on distilling, led by the Head Distiller at City of Aberdeen Distillery. You start with a double G&T, learn how gin’s built from botanicals and base spirit, then choose your ingredients and distil your own bottle using a copper mini-still.

I really like two things: the over 100 botanicals choice (so your gin can be genuinely yours) and the way the tasting part is treated like real education, not just free drinks. You work through a tasting range of Aberdeen Gins, build your nose for aroma, and even get cocktails beyond straight G&T.

One heads-up: with multiple samples plus cocktails, this is a heavier alcohol experience than a simple tour. If you’re sensitive to alcohol or want to stay fully sharp for the rest of your day, plan accordingly.

Key highlights I’d prioritize

• Head Distiller guidance: you pick botanicals with direct help from the Head Distiller as you build your recipe.
• Over 100 botanicals to choose from: your blend can be tailored rather than a one-size-fits-all formula.
• Copper alembic mini-still distilling: you watch your gin come together in a hands-on way, not just observe.
• Generous tasting flow: welcome G&T, G&T during learning, multiple Aberdeen gin samples, and extra made-to-order G&T.
• Take-home custom bottle (70cl): you finish by deciding strength, bottle style, cap, label, and even naming your gin.

Arriving at City of Aberdeen Distillery for your double G&T

Your session starts at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Rd, Aberdeen AB11 5RE, and it runs about 2 hours 30 minutes. The day begins with a double G&T welcome drink, which sets the tone: this is a social, drink-included class, but still built around learning.

Because the meeting point is right at the distillery, you’re not losing time wandering to a separate venue. If you’re using public transport, it’s also described as being near it, which matters in Aberdeen when weather can change fast.

From gin origins to base botanicals and organic alcohol

Once you’re settled, you get the foundation for making gin—what makes gin gin. The instructor introduces Aberdeen’s distilling heritage and the origins of gin, then moves into the base spirit and base gin botanicals that shape the final flavor.

This part matters because it turns your later choices into something you can actually taste and understand. Instead of randomly picking botanicals, you’re learning what the base is doing, and how botanicals change aroma and structure.

You also get a short intro to the botanicals that will be available. That brief prep is key when you’re about to choose from a huge list, because you’ll know what you’re looking for by the time you start building your recipe.

Choosing your botanicals: over 100 options, real input from the Head Distiller

Here’s where the experience gets personal. After the intro, you choose from over 100 botanicals to distil the perfect bottle of your Scottish gin.

What I like about this format is that it’s not just a menu and a checkbox exercise. The session is led by the Head Distiller, and they’re on hand to help you select botanicals and quantities—so you’re less likely to end up with something that tastes great in theory but doesn’t balance in practice.

Practical tip for your choices: if you have strong preferences (citrus-forward, floral, piney, spicy), say it early. You’ll get better guidance when the Head Distiller has your target flavor in mind before you lock in quantities.

Your copper alembic mini-still moment

Then you shift from planning to making. Your gin is distilled using a copper alembic mini-still, and you get to see the process while your blend is working.

Even if you’re not a “science person,” this stage feels satisfying because you’re watching your recipe take physical form. It turns the class into a true experience, not a tasting workshop where you go home with nothing but notes.

There’s also a built-in pause while the distilling happens, so you’re not stuck waiting in silence. You transition into tastings, which keeps the pacing lively and stops the session from dragging.

Aberdeen Gins tastings while your gin is working

While your gin distils, you get samples across the range of Aberdeen Gins. You’ll be walked through the background of each one and the ingredients used, with attention paid to what makes each gin distinct and how it’s authentically distilled in Aberdeen.

This tasting block does two things for you. First, it gives you a reference point to judge your own blend later. Second, it trains your senses with guided attention, which is exactly what the best gin experiences do—turn drinking into tasting skill.

And yes, the pours keep coming. You’ll sip a G&T made to order based on the sample preferences you’ve indicated, and you’ll also have G&T included while learning about botanicals. In other words, the class keeps feeding you, but it’s feeding you with context, not just alcohol.

Decide your G&T strength, then build your own bottle identity

After tastings, you return to your own build. You decide on the strength, and you also get to choose the bottle, cap, and label for your full-sized takeaway bottle.

That’s the part that turns “a nice day out” into a real souvenir. You’re not leaving with a glass or a couple of tiny vials—you’re taking home your own 70cl bottle of Scottish gin.

And you’ll name it. That may sound like a fun extra, but it changes how you remember the day. You’ll likely find yourself using the bottle as the story trigger: this is the gin I helped create, from botanicals I chose.

The surprise cocktails: how the session ends on a celebratory note

You’re not just served one final drink and sent on your way. The experience includes a surprise cocktail to celebrate becoming a distiller, and there’s also a berry prosecco cocktail listed at the end.

For a lot of people, this is what makes the session feel like a special occasion rather than an adult workshop that ends abruptly. If you’re booking for a birthday, this kind of finish helps justify the price: you get a “day out” feel, not just product education.

Price and value: why $192.23 can make sense here

At $192.23 per person, this isn’t a cheap impulse activity. But the value is strong when you add up what’s included: multiple tastings and G&Ts across the Aberdeen Gin range, instruction from the Head Distiller, your use of a copper mini-still, and—most important—a full-sized custom 70cl bottle that you design from label to cap.

If you compare it to buying a couple of bottles plus paying for a tasting event, this hits a different category. You’re paying for the experience of making your own gin, with enough drink samples and guidance to feel like you earned the final product.

Also, group size matters for value. This has a maximum of 20 travelers, which usually means you can ask questions and get real attention without feeling like you’re part of a huge crowd.

Who this is for (and who should think twice)

This class is a great fit if you:

• like gin and want a structured, practical way to learn how flavors come together
• want a fun group activity with a clear “you made something” payoff
• are celebrating something and want a branded, memorable takeaway bottle

It’s less ideal if you:

• don’t drink much, or you need to stay sober for the rest of the day
• prefer purely walking-and-looking tours rather than learning-and-tasting sessions
• want a quiet, minimal-contact experience (this is interactive and social)

Weather, pacing, and what to wear

This experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled for poor conditions you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. Even though it’s centered at the distillery, the operator treats the experience like an event, so Mother Nature can matter.

Wear something comfortable for standing and moving around a working distillery setting. The session is about 2.5 hours, and your time is split between learning, distilling, tastings, and personalizing your bottle.

Should you book the Aberdeen gin school experience?

If you want a gin class that ends with a takeaway you actually made—plus plenty of guided tastings—this one is worth serious consideration. The big selling point is the mix of Head Distiller-led instruction, over 100 botanicals, and a custom 70cl bottle you name and label yourself.

Book it for birthdays and special occasions, especially if you enjoy learning through tasting. Just go in knowing it’s a heavier alcohol experience than a basic tour, so if you want a long night out afterward, pace your day well.

FAQ

How long is the Aberdeen gin school experience?

It runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes.

What is included in the session?

You get a double G&T on arrival, learning about botanicals and gin origins, distilling your own gin, tasting Aberdeen Gins (including made-to-order G&Ts), a surprise cocktail, and a berry prosecco cocktail.

Can I take my gin home?

Yes. You take home a full-sized 70cl custom bottle of gin, including choosing bottle, cap, and label details and naming your gin.

How many people are in the group?

The experience has a maximum of 20 travelers.

What language is the class offered in?

It’s offered in English.

Where do I start and where does it end?

You start at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Rd, Aberdeen AB11 5RE, UK, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. The experience may also be canceled due to poor weather, with either a different date or a full refund.