Distill a bottle of Gin on mini copper stills

Your gin starts as a recipe idea. This is a hands-on mini copper still class where you build, distill, and leave with a 500ml bottle you made yourself. I especially like the guided tasting that helps you understand gin styles fast, plus the way hosts like Neil or Gary steer your choices so the final bottle fits your tastes. The main drawback: it’s not a passive tour—this is active and you’ll be working the whole time.

You’ll meet at the Cumberland Bar (1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT) and start at 12:00 pm, in a small setting capped at 2 travelers. You’ll get a gin and tonic on arrival, then tasting, recipe-building, distilling, and a full bottling routine—so plan this as a real “experience afternoon,” not a quick stop.

Key Highlights Worth Booking

• Small group (max 2 travelers) for hands-on attention
• Gin and tonic on arrival to get you in the mood immediately
• Tasting three different gin samples before you design your recipe
• Your own mini copper still making a 500ml bottle to take home
• Bottling plus naming, labelling, and wax sealing for a keepsake you’ll actually show off

Sip Antics in Edinburgh: Gin-Making That Feels Like a Craft Class

If you like gin, this class hits a sweet spot: you learn the basics, but you don’t just listen. You taste, make choices, and end up with something real—your own bottle. That’s the big reason people recommend it so strongly: it’s not only about gin facts, it’s about your personal preferences, translated into a recipe you can stand behind.

I also like the pace. Around three hours is long enough to learn, taste, and distill, but short enough that you’re not stuck doing this at the expense of your whole trip. And because the group is capped at 2 travelers, the experience doesn’t feel like you’re waiting your turn.

One more practical plus: it’s English-language and starts right in the city center, at the Cumberland Bar. That matters in Edinburgh, where time can disappear fast once you’re juggling hills, weather, and transport.

Where It Starts: Cumberland Bar and a Straightforward, City-Center Schedule

The session meets at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, and it ends back at the same meeting point. Start time is 12:00 pm and the duration is listed as about 3 hours.

Why this matters for you:

• It’s easy to plan around a late morning and early afternoon.
• You don’t need to figure out an out-of-the-way address or complicated transfers.
• You can pair it with a nearby lunch before, or a casual dinner after, depending on how much you want to drink.

It also uses a mobile ticket, so you won’t be hunting for paper confirmations. And if you’re coming on public transport, the location is noted as near public transportation, which is helpful when Edinburgh’s weather decides to do its own thing.

The Welcome Moment: Gin and Tonic Right Away

You arrive and get a gin and tonic on the spot. Then you’ll settle in and get a clear run-through of what happens next.

This sounds simple, but it’s a smart setup. By the time you start tasting, you’re already familiar with how gin behaves in a drink—not just as an abstract spirit. You’re also relaxed, which matters because recipe-making gets more fun when you’re not tense about choices.

The Tasting Session: Three Samples That Train Your Palate

Before you touch the recipe ingredients, you’ll do tasting. You try three different gin tasting samples. This is one of the most valuable parts of the class, because it turns “gin tasting” from a vague idea into something practical: you start noticing what you like, not just what you think you like.

I love how the class uses tasting as a decision tool. You’re not just tasting for flavor recognition; you’re gathering evidence for your recipe. That makes the later steps feel less random and more like you’re building toward a result you’ll enjoy.

You’ll also get guidance that connects to how gins fall into different styles. Some hosts share background on gin styles and the character of different brands and categories, which helps you make smarter comparisons later when you’re browsing bottles back home.

Tip: take small notes in your head (or on your phone). Even a quick mental checklist like floral/spicy/citrus can help you pick ingredients when it’s time to design.

Designing Your Bespoke Recipe: Make It Yours, With Real Guidance

After the tasting, you design your bespoke gin recipe. You’ll choose from the available ingredients, and you’ll get hands-on help as you put your mix together.

This is where the class becomes more than a fun workshop. You learn how gin tastes come from combining botanicals, not just from the base spirit. Hosts like Neil and Gary are known for making this both easy and genuinely personal—so you’re not forced into a generic recipe that suits the room, not your palate.

Practical reality: your choices can be as simple or as specific as you want. The guidance helps you avoid going too far in random directions, while still leaving room for your own taste. That balance is why the experience gets praised for feeling fun and educational.

Also, because you’re making your own, the result isn’t only a souvenir. It’s a drink you can recreate later—by memory, by bottle, or at least by knowing what flavor direction you went.

Distilling on a Mini Copper Still: How You Turn Choices into Alcohol

Then comes the main event: you use an individual mini copper still to distill your chosen ingredients. The process produces a 500ml (50cl) bottle of gin that you’ll take home.

A mini copper still is more than a cute prop. Copper is part of why distillation works the way it does, and seeing it operating makes the whole “gin making” idea feel concrete. You’re not just mixing flavors; you’re watching those choices transform into the final spirit.

And because you’re doing it on your own still, you get a real sense of ownership. When you taste your gin later, you’ll know exactly which decisions led to what’s in the bottle.

While You Wait: A Cocktail Break During Distilling

During the distilling time, you’ll enjoy a cocktail. This is a simple addition, but it keeps the energy up while you wait for the still.

It also keeps things practical: distilling takes time, and the class isn’t designed so you sit around bored. You’re drinking something gin-based while the real work happens.

Tasting Your Fresh Gin: The Moment of Truth

Once your gin has distilled, you taste the gin before bottling. This is a key step because you get feedback while it’s still fresh, and the experience ends with a spirit you’ve actually evaluated.

This is also where hosts’ personalities show up. Neil is described as entertaining—fun, musical, and genuinely warm—which matters because tasting can be serious if the room is stiff. A good host makes the tasting feel like part of the fun, not a test you might fail.

If the first taste sparks thoughts like adding more floral notes or dialing back a spice direction, that’s normal. Even if you can’t redesign in that moment, you’ll leave with a better sense for how gin flavor choices behave.

Bottling, Labelling, Naming, and Wax Sealing

Now you get to package your work like a pro. After the tasting, you bottle your gin, then do the finishing touches:

• labelling
• naming your gin
• wax sealing the bottle

Why this part matters: it turns a bottle into a story. Instead of bringing home a generic souvenir from Edinburgh, you bring home something handmade from your own recipe. It’s also the kind of bottle that makes a great gift because it looks intentional, not store-bought.

And if you’re traveling, the wax seal is more than decoration—it helps the bottle feel finished, like it’s ready for someone’s shelf right away.

Price and Value: What You’re Really Paying For

At $125.01 per person, this isn’t a cheap drink-yourself-into-a-good-time activity. But it also isn’t priced like a traditional multi-course tour where you just watch.

Your money covers several real components:

• a structured tasting (three samples)
• a guided recipe design
• your own mini copper still session
• distillation to a 500ml take-home bottle
• drinks along the way (gin and tonic on arrival, plus a cocktail during distilling)
• the full bottling and keepsake finish (including wax sealing)

For me, the best value signal is the combination of output (you leave with a full bottle) and attention (max 2 travelers). Small-group classes cost more because instruction is more intensive, and the class is clearly built around personal guidance and a finished product.

So if you’re deciding between a standard bar tasting and this, the difference is obvious: the bar tasting teaches you what to buy. This class teaches you how to make and judge your own gin.

Logistics and Comfort: Timing, Group Size, and How to Plan Your Day

A few practical notes that can help you enjoy it more:

• Start time is 12:00 pm, and the class runs about 3 hours.
• You meet at the Cumberland Bar and return there at the end.
• The setting is small—up to 2 travelers—so you’ll feel more included than in larger groups.

This also affects how you dress. You’ll be doing hands-on steps around your still and bottling, so choose comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little close to workshop space.

Also, you’ll be drinking a gin and tonic and then a cocktail during the session, so plan to keep the rest of your day relaxed. In other words: don’t schedule a big hike right after.

Who Should Book This Gin Class (and Who Might Skip It)

You’ll love this if:

• you enjoy gin, especially if you want to learn what makes one style taste different from another
• you like making things with your hands and taking something home that’s truly yours
• you want a small-group experience with real guidance, not a crowd you have to compete with

You might skip it if:

• you want a mainly sightseeing-focused tour with lots of standing around
• you’re only curious about gin flavors but don’t want to do the distilling and bottling steps

It’s also a great fit for couples or friends who want an experience that feels personal, because the class is capped at 2.

Should You Book Sip Antics in Edinburgh?

If you’re in Edinburgh and you want one standout, memorable food-and-drink experience, this is an easy yes. The big reason is simple: you don’t just taste gin—you make a bottle and finish it with your own name and wax seal.

Book it if you can fit a three-hour block around lunch, and if you’re ready for a hands-on class. Even if you think you already know gin, the tasting-and-recipe flow is designed to sharpen your choices fast.

One last thing: check that 12:00 pm works for your plans. Timing is the only real constraint here. When it does fit, this is the kind of experience you’ll remember every time you open that bottle months later.

FAQ

How long does the gin-making experience last?

It runs for about 3 hours.

How many people are in the class?

The maximum group size is 2 travelers.

Where does the class meet?

It starts at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK.

What time does it start?

The start time is 12:00 pm.

Do I get to take home what I make?

Yes. You produce a bottle of gin to keep, with a size of 500ml (50cl).

Is there any tasting before I make my gin?

Yes. You taste three different gin samples before designing your recipe.

What drinks are included during the class?

You receive a gin and tonic on arrival, and you also have a cocktail while your gin is distilling.

What’s the cancellation window for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.