Gin and cake in the same seat? That is the fun twist of Stillgarden Distillery’s Afternoon Tea & Gin Tasting Masterclass, where you get a 4-gin tasting flight and then settle in for afternoon tea. I love that it is fully hosted by Stillgarden Liquid Experts, and I also like that the experience is more than sniff-and-sip, with a walk through distillation history and a wall of 120 botanicals. One consideration: this is not suitable for children under 18, so plan it as an adults-only treat.

For $74 per person, you are basically paying for an all-in-one, hosted afternoon: a welcome drink, the tasting flight, sandwiches and sweet treats (plus a selection of decadent cakes), and a session-ending Q&A. It also runs rain or shine, so you can make it work whether Dublin is being lovely or being Dublin.

Key takeaways before you go

• On-site gin focus: Stillgarden’s gins are made onsite, and you taste their signature lineup.
• 4-gin tasting flight: included with your ticket, with a welcome drink to start.
• Botanicals wall education: you’ll learn how distillation connects to the 120-botanical world behind their modern Irish style.
• Afternoon tea comes after tasting: sandwiches, sweet treats, and a selection of cakes are part of the deal.
• Expert Q&A at the end: one of their liquid experts finishes with questions.
• Non-gin and non-alcohol options: available if you let them know beforehand.

Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County: what you’re actually stepping into

Stillgarden Distillery is the setting for this experience, and that matters. Instead of tasting gin in a generic tasting room, you’re at the source, where the whole point is modern Irish gin craft. You’ll get a hosted explanation of how distillation works, then you’ll move into the “show me, don’t just tell me” part by sampling multiple signature gins.

The standout educational touch is the wall of 120 botanicals. Even if gin feels like a flavor maze to you, this kind of visual and guided format helps you connect what you smell and taste with what the botanicals contribute. It turns the tasting from random guessing into a kind of map.

Also, the experience is explicitly rain or shine. That’s useful for planning because you are not stuck with a “weather-dependent” day. If you’re coming in from elsewhere around Dublin County, you can build the afternoon around it without constantly checking the sky.

The 90-minute flow: welcome drink, gin flight, and expert Q&A

This experience runs for 90 minutes, so it’s long enough to feel complete and short enough that you won’t waste your day. In a lot of “tour + tasting” combos, the tasting can feel like an afterthought. Here, it’s structured so the tasting is the center of the experience.

Here’s how it generally plays out:

1) Welcome drink

You start with a welcome drink included in your ticket. That sets the tone and gets you into the right mindset for tasting. Since you’re also about to have food, it helps you ease into the flavor experience rather than jumping straight into your first gin sniff.

2) Distillation talk and the botanicals wall

Next, you’re walked through the history of distillation and what “botanicals” actually means in the context of gin. You’ll also be shown their wall of 120 botanicals, which is the kind of detail that makes a masterclass feel purposeful.

3) 4 signature gins tasting flight

Then comes the tasting flight: you sample 4 of their signature gins. This is a great number for most people. It’s enough variety to notice differences, but not so many that you lose your ability to compare.

4) Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes

After the tasting, you switch to food: afternoon tea with sandwiches and a selection of cakes. You’ll be moving from alcohol-forward flavors to classic tea-time comfort, which is a nice reset after tasting.

5) Q&A with a liquid expert

All sessions end with a Q&A from one of their liquid experts. That’s where you can ask the practical questions you’re usually too shy to ask during the tasting. Think: how they decide on botanicals, what makes one gin taste drier or more aromatic, or what to look for if you want to buy a bottle afterward.

What you learn about gin: history, distillation, and 120 botanicals

Gin is one of those drinks where people either say it’s simple or they get overwhelmed by all the talk of botanicals and stills. This masterclass takes the middle road: it gives you context without turning the afternoon into a lecture.

The “history of distillation” piece matters because distillation is the backbone of how gin is made. If you understand the basic logic—how distillation concentrates and carries flavor—you get better at tasting. You can taste differences more confidently, instead of relying only on personal preferences like sweet vs. dry.

Then there’s the botanicals wall with 120 options. Even if you never memorize a single one, you get the idea that gin is built from choices: what botanicals go in, how they interact, and how the final profile comes together. For me, the value of this is that you leave with a framework. Next time you’re ordering a gin, you can describe what you’re tasting with more accuracy, and you’ll be less at the mercy of vague menu adjectives.

If you’re gin-curious and want to sound like you know what you’re doing for the next round, this is where you pick up that confidence.

Afternoon tea after the tasting: sandwiches, sweet treats, and pacing

The food part is not an afterthought here. Your ticket includes afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and sandwiches, plus sweet treats as part of the overall spread. Since the tasting happens first, you’ll likely be able to notice how the food changes your perception of the gins.

For your enjoyment, pacing is key. If you’re the type who goes heavy on the first gin, you can end up overwhelmed by the later flavors. The good news is you’ll have food right after, so you won’t have to “power through” on an empty stomach for long. Afternoon tea also gives you a chance to reset your palate, which helps with the final Q&A as you ask questions with clearer focus.

One practical note: because there are gins and a welcome drink included, you’ll want to treat this like an experience, not a quick bite on the way to something else. Plan it for an afternoon when you’re not rushing immediately afterward.

Non-gin and non-alcohol choices: how to make it work

This is one of the more thoughtful parts of the offering. The experience states that non-gin and non-alcohol options are available, as long as you let them know beforehand.

That means you’re not forced into a full alcohol setup if you don’t want one. You can still enjoy the educational part—the distillation talk, the botanicals wall, the Q&A, and the afternoon tea. If you or someone in your group prefers to keep it non-alcoholic, this is exactly the kind of activity that can still feel like a shared experience rather than a compromise.

Do note the age limit: it is not suitable for children under 18. So it’s meant for adults, whether you’re sampling gins or choosing non-alcohol options.

Price and value in Dublin County: what $74 buys you

Let’s talk value, because $74 can feel like a lot until you break down what’s included.

For $74 per person, you get:

• a welcome drink
• a 4 gin tasting flight
• afternoon tea with sandwiches and a selection of cakes and sweet treats
• a hosted experience led by Stillgarden Liquid Experts
• a structured learning component (distillation history and the wall of 120 botanicals)
• a Q&A at the end
• a set 90-minute duration

In other words, you’re paying for more than drinks. You’re paying for guided context, tasting variety, and a full tea spread. If you compare it to doing afternoon tea plus buying gin elsewhere, the hosted masterclass is what you’re really getting your money’s worth from: you’re not just consuming, you’re learning and tasting in a guided sequence.

Also, the time length helps value. Ninety minutes is enough for a proper experience without eating a half-day. In Dublin County, where weather can change the mood fast, having a defined window is practical.

Who this is best for (and who it’s not)

This masterclass is a good fit if you fall into one of these buckets:

• You like hosted experiences where you don’t have to plan every step.
• You’re gin-curious and want to understand the why behind the flavors.
• You enjoy afternoon tea but want a grown-up twist.
• You want a structured way to sample multiple gins instead of choosing one bottle blindly.

It’s less of a fit if:

• you’re looking for a family-friendly activity (this is adult-only)
• you want a quiet, independent museum-style visit (this is guided and tasting-centered)
• you dislike alcohol-based tastings even with non-alcohol options (still, the experience is built around gin tasting)

Quick practical tips to get the most out of it

A few things I’d plan for, based on how these experiences usually work and how this one is structured:

• Take your time with the 4 gins. The point is comparison, not speed.
• Expect the tasting first, then food. Plan your energy for the full 90 minutes.
• If you want non-gin or non-alcohol options, notify them beforehand so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
• Since it runs rain or shine, dress for comfort. Dublin weather can be unpredictable even when your plans are solid.

If you do those simple things, the experience lands where it should: fun, informative, and easy to enjoy.

Should you book Stillgarden’s Afternoon Tea & Gin Masterclass?

I think it’s worth booking if you want a guided afternoon in Dublin County that combines tasting variety with a real tea-time food spread. The value is strongest when you appreciate structure: welcome drink, 4-gin flight, botanicals and distillation context, then sandwiches and cakes, with a Q&A at the end.

Skip it if you’re traveling with anyone under 18, or if you’re looking for something that’s mostly food without an alcohol-focused tasting component. Also consider your comfort with tasting flights. It’s designed for sampling, not for going slow at your own pace.

If your goal is an enjoyable, hosted, adults-only experience where you leave with both fuller flavors and a better understanding of what you tasted, this is a smart pick.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Afternoon Tea & Gin Tasting Masterclass?

It lasts 90 minutes.

What does the ticket include?

Your ticket includes a welcome drink, a 4 gin tasting flight, and afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and sandwiches.

How many gins will I taste?

You’ll taste 4 of Stillgarden’s signature gins as part of the tasting flight.

Are there non-gin or non-alcohol options?

Yes. Non-gin and non-alcohol options are available if you let them know beforehand.

Is this experience suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18 years.

Does the masterclass run in bad weather?

Yes. It takes place rain or shine.

Is there a live guide, and what language is it in?

Yes, there is a live tour guide in English.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. It is wheelchair accessible.