Gin starts with a botanical wall. At Stillgarden Distillery, I like that you taste the story behind each bottle and learn how their welcome drink sets the tone. The trade-off is that it’s a guided overview, so if you want very deep, technical tasting notes for every sip, the format may feel short for the price.

You’re in for a 60-minute class with a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, and a short Q&A with one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. Afterward, you can add on downtime in the bar (and even a game of corn-hole) or step outside to the on-site community garden, rain or shine.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• Stillgarden’s onsite gin-making: this isn’t a lecture in a random room, it’s at the distillery.
• Wall of 120 botanicals: you’ll see what goes into the flavors, not just hear the marketing story.
• Four signature gins in one flight: enough variety to compare styles without turning it into a long tasting session.
• Welcome drink included: it’s part of the pacing, and a real crowd-pleaser.
• Afternoon tea added: you get sweet and savory after the tasting, with cakes and sandwiches.

Stillgarden Distillery: modern Irish gin with real-world context

Stillgarden Distillery is built around a simple idea: gin should taste like something, not like a label. In Dublin County, you show up for a masterclass that’s grounded in how they make their Modern Irish Spirits, rather than treating gin like a mysterious cocktail trick.

What I like right away is that you’re at the source. You’re not just handed glasses and a menu of flavors—you’re learning in the place where the spirit is crafted. That matters because it turns tasting into context. When you later pick up one of their gins at home, you’ll remember what you were told about botanicals, inspiration, and distillation history, not just what it tasted like in a single moment.

You’ll also get a community vibe that feels genuinely Irish: part distillery, part social space, part garden project. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes experiences that don’t stop at the bar counter, you’ll probably enjoy the extra time available after the class.

Your 60-minute masterclass flow, from welcome drink to Q&A

The class runs for 60 minutes, and it’s paced to keep you moving. It’s not a half-day event, so you should treat it as a focused “learn and taste” stop—then keep the rest of your afternoon open.

Here’s how it typically unfolds:

1) Welcome drink

You start with a welcome drink included in the ticket. This is where the experience gets you into the right mood. It’s also a nice warm-up because you’re not immediately thrown into tasting four gins back-to-back.

2) Guided gin experience

Then the guide walks you through the gin inspiration behind Stillgarden’s range. Expect a mix of history and “how they think.” You’ll also cover the basics of distillation, so even if you’re new to gin, the language won’t feel like it’s written only for experts.

3) Botanicals and the wall of 120

A major moment is the wall of 120 botanicals. Seeing that many botanicals in one place helps you understand why gin can taste so different from brand to brand. It also gives you mental anchors for your tasting flight—your brain starts matching what you smell and taste with what you saw.

4) Four-gin tasting flight

You’ll taste four signature gins as part of the flight. Practically, this is a smart number. It’s varied enough to compare styles, but short enough that your palate doesn’t get numb from too much alcohol.

5) Q&A with a liquid expert

Each session ends with a Q&A led by one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is your chance to ask the “real life” questions—like what botanicals drive certain flavors, how they think about balance, or what they recommend if you like one style more than another.

6) After the class: afternoon tea

Your ticket also includes afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and sandwiches. That’s not a small add-on. It helps you switch from tasting mode to relaxing mode fast, and it makes the whole experience feel like a complete outing rather than just a short tasting.

One practical note: the experience runs rain or shine, so plan for a mix of indoor learning and whatever outdoor garden time you choose to add afterward.

The botanical wall of 120: why it changes how you taste gin

If you care about gin beyond the cocktail glass, the wall of 120 botanicals is the heart of this masterclass. Gin is often described in marketing terms, but botanicals are the real engine. When you see that many ingredients grouped together, the tasting makes more sense.

Here’s what I think this moment does for you as a traveler:

• It trains your nose. Even if you can’t name every herb or citrus peel on sight, you start noticing categories: citrus notes, herbal notes, spice notes, and so on.
• It makes the flight comparative. With four gins in front of you, you can ask better questions like, What’s changing between bottle A and bottle B?
• It gives you a way to remember. Instead of relying on vague words like floral or piney, you’ll recall the botanicals they pointed out and the distillation inspiration they shared.

This is also where you’ll decide whether the experience matches your expectations. Some people come for structured, highly technical tasting sessions. This class is more about the Stillgarden story and the botanical framework behind the flavor. You’ll leave understanding why they blend, not just what to order.

The four-gin tasting flight: how to get the most from it

Tasting four gins sounds simple, but you can make it better with a little strategy. Since the flight is included, you’ll want to taste actively.

Here’s how you can do that without turning it into homework:

• Start with your favorite style goal. Before the first pour, decide what you’re hoping for: brighter citrus, herbal complexity, spice, or something smoother.
• Compare in pairs. With four gins, you can often find two that feel similar, and two that feel different. Compare the “bridge” between them.
• Ask questions during Q&A. If one gin lands with you, use the Q&A to understand what drives that result. If none of them wow you, ask what they recommend trying next.

One balanced heads-up: not every part of the experience will land equally for every palate. The welcome drink often gets the biggest positive response, while the rest of the flight can feel more like a guided set of samples than a deeply technical tasting marathon. That doesn’t mean the gins are bad—it means the format is designed to teach the Stillgarden approach, not to give ultra-granular sensory breakdowns for every component.

What’s included beyond the tasting: afternoon tea, mixer, and more time onsite

A big value piece here is that the ticket isn’t just “buy tasting glasses.” You also get:

• Welcome drink
• Four-gin tasting flight
• Mixer (included with the ticket)
• Afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches

That combination matters because it changes how the experience feels at the table. You’re not just drinking your way through a class. You’re learning, tasting, and then eating, which makes it more comfortable for a real afternoon plan.

After the class, you can stay in the bar for additional drinks. If the group mood is right, you might even find people playing corn-hole. It’s not a guarantee of an organized game, but it’s an example of the laid-back, social atmosphere that makes the distillery feel more like a destination than a quick stop.

Stillgarden’s community garden: a different kind of botanical connection

If you like the idea of learning botanicals in more than one way, the on-site community garden is worth your attention. Stillgarden grows many of their botanicals there, which adds a practical layer to the tasting.

The experience also has a social rhythm. On Sundays, they meet up for gardening, foraging, or wildlife walks. Afterward, they head back to the distillery and relax with a complimentary drink. That timing detail is key: if you’re visiting on a Sunday, you might be able to align your schedule with that community element.

Even if you don’t join a formal garden activity, the garden ties the masterclass together. You’re seeing that botanicals aren’t just ingredients in a recipe—they’re grown, maintained, and part of a broader project.

Non-gin and non-alcoholic options: plan ahead and you’ll be fine

If you don’t want gin, the good news is you’re not stuck. There are non-gin and non-alcoholic options available—just let the organizers know when you book.

For me, this is a big quality-of-life feature. Tastings can be intimidating if you’re not drinking the main thing, and a masterclass can accidentally turn into “watching other people enjoy themselves.” Here, the ticket explicitly says alternatives exist. So you can participate without feeling like you’re on the sidelines.

Price and value: is $45 fair for what you get?

At $45 per person, you’re paying for a bundle: distillery time, a guided class, a welcome drink, a four-gin flight, mixer, and afternoon tea. That’s the main value argument. You’re not paying only for alcohol samples; you’re paying for teaching plus food plus a structured experience.

Where you should calibrate your expectations is the “how deep is it?” question. Since the class is 60 minutes, it will naturally be an overview rather than a long, lab-style tasting seminar. The included Q&A helps, and the botanical wall makes the learning tangible, but the structure is still time-limited.

So I’d use this rule of thumb:

• If you want a fun, guided distillery experience that teaches you the gin-thinking behind the bottles, $45 can feel like good value.
• If you specifically want extremely detailed sensory notes for each gin and a more advanced tasting lecture, you might feel it’s more “story and overview” than “wine-critic-level analysis.”

Who this Dublin gin masterclass suits best (and who might skip it)

This is a great fit if you are:

• A gin fan who wants to understand the botanicals behind the flavors
• Someone who likes distillery experiences with a relaxed, social atmosphere
• Traveling solo or in a small group who wants an easy, scheduled activity with built-in food

It may be less ideal if you:

• Only want a pure drinking experience with lots of freedom and no guidance
• Are hunting for long, technical tasting sessions with very granular comparisons
• Are traveling with children. The experience is not suitable for children under 18

Also, it’s listed as wheelchair accessible, which is a thoughtful plus for travelers who need that.

Practical tips before you go (so the hour feels smooth)

A few practical things will make your visit easier:

• Plan for rain: it runs in all weather, and you may move between indoor and outdoor spaces if you choose the garden.
• Eat before you arrive if you’re sensitive to alcohol, even though afternoon tea is included afterward. Tasting sessions can vary in how quickly your appetite catches up.
• If you need non-alcoholic or non-gin options, book early and clearly request what you need at the time of booking.

One more note: the venue has specific rules—no baby strollers or carriages, no climbing, and no bare feet. If any of those apply, check in with the staff before you show up.

Should you book this Stillgarden gin masterclass?

If you want a guided, friendly Dublin distillery experience that includes tasting plus afternoon tea, I think this is a strong booking. The biggest reasons are practical: you taste four signature gins, you see the 120-botanical wall, and you leave with food—not just a few sips and a thumbs-up.

I’d book it confidently if:

• You like learning in a real setting
• You enjoy gin and want a better handle on botanicals and inspiration
• You’re happy with a 60-minute guided format

I’d hesitate if:

• You’re specifically after ultra-detailed technical tasting notes for each gin
• You expect the welcome drink to be matched by the same level of depth in every other part of the flight

FAQ

How long is the gin masterclass at Stillgarden Distillery?

The fully guided class lasts 60 minutes.

What’s included in the ticket price?

Tickets include a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight with mixer, and afternoon tea. Sessions also end with a Q&A with one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts.

How many gins will I taste?

You’ll taste four signature gins as part of the tasting flight.

Are non-alcoholic or non-gin options available?

Yes. Non-gin and non-alcoholic options are available if you let the organizers know when booking.

What days does the public class run?

Public sessions run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Is this experience suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Is it wheelchair accessible, and does it run in bad weather?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible, and the tour takes place rain or shine.