City of Aberdeen Distillery: Gin School Experience

The clever part of this Aberdeen experience is that you do not just taste gin, you make a bottle of it. With help from Head Distiller Alan and guide Dan, you choose botanicals, build a recipe, and leave with 70cl of Scottish gin carrying your own name.

I like the practical format and the generous drinks service. You get a double G&T on arrival, gin samples with mixers, Prosecco, and a final berry cocktail. I also like the choice of more than 100 botanicals, from Macedonian juniper and fresh citrus to Asian spices, which gives you real control over the result.

The main consideration is price: at $190 per person, this is a serious spend for two hours. It makes the most sense if you value the hands-on lesson, the bottle to take home, and the relaxed social setting, not just a quick tasting.

Key points at a glance

• Make your own 70cl bottle: Build a personal recipe and distil it with help from the team.
• Choose from more than 100 botanicals: Use juniper, fresh citrus, spices, and other ingredients to shape your gin.
• Start with a double G&T: Drinks are part of the experience from the moment you arrive.
• Learn from Alan and Dan: They explain gin styles, flavour choices, and the practical steps of making gin.
• Find it under the railway arches: Enter Arch 10, where trains rumble overhead during the session.

Making gin beneath Aberdeen’s railway arches

The setting gives this class much of its character. You enter railway Arch 10, and the distillery operates beneath the tracks. Trains rumble overhead while you taste and make gin, a very Aberdeen detail that keeps the experience connected to the city rather than making it feel like a generic drinks workshop.

The session lasts two hours, which is long enough to include tasting, instruction, recipe planning, distilling, bottling, and a final drink. It is not a full-day distillery course, so you should expect a lively introduction rather than technical training for a new career.

Alan and Dan lead the class in English. Alan is the Head Distiller, and both guides help you make decisions as you go. Their role matters because choosing ingredients without guidance can quickly become confusing. A botanical may smell wonderful on its own but behave differently in a finished gin.

The atmosphere is social, too. You will have a seat available throughout, although there are some standing sections. That makes the experience suitable for a relaxed afternoon with a partner or friend, especially if you enjoy talking through food and drink choices as you go.

The first taste: a double G&T and Aberdeen gin

Your welcome drink is a double gin and tonic. It is a generous start, so keep in mind that the alcohol arrives early and continues through the class. Water and soft drinks are available, and you can choose non-alcoholic alternatives if you need them.

The tasting portion helps you work out what you actually like. You sample gins from the Aberdeen range, including London Dry and fruit styles, and try them with mixers. This is more useful than simply being told that one gin is citrus-led or spice-forward. You can compare the flavours for yourself before deciding what to put into your own recipe.

The tasting also gives beginners a fair chance. You do not need to arrive knowing the difference between a London Dry and a fruit gin. The class is designed to explain the main flavour building blocks in plain terms, then let you use those ideas.

I would pay close attention to the tasting stage. It is tempting to focus on the final bottle, but this is where you learn which flavours suit your palate. If you like a clean, classic gin, you may prefer a restrained recipe. If you enjoy fruit or spice, you can push the recipe in that direction.

Juniper first, then your own flavour choices

Every traditional gin needs juniper, and the class uses Macedonian juniper as the central ingredient. Juniper gives gin its familiar pine-like character and provides the base around which the other botanicals work.

From there, you can select from more than 100 ingredients. The available choices include fresh citrus, oranges, and Asian spices, along with many other botanicals from around the world. The exact ingredients you choose will shape the smell, taste, and overall style of your bottle.

This is where the class becomes personal. You are not simply putting a label on a standard spirit. You decide which flavours belong in your recipe, while the distillery team helps you keep the result balanced.

That help is important. More ingredients do not automatically make better gin. A crowded recipe can blur the flavours, while a simpler combination may produce a cleaner drink. Alan and Dan can offer advice as you work out how adventurous you want to be.

You might also find that your favourite tasting sample does not point to the recipe you first imagined. That is part of the value of tasting several styles. You can change direction before the distilling stage rather than discovering later that your bottle is not to your liking.

The distilling process and the bottle you take home

Once you have settled on your ingredients, the team guides you through the distilling process. The spirit uses premium organic alcohol, and the botanical choices give it your personal character.

The technical side is kept accessible. You learn how the ingredients contribute to the finished drink and how a gin recipe is put together, but the class does not require specialist equipment or previous experience. You take part in the important choices while the distillery provides the equipment and supervision.

The final reward is a 70cl bottle of Scottish gin made to your recipe. You bottle the finished spirit and give it a name, which adds a playful finish to the practical work. A named bottle also makes a more personal gift than a standard shop purchase.

The bottle is a key part of the value calculation. At $190 per person, you are paying for instruction, tasting pours, drinks throughout, and a take-home product. If you only want a bottle of gin, buying one from the distillery would be the cheaper and simpler choice. If you want to understand how your bottle came together, the class offers more.

You also receive small souvenirs, including drink mats, a distillery-branded pen, and a postcard. These are modest extras, but they help mark the day without pretending they are the main attraction.

Learning Aberdeen’s lost distilling story

The class includes an introduction to Aberdeen’s distilling past. You hear about the city’s long-lost distilleries and the origins of gin, then connect that story to the working distillery around you.

This context gives the tasting more meaning. Gin is not just a flavoured spirit assembled from a list of ingredients. It reflects changing tastes, local production, and the methods used by small distillers. The lesson is not presented as a formal museum tour, but it adds a sense of place to the workshop.

The railway arch setting helps here. You are not sitting in a distant classroom detached from Aberdeen. The sound of trains overhead, the working distillery, and the local brand all reinforce the sense that you are making something in the city itself.

Do not expect a long architectural or industrial tour. The supplied information points to a focused gin-making session with historical background, not a separate walking tour of old distillery sites. If you want detailed city history, plan another activity alongside this one.

Drinks throughout, with sensible limits in mind

Alcohol is woven into the two hours. In addition to the welcome double G&T, you can sample Aberdeen gins neat and with mixers. Prosecco and a berry cocktail are also included, along with the final drink that marks the end of the session.

That makes the experience feel generous, but it also means you should pace yourself. You are tasting several spirits and receiving drinks while making your recipe. Take advantage of the water and soft drinks, especially if you are not used to tasting alcohol over a concentrated two-hour period.

The staff can offer guidance on mixers, which is useful because the right tonic or mixer can change how a gin tastes. This is one of the practical touches that helps you understand how to serve your finished bottle at home.

The class is therefore best suited to adults who enjoy drinks and are comfortable with an alcohol-focused event. It may not be the right pick for someone seeking a dry history tour, a family activity, or a short tasting with minimal alcohol.

Who will get the most from the $190 price?

The cost is high enough to deserve a clear explanation. You receive a two-hour guided experience, a double G&T, several gin samples, alcoholic drinks throughout, a 70cl bottle made to your own recipe, a final cocktail, and small branded items. You are also paying for personal advice while building the recipe.

For a gin enthusiast, the combination is appealing. You can compare styles, test ingredients, and take home something that cannot be bought in exactly the same form from a shelf.

For a couple, the experience works particularly well as a special afternoon or birthday gift. It gives both people an active role, and you can compare how different choices affect the finished bottles. One person does not have to sit on the sidelines while the other takes part.

For a visitor who knows little about gin, the value comes from the clear introduction. You can arrive without a strong preference and still leave with a better understanding of juniper, citrus, spices, London Dry gin, and fruit gin.

The price is harder to justify if you are mainly interested in drinking. Aberdeen has less expensive ways to order a G&T. Book this for the making, learning, and take-home bottle rather than for the quantity of alcohol alone.

Practical details before you book

The meeting point is Arch 10. Look above the doorway for the arch number, and enter the railway arch rather than waiting outside at an unspecified street entrance.

Bring a passport or ID card. The session is in English, so you should be comfortable following spoken instruction in English and discussing flavour choices with the guides.

The distillery is wheelchair accessible and all on one level. There is a dropped curb near the property and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The gin-making bench was designed to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters, but places at that bench are limited, so contact the distillery ahead of time to discuss your needs and check availability.

Seats are available throughout, although some parts involve standing. Guide dogs are allowed, but other pets are not permitted.

Skip strong perfume or cologne. Fragrance can interfere with your ability, and everyone else’s ability, to smell the botanicals and taste the gin properly. This is a small point with a real effect in a session built around aroma.

The booking terms are flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund, and you can reserve your place while paying later. Availability depends on the starting time you choose.

Is this Aberdeen gin class right for you?

I would book the City of Aberdeen Distillery Gin School if you want a hands-on food and drink activity with a strong local setting. The railway arch, Aberdeen distilling story, botanical choices, and named 70cl bottle give it more substance than a basic tasting.

It is especially well suited to couples, birthday gifts, gin fans, and curious beginners. Alan and Dan make the format approachable, and their help means you do not need to arrive with a recipe in mind.

I would hesitate if $190 feels too high for a two-hour activity, if you prefer non-alcoholic attractions, or if you want a longer technical course. The drinks are plentiful, the class includes standing, and the session is conducted in English.

For the right person, this is a memorable way to spend an afternoon in Aberdeen. You taste local gin, learn how flavour choices work, and leave with a bottle that reflects your own decisions rather than a standard distillery blend.

FAQ

How long does the Gin School Experience last?

The experience lasts two hours.

Where does the experience meet?

Enter railway Arch 10. The arch number is shown above the doorway.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $190 per person.

What do I take home?

You take home a 70cl bottle of Scottish gin made to your own recipe.

How many botanicals can I choose from?

The distillery provides more than 100 botanicals, including fresh citrus, oranges, Asian spices, and Macedonian juniper.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The experience includes a double G&T on arrival, Aberdeen Gin samples, alcoholic drinks throughout, Prosecco, mixers, and a final berry cocktail. Water and soft drinks are also available.

Is the experience suitable for wheelchair users?

Yes. The distillery is on one level, has a nearby dropped curb and wheelchair-accessible toilet, and includes a gin-making bench designed for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Places at that bench are limited, so contact the distillery before booking.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.