Gin Tasting Masterclass in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Gin’s masterclass gets straight to the good stuff: you begin with a double G&T, then taste the individual botanicals that make up a traditional London Dry Gin. Led by the Head Distiller, the session turns gin from a familiar bar order into something you can actually take apart and understand.

I like the hands-on blending section, where you combine single distillates to make your own glass of gin. I also like the small-group feel, with a maximum of 20 people and plenty of time for questions with Dan and Alan. The main consideration is the price, $108.71 per person, which makes this a special-interest outing rather than a quick tasting.

Key points at a glance

• Start with a double G&T: The class begins with a proper drink before the tasting work starts.
• Taste botanicals one by one: You train your palate by sampling the separate distillates used in London Dry Gin.
• Make your own blend: You get to act as the mixologist and combine the flavors yourself.
• Take the mystery botanical test: A single unknown distillate challenges you to identify its source.
• Compare Aberdeen Gin expressions: Taste both London Dry and Fruit Gins served from French glass demi-johns.
• Finish with your choice of G&T: The final drink comes with an open Q&A about gin, buying bottles, storage, and home production.

Why this Aberdeen tasting is more than a few sample glasses

Many gin tastings amount to a row of small pours and a short sales pitch. This one has a clearer purpose. It teaches you how gin is built by letting you taste the parts before sampling the finished spirit.

That difference matters. Juniper can be easy to recognize once someone points it out, but other botanicals can blur together in a completed gin. Here, each botanical has been individually distilled. You can focus on one flavor at a time, then think about how those notes work together in the final drink.

I like that the lesson begins with a G&T rather than a lecture. You get a familiar reference point first. Then the class takes you behind that drink, showing how the character of the gin reaches the glass.

The experience lasts about two hours, so it has enough room for explanation, tasting, and conversation without taking over your whole day in Aberdeen. The start time is 2:00 pm, a useful slot if you want to spend the morning seeing the city or plan an evening meal afterward.

Arriving at City of Aberdeen Distillery on Palmerston Road

The class begins at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE. It finishes at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point or work out where the tasting ends.

The location is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying elsewhere in Aberdeen. Your ticket is mobile, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity is offered in English.

The group can reach 20 people. That is not a private lesson, but it is still a manageable size for a tasting built around questions and palate work. If the class fills, you should expect a shared experience rather than one-to-one attention. The upside is the social side, which seems to be part of the appeal. The supplied feedback describes a small group that chatted and laughed together, with Dan and Alan working as a friendly team.

Service animals are allowed. No other accessibility details are provided, so contact the operator directly if you need information about the distillery space or seating.

The opening double G&T sets the tone

The first pour is a double gin and tonic. That is generous for the opening drink, so keep the pace steady. You have several more samples ahead, and the point is to notice flavors rather than simply collect drinks.

Starting with a G&T also makes the lesson practical. You are not tasting gin in isolation only to forget it later. You can connect the early drink with the botanicals that follow, and then see how your impressions change when you taste the spirit on its own.

The class is led by the Head Distiller, with Dan and Alan named as the team behind the session. Their role matters here because the tasting depends on clear explanations of how the spirit is made and why each botanical has a particular effect.

You can ask questions while sipping. The format is less formal than a classroom, but it still has a clear learning path. If you are new to gin, you will have help naming what you taste. If you already order gin often, you can ask more specific questions about production and buying bottles.

Single distillates teach you what is in the glass

The most distinctive part of the class is the tasting of single distillates. Each botanical used in a traditional London Dry Gin has been distilled separately, allowing you to sample those individual flavors before they are combined.

This is useful because a finished gin can be difficult to read. Juniper is the required backbone of gin, but citrus, fruit, herbs, spices, and other botanical notes can compete for your attention. Separate samples give your palate a cleaner target.

The class begins by asking a simple question: what does juniper taste like? You work from there, learning to recognize flavor rather than relying only on labels or brand descriptions.

Do not expect every sample to be instantly obvious. That is part of the exercise. Some botanicals may seem clear, while others may be subtle or unfamiliar. The value is in comparing them, then tasting the finished Aberdeen Gin with a better idea of what you are looking for.

I like this approach because it gives you a skill you can use later. At a bar or shop, you will be better prepared to distinguish a juniper-led London Dry from a fruit-forward gin. You may also become more alert to the difference between aroma and taste, though the exact teaching method depends on the distiller leading your session.

Your own gin blend puts theory to work

After the single distillates, you become the mixologist. You blend the components together to create your own glass of gin.

This is the point where the class shifts from tasting to decision-making. You have heard what the individual botanicals contribute, but now you must choose how much of each belongs in your drink. It is a small exercise, yet it makes the earlier explanations stick.

The experience does not promise that you will produce a bottle to take home. The description says you create your own glass of gin, so think of this as a guided tasting experiment rather than a full gin-making workshop.

That distinction is important when comparing this class with a longer distilling course. You are learning how flavors combine, not spending a day operating stills or designing a commercial recipe. For most visitors, that keeps the activity accessible and lively.

If you enjoy making choices with your food and drink, this should be one of the strongest parts of the afternoon. If you prefer a quiet tasting with no participation, the hands-on section may feel like more work than you wanted. The class is designed for people who want to test their palate.

The mystery botanical is a good palate test

The challenge continues with a mystery botanical served as a single distillate. You taste it and try to identify what has been distilled.

This is a simple idea, but it gives the session a playful finish to the technical tasting. You are no longer just being told what is in front of you. You have to make a judgment based on smell and flavor.

Do not treat it as an exam. You are there to learn, and the value comes from thinking through the clues. The exercise can also show you how hard it is to identify a botanical without seeing its name first.

For couples and friends, this adds a little competition without turning the class into a show. For solo participants, it gives you a direct way to take part instead of listening from the side.

The class does not state which mystery botanical is used, so there is no way to prepare for the answer. That is the point. Go in ready to guess, be wrong, and learn why the flavor made you think of something else.

Aberdeen Gin arrives in several styles

You will sample a range of Aberdeen Gins, including London Dry and Fruit Gins. The spirits are served directly from French glass demi-johns, which gives the tasting a more distinctive presentation than standard bar bottles.

The contrast between the styles is useful. London Dry Gin lets you focus on the classic botanical structure, while Fruit Gins show how fruit flavors can shift the balance and make the drink feel different. The class gives you a chance to compare rather than decide based on a single sample.

The exact range available may vary, so do not assume every Aberdeen Gin expression will be poured at every session. You are promised samples from the range, with both London Dry and Fruit Gin styles included.

There is also a good opportunity to think about what you actually like. Do you prefer a sharper juniper profile, or something softer and more fruit-led? Do you want a gin that can carry a strong tonic, or one that you would rather sip with less added flavor? The tasting cannot answer those questions for you, but it gives you a better basis for making the choice.

A selection of products is available to purchase, including options suited to long-haul travel. If you want a bottle as a keepsake, the final choice of gin can help you avoid buying blindly.

The final G&T and Q&A make the price easier to judge

The session closes with a G&T made from your preferred gin. This is a smart ending because you can compare your final drink with the double G&T served at the start.

At $108.71 per person, the experience is not cheap. You are paying for more than the liquid in the glasses, though. The price covers roughly two hours, a guided lesson with the Head Distiller, single distillates, several Aberdeen Gin samples, two G&Ts, a blending activity, and time for questions.

That can be good value if you want a structured experience built around local gin and active tasting. It is less convincing if you simply want one drink and a quick look around a distillery. Aberdeen has cheaper ways to order a G&T.

The closing Q&A is a worthwhile part of the class. You can ask how long gin can be kept, what to look for when buying a bottle, whether London Dry Gin must come from London, and if making gin at home is possible. These are useful questions for anyone who has started collecting bottles or wants to understand the terminology on gin labels.

The session received a five-star rating from 13 submitted ratings, with 100 percent recommending it. The strongest praise focuses on the personal feel of the event, the easy conversation, and the enthusiasm of Dan and Alan. That fits the format: the best part is likely to be the interaction, not simply the number of samples.

Who will enjoy this two-hour class most

This is a good fit for you if you already like gin and want to understand it better. It also works for a curious beginner who enjoys tasting exercises and does not mind learning through trial and error.

The class suits:

• Couples looking for a relaxed Aberdeen activity
• Small groups who enjoy talking over drinks
• Gin fans who want to compare London Dry and Fruit Gin
• Visitors seeking a local distillery experience rather than a general pub tasting
• Anyone interested in buying gin with more confidence
• People who like hands-on food and drink classes

It may be less suitable if you do not drink alcohol, since the sample menu includes an opening double G&T, single distillates, gin samples, and a final G&T. The experience is also not designed as a broad Aberdeen sightseeing tour. You spend the time at the distillery, focused on gin.

The 2:00 pm start makes it easy to fit into a day in the city, but remember that the session lasts about two hours. Plan your later activities with enough room for the tasting to finish and for you to get back into central Aberdeen.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

The tour is capped at 20 participants and requires a minimum number of people to operate. If that minimum is not met, the provider will offer another date or experience, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The activity also has a good-weather requirement. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

That weather rule may seem unusual for an indoor distillery session, but it is part of the stated booking terms. Keep the policy in mind before arranging tightly timed onward plans.

You can use a mobile ticket, and confirmation arrives at booking. The tour is in English. It begins and ends at Arch 10 Palmerston Road, and the location is near public transportation.

Should you book the Aberdeen Gin Tasting Masterclass?

Book it if you want to do more than sample gin. The separate botanical distillates, personal blending exercise, mystery flavor challenge, and final G&T give the afternoon a clear shape. You leave with a better sense of how gin is put together and what you like to drink.

I would especially choose it for a couple or small group that enjoys conversation. Dan and Alan are praised for their energy and teamwork, and the group size leaves room for questions without making the class feel like a large production.

Think twice if $108.71 feels high for a drinks activity, or if you want a broad tour of Aberdeen instead of two focused hours at a distillery. For a serious gin fan, though, the price is easier to justify because the session includes instruction, participation, several tasting styles, and a bottle-buying decision at the end.

FAQ

Where does the Gin Tasting Masterclass begin?

It begins at City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE, UK.

What time does the class start?

The stated start time is 2:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The class lasts approximately two hours.

What drinks and samples are included?

The sample menu includes a G&T on arrival, single botanical distillates, gin samples from the Aberdeen Gin range, and a final G&T made with your chosen gin.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum capacity of 20 participants.