Gin Tasting Masterclass in Aberdeen

Gin begins with a question: what does juniper taste like? This two-hour Aberdeen masterclass answers it with single botanical distillates, guided tasting, and hands-on blending. I like the way the session turns a familiar G&T into a lesson you can actually use, and I like that a Head Distiller leads the tasting rather than leaving you with a glass and a vague description. The main consideration is the price, $108.71 per person, which makes this best for serious gin fans or a special occasion.

The session takes place at the City of Aberdeen Distillery on Palmerston Road, with a maximum of 20 people. I also like the social feel suggested by the small group, especially since Dan and Alan have been praised as a warm, enthusiastic team. You should be ready for a tasting that includes several alcoholic samples, not a quick drink before sightseeing.

Key points at a glance

• Your first drink is a double G&T: The class begins with a proper gin and tonic, giving you a familiar reference point before the tasting gets technical.
• Botanicals are tasted one by one: Individually distilled ingredients let you identify the flavors that usually blend into one spirit.
• You make your own gin blend: You combine distillates and test how different ingredients change the finished drink.
• A mystery botanical tests your palate: You taste one unknown distillate and try to identify it from flavor alone.
• Aberdeen Gin comes in several styles: Samples include London Dry and fruit gins, served from French glass demi-johns.
• The final G&T is your choice: The session closes with a drink selected from the range and a question-and-answer period.

Why this Aberdeen tasting is more than a few free drinks

The City of Aberdeen Distillery’s Gin Tasting Masterclass is designed as a guided lesson, not simply a flight of samples. You start with a double G&T, then move behind the finished drink to examine the separate botanicals that shape it.

That structure matters. Most people know gin by its overall taste, but fewer can explain what they are tasting. Here, you get a chance to separate those impressions. Juniper, citrus, herbs, spices, and other botanicals are presented as single distillates, so you can compare them without the rest of the recipe getting in the way.

I like this approach because it gives you a useful skill for future tastings. Instead of relying on labels that promise fresh, bright, floral, or spicy notes, you can start asking which ingredient is creating that impression.

The class is offered in English and lasts about two hours. That is long enough for a proper tasting and explanation, but short enough to fit neatly into an afternoon in Aberdeen. The stated start time is 2:00 pm, and the activity finishes back at the distillery.

Arriving at City of Aberdeen Distillery

Your meeting point is City of Aberdeen Distillery, Arch 10 Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE. The location is near public transportation, which makes it practical if you are staying elsewhere in the city and do not want to arrange a car.

You receive a mobile ticket, and booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking. These are small conveniences, but they matter for an afternoon activity. You can keep the booking on your phone and head directly to the stated meeting point.

The distillery setting also gives the session a sense of place. You are not tasting an anonymous international brand in a hotel bar. The focus is Aberdeen Gin, with samples served directly from French glass demi-johns. That presentation adds a traditional distillery touch without turning the tasting into a formal ceremony.

The group can include up to 20 people. That is not an intimate private lesson, but it is still a controlled size for a guided tasting. You should have room to listen, taste, and ask questions, though the experience may feel more social than personal if it reaches its maximum.

Starting with a double G&T

The first pour is a double gin and tonic. This is a generous beginning, so you should pace yourself from the start. The opening drink gives you a finished example of gin before the class breaks the spirit into its separate parts.

That first G&T also sets up an important comparison. You can taste the complete drink, then examine the individual distillates that contribute to its character. The lesson is not just about memorizing botanical names. It is about noticing what changes when ingredients are combined.

For someone new to gin, the opening drink makes the class approachable. You do not begin with a technical lecture. You begin with something familiar, then learn how to look at it more closely.

For an experienced gin drinker, the value is different. You get a structured way to think about flavor rather than simply working through a list of brands. The class can help you understand why two London Dry gins may taste very different even though they share a traditional style.

Tasting botanicals one at a time

The central part of the masterclass uses single distillates. Each botanical found in a traditional London Dry Gin has been distilled separately, allowing you to taste the ingredients on their own.

This is the part I find most useful for building a palate. In a finished gin, individual flavors can blur together. A single distillate gives you a clearer target. You can pay attention to the aroma, taste, and aftertaste of each botanical before trying to recognize it in a blend.

The Head Distiller guides you through this process and helps connect each sample to the finished spirit. You have time to ask questions while you taste, so you do not need to arrive with technical knowledge.

The wording of the experience places special attention on juniper, the defining botanical of traditional gin. If you have ever wondered what juniper actually tastes like, this is the moment to focus on it rather than treating it as a name on a bottle.

You should expect the lesson to be sensory rather than academic. The important question is not just what a botanical is called. It is how you recognize it, and what happens when it works with other ingredients.

Blending your own glass of gin

After tasting the separate distillates, you get to act as the mixologist. You blend them together to create your own glass of gin.

This hands-on step gives the class a clear purpose. You are not only listening to the Head Distiller explain balance. You are making choices and seeing how those choices affect the result.

The available information does not specify the exact number of distillates or the precise recipe options, so you should not expect a fixed formula to copy at home. The useful lesson is the process: individual flavors become a complete gin only when they are brought into balance.

I like this part because it makes flavor theory practical. You may prefer a brighter profile, a more herbal taste, or a stronger juniper character. The blend gives you a way to test those preferences instead of discussing them in the abstract.

It also makes the experience a good choice for couples, friends, and small groups with different levels of gin interest. One person can focus on the creative side, while another pays closer attention to the technical details.

The mystery botanical challenge

The class then puts your new tasting skills to work with a mystery botanical presented as a single distillate. Your job is to guess what has been distilled based on flavor.

This challenge adds a playful edge to the session. It also tests whether you have been paying attention. You do not need to identify every ingredient perfectly for the exercise to work. The point is to connect a flavor to a possible source and learn how difficult that can be.

A mystery sample is also a useful reminder that tasting is subjective. You may recognize a botanical quickly, or you may notice only a general family of flavors. Either way, the exercise gives the Head Distiller a natural opening to explain what you are sensing.

The challenge helps prevent the class from feeling like a lecture. You are asked to participate, make a guess, and compare your impression with the answer.

Sampling Aberdeen Gin, from London Dry to fruit styles

The tasting then expands to samples from the Aberdeen Gin range. This includes London Dry and fruit gins, giving you a chance to compare different expressions from the same distillery.

The contrast should be helpful for understanding style. London Dry Gin is generally associated with a juniper-led profile, while fruit gin can bring a different emphasis. The session lets you taste those differences directly instead of judging from a bottle label.

The samples are served from French glass demi-johns. That detail gives the presentation a distinctive visual touch and reinforces the link between the drink in your glass and the work of a distillery.

The range also makes this section useful if you are considering a bottle to take home. You can compare before buying rather than choosing only by packaging or name. A review of the experience specifically highlights a good selection of products suitable for long-haul travel, so ask about purchase options if you need a gift or a bottle that can travel with you.

Do keep your expectations sensible. The supplied details do not list every gin available or promise a particular fruit flavor. The exact selection may depend on the distillery’s range at the time of your visit.

Choosing the final G&T

Near the end, you choose your preferred gin from the range and enjoy a final G&T. This is a smart finish because it lets you apply what you have learned.

The first drink introduces the class with a complete serve. The middle section breaks gin into its components. The final drink gives you a chance to choose with greater awareness. You may find that your favorite style changes after tasting the individual botanicals.

The final G&T also gives the session a relaxed close. You are not hurried out after the last sample. Instead, you can sit with the drink and take part in a Q&A.

Making the Q&A count

The closing questions cover practical gin topics. 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 it is possible to make your own gin at home.

These are the questions that make a tasting useful after you return home. A class can be entertaining for two hours, but it becomes better value when you leave with answers that help you shop and taste more confidently.

If you are visiting with a group, think of questions before you arrive. You might want to ask about the difference between gin styles, how to compare fruit gins with London Dry, or how the botanicals you tasted work together. The Q&A is specifically presented as time to ask gin-related questions, so use it.

Dan and Alan are associated with especially warm feedback about the experience, with their passion and teamwork singled out. That personal energy matters in a small tasting. A good guide can make technical material friendly, and this format gives the staff plenty of chances to speak directly with the group.

Is $108.71 good value?

At $108.71 per person, this is not a casual stop for one drink. You are paying for roughly two hours of guided instruction, a double G&T on arrival, single botanical distillates, gin samples, a make-your-own blend, a mystery tasting, and a final G&T of your choice.

The value depends on how you use it. If you only want to sample one Aberdeen Gin, the price may feel high. A bottle purchase or a standard drink would be a simpler choice.

If you enjoy gin, want to understand flavor, or are looking for an activity with real participation, the price is easier to justify. You are getting access to the distillery’s process and the Head Distiller’s guidance, not just a tasting menu.

The maximum group size of 20 also helps explain the price. It is not a large coach-style event, and the format requires several pours and staff-led instruction. Still, you should book it because you want the class itself, not because it is the cheapest way to drink gin in Aberdeen.

Who will enjoy this masterclass most?

I would recommend it to gin fans, curious food and drink enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys learning by tasting. It is also a strong choice for a birthday, a couple’s afternoon, or a small group activity.

The class suits beginners because the tasting starts with a familiar G&T and explains flavors step by step. It also suits experienced drinkers because the single distillates and mystery botanical offer a more focused challenge than a basic gin flight.

You should think twice if you do not drink alcohol, dislike botanical flavors, or want a fast sightseeing stop. The session lasts about two hours and includes several alcoholic samples, so it asks for your full attention.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, and the mobile ticket makes arrival straightforward. The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation is possible in those circumstances. If that happens, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 2:00 pm start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so keep the local cut-off time in mind.

Should you book it?

Book this masterclass if you want to understand gin rather than simply drink it. The single botanical tasting, hands-on blending, mystery ingredient, and final choice of G&T give the experience a clear arc, and the Aberdeen setting makes it more personal than a generic tasting.

At $108.71, I would reserve it for a special afternoon or for someone who already has a real interest in gin. If that describes you, the chance to ask a Head Distiller direct questions and train your palate makes the cost worthwhile. If you only want a quick cocktail, spend less elsewhere and save this class for the person who wants to know what juniper tastes like.

FAQ

Where does the Gin Tasting Masterclass take place?

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

What time does the experience start?

The stated start time is 2:00 pm.

How long does the masterclass last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

What is included at the beginning?

You receive a double gin and tonic on arrival.

What will I taste during the class?

You taste single botanical distillates, samples from the Aberdeen Gin range, and a final G&T selected from the available range.

Can I make my own gin during the experience?

Yes. You blend the individual distillates to create your own glass of gin.

Is there a tasting challenge?

Yes. You taste a mystery botanical as a single distillate and try to identify it from its flavor.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The Gin Tasting Masterclass is offered in English.

How many people can join the activity?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.