Our guide to the best Scottish Gin Experiences
Last-minute Christmas shopping can be a pain, panic buying in the shops invariably leads to disappointing presents (and sore arms).
Fear not, The Scottish Gin Society ‘elves’ have been hard at work again, to bring you a selection of amazing Scottish Gin experiences that you can order from the comfort of your sofa to be delivered to your door and they’re easy-peasy to wrap. Plus, it’s something you can enjoy together.
Smug and got all your shopping done and wrapped? Have a browse for some awesome days out to brighten up your 2019.
Just click on the headlines to visit the websites to book.
Join the Crafty Distillery team (Scottish Gin Awards Winners of Gin Destination of the Year 2018) for a fun tour of the unspoilt hills and coastlines of Galloway. You’ll help forage for the botanicals that make their Hills & Harbour Gin unique. Then return to help make some tasty and vibrant gin cocktails using the foraged botanicals. You’ll end the day with a tour of the distillery, where you’ll learn how they make the award-winning Hills & Harbour Gin.
The famous Crossbill Gin School
Under the watchful eye of Crossbill Gin’s award-winning distiller and founder, you will test and select your botanicals, create a botanical basket, then distil your very own gin in a miniature copper pot still. Finally, your bottle will be labelled with your bespoke design.
Daffy’s at Strathmashie, Cairngorms National Park
Paddleboard foraging at Daffy’s
Learn hands-on how to make your very own exceptional gin at Strathmashie Distillery from the team who created Daffy’s Gin, at their Highland brand home. Design the flavour profile for your perfect gin, then forage for your botanicals in the grounds and hills around the distillery (yes, you have the option to do this by paddleboard!). After that, you’ll be guided through a step-by-step process to create and distil your ultimate gin.
Darnley’s Gin School, Kingsbarns Fife
The Darnley’s Gin Experience involves an introduction to gin making before exploring the large range of botanicals available to include in your recipe, some of which are grown in the cottage garden. You then distil your one of a kind gin on your own mini still. While this is happening, you’ll enjoy a tour of Darnley’s main distillery whilst sipping on a refreshing Darnley’s G&T and a tasting of the Darnley’s Gin range. At the end of the experience, you’ll fill and label your bottle of gin to take home and enjoy.
Eden Mill BLENDWORKS, St Andrews and Glasgow
Blendworks at Eden Mill
The Eden Mill Blendworks Gin School experience lifts the curtain on the gin making process, giving you the chance to choose your ingredients, determine flavour profiles and make your very own gin – all under the watchful eye of the expert Blendworks Tutors. Needless to say, a few “tastings” will be had in the process.
Edinburgh Gin
Discovwe the definitive Edinburgh Gin experience! You will learn about gin’s fascinating history and the distilling process, then it’s your chance to turn your hand to creating your own gin. Using miniature copper stills and a range of aromatics and botanicals, you will have the chance to craft your very own bespoke gin recipe. Toast your unique bottling with a tutored tasting of the Edinburgh Gin range, before taking your creation home with you.
Isle of Skye Distillers Gin School
Isle of Skye Gin School
Get hands-on and have a go at the traditional art of distilling under the expert tuition of the Isle of Skye distillers and take home a 500ml bottle of your own gin! You’ll get the opportunity to hear about the history of the distillery and the Isle of Skye Distillers gins, how they make them and the stories behind Misty Isle and Tommy’s gin with an opportunity to taste them. This experience is perfect for those of you who enjoy a G&T now and again, through to passionate gin lovers.
Pixel Spirits, North Ballachulish (West Highlands)
Pixel Spirits school
The Pixel Spirits Gin School experience is suitable to anyone interested in gin distilling, whether you’re a connoisseur or just wish to know more or experience and learn something new! The class teaches you about the key botanicals involved in gin making and you will learn how to create your own bespoke and unique gin using botanicals of your choice. The Pixel team will assist you in blending the various botanicals together to create a completely unique recipe, a full bottle of your own creation will then be yours to take home!
Sip Antics Gin School, Edinburgh
Sip Antics
Sip Antics offer a bespoke gin school experience based in a private room at the ‘Cumberland Bar’ in the heart of Edinburgh, where you will be welcomed with a refreshing gin and tonic, with a brief introduction and outline of the session. You will then get to taste various different gin profiles to help you decide on your own unique recipe before creating your own 70cl bottle of gin.
Planning a gin road trip around Scotland?
Check out our distillery map for distilleries that do tours, the list is quite extensive, and some are by appointment only, please check brand websites for full details and availability.
