Afternoon Tea & Gin Masterclass

Stillgarden’s afternoon tea is more than a neat row of cakes beside a gin flight. You’ll visit a working Irish distillery, learn how its gins are built from a wall of 120 botanicals, then sit down to sandwiches and sweet treats. The four-gin tasting gives the experience its focus.

I like the blend of practical distilling talk and relaxed food, and I like that the gins are made onsite rather than brought in from elsewhere. The main catch is simple: at $74 per person for 90 minutes, this is a special-occasion tasting, not a cheap afternoon snack. It is also for adults only.

Key points

• Four Stillgarden gins: Taste a flight of signature gins made at the distillery.
• A botanical wall: Learn how 120 botanicals help shape modern Irish gin.
• Afternoon tea included: Sandwiches, cakes, and sweet treats follow the tasting.
• Hosted by a liquid expert: Each session ends with time for questions and answers.
• Flexible for non-drinkers: Non-gin and nonalcoholic choices are available with advance notice.
• Easy planning: The 90-minute visit is in English, wheelchair accessible, and cancellable up to 24 hours before the start.

Inside Stillgarden’s 90-minute gin session

The experience starts at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County, where the focus is on how modern Irish gin is made. You are not simply handed four glasses and left to guess what you are tasting. A Stillgarden liquid expert hosts the session and explains the ideas behind the distillery’s range.

That hosted format matters. Gin can be a tricky drink for beginners because the familiar juniper flavor may be joined by citrus, herbs, spices, flowers, or other botanicals. A guided tasting gives you a way to compare the samples with some direction.

The session lasts 1.5 hours. That is long enough for a proper introduction, four tastes, afternoon tea, and questions without turning the visit into an all-day commitment. If you are fitting this into a Dublin schedule, check the available starting times before booking, since the start time can shape the rest of your afternoon.

The 120 botanicals that shape the tasting

One of the most distinctive parts of the visit is Stillgarden’s wall of 120 botanicals. This gives the distillery visit a visual center and helps explain why two gins can taste very different even when both are based on juniper.

You will be introduced to the history of distillation and to the ingredients used in gin making. The botanical display is useful because it turns an abstract idea into something you can see. Instead of hearing only that gin contains botanicals, you can connect the tasting to the range of ingredients that may influence aroma and flavor.

The supplied information does not name each botanical or promise that all 120 will be sampled. Think of the wall as a guide to the distillery’s creative process, not a 120-item tasting menu. The actual tasting includes four signature Stillgarden gins.

I like this part because it gives you something to pay attention to in each glass. You can listen for differences rather than treating gin as one standard flavor. If you already enjoy gin, the botanical focus adds useful context. If you are new to it, the guide’s explanation can make the tasting less intimidating.

Four signature gins made onsite

The tasting flight includes four Stillgarden signature gins, all made onsite. That local production is an important part of the experience. You are sampling the distillery’s own work and learning about the range from someone connected to its production.

The welcome drink comes before the four-gin flight. After that, the tasting moves into afternoon tea, so the food is not an optional extra you need to purchase separately. Your ticket covers the welcome drink, the gin flight, and the tea service.

The available details do not specify the names or exact flavor profiles of the four gins. That means you should book this for the chance to compare Stillgarden’s range, not because you already know one particular bottle will be included. The guide will provide the interpretation during the session.

A four-sample flight is a sensible size for a 90-minute visit. You get enough variety to notice contrasts, but not so many pours that the tasting becomes rushed or muddled. Since this is an adult activity, alcohol is part of the core format. Still, the distillery can provide non-gin and nonalcoholic options if you tell them beforehand.

That advance notice is important. Do not assume an alternative will be ready simply because you do not want gin on the day. Contact the provider before your visit so the right option can be arranged.

Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes

The food portion follows the gin tasting. You will receive afternoon tea with a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and other sweet treats. This pairing gives the experience a softer second half after the more technical distillery introduction.

I like the order. Tasting first lets you focus on the gin, while the sandwiches and cakes provide a relaxed finish. The food also makes the visit feel more substantial than a short sampling session.

The details do not list the exact sandwich fillings, cake flavors, portion sizes, or dietary substitutions. Keep that in mind if you have allergies or strict dietary needs. The only confirmed food description is a selection of sandwiches and sweet treats, so ask Stillgarden directly about special requirements before booking.

At $74 per person, the tea matters when you judge the price. You are paying for more than four small tastes. The ticket includes a welcome drink, a hosted distillery presentation, the four-gin flight, afternoon tea, and a final question-and-answer session. For someone interested in gin and looking for a planned food experience, that package can be reasonable. If you mainly want a drink and a quick bite, it may feel expensive.

The final question-and-answer session

Each session finishes with a Q&A from one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is a useful feature because it gives you a chance to ask about the parts of gin making that caught your attention.

You might ask about the botanicals, the distillation process, the differences between the four samples, or the distillery’s modern Irish approach. The exact questions depend on your group, but the format means the visit does not end as soon as the last tasting is poured.

There is no guide name supplied for this activity, so you should expect a Stillgarden liquid expert rather than a specifically named host. The guide speaks English. That makes the experience a good fit if you want live explanation rather than a self-guided tasting.

The Q&A also helps balance the fixed structure of the visit. The main content is planned, but the final exchange gives you some room to shape the experience around your own interests.

What the $74 price really covers

The price is $74 per person. That puts the experience above a casual afternoon tea or a simple gin tasting, but the comparison is not quite like for like.

Your ticket includes:

• A welcome drink
• A four-gin tasting flight
• An introduction to distillation
• An explanation of Stillgarden’s 120 botanicals
• Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes
• A hosted Q&A
• A 90-minute session

The onsite production is part of the value. You are visiting Stillgarden Distillery and tasting its own gins rather than attending a generic bar flight. The expert-led format is also useful if you want to understand what is in the glass, not just consume it.

Still, the value depends on your interests. A gin fan who enjoys food, production stories, and guided tasting will get more from the price. Someone who dislikes gin or wants a long, leisurely tea may find the fixed 90-minute format less appealing.

The average rating is 4.2 from five ratings, with an excellent 5 out of 5 assessment included among the available feedback. That is a positive signal, but it is a small sample. I would put more weight on the clear structure of the experience and the fit with your interests than on the rating alone.

Who will enjoy this most

This suits adults who want a compact Dublin-area activity with both drink and food. It is a good match for a couple, a small celebration, or friends who enjoy comparing spirits without giving up the comfort of a proper tea service.

It also works for gin newcomers. You do not need to arrive with a detailed knowledge of distilling. The guide introduces the subject, and the four-gin flight gives you a clear starting point for comparison.

Experienced gin drinkers may enjoy the onsite angle and the botanical discussion. The experience is less suited to someone looking for a large range of brands, since all four gins come from Stillgarden’s own selection.

Non-drinkers are not automatically excluded. Non-gin and nonalcoholic options are available if arranged ahead. That makes the experience more flexible than the headline might suggest, though you should confirm the alternative before paying.

Children under 18 are not permitted. This is an adults-only activity.

Timing, access, and practical planning

The visit lasts 90 minutes and takes place rain or shine. Since the activity is indoors at the distillery, the weather should not change the core tasting, but you still need to plan around the start time and your route to Dublin County.

Wheelchair access is available. If access needs affect your plans, it is sensible to confirm any specific requirements with Stillgarden before arrival, since the information confirms accessibility but does not describe every part of the venue.

The tour is conducted in English. If you want a quiet, food-focused afternoon, remember that this is a hosted class with explanations and a final Q&A. It is not simply a private table service.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dublin plans are still changing. These options are useful, but they do not remove the need to check the actual session time before you commit.

A good match for a wet Dublin afternoon

The rain-or-shine policy makes this an easy activity to keep in a Dublin plan. You do not need clear skies for the botanical talk, gin tasting, or afternoon tea.

That said, rain can affect the journey to the distillery, so allow enough time to arrive without rushing. The session itself is fixed at 90 minutes, and late arrival could cut into the tasting or food portion. The available information does not state how late arrivals are handled, so punctuality is the safe approach.

I especially like this as a planned afternoon stop rather than a last-minute drink. The combination of a welcome drink, four tastes, and tea gives the visit a clear beginning, middle, and end. You know what you are signing up for.

Should you book Stillgarden’s afternoon tea and gin masterclass?

Book it if you want a guided introduction to modern Irish gin, a look at Stillgarden’s 120 botanicals, four house-made samples, and afternoon tea in one compact visit. The strongest reasons to go are the onsite production, the liquid expert host, and the chance to finish with questions rather than a quick pour and goodbye.

Think twice if you want a cheap snack, a long tea service, or a broad tasting of many Irish distilleries. The $74 price makes the most sense when you value the teaching and the complete food-and-drink format.

For adults who enjoy gin and have 90 minutes free in Dublin County, this is a well-defined choice. Arrange a non-gin or nonalcoholic option in advance if needed, check the start time, and arrive ready to taste four different expressions of Stillgarden’s own style.

FAQ

Where does the afternoon tea and gin masterclass take place?

It takes place at Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County, Ireland.

How long does the experience last?

The session lasts 1.5 hours, or 90 minutes. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a four-gin tasting flight, afternoon tea with sandwiches and sweet treats, the hosted distillery experience, and the final Q&A.

How many gins will I taste?

You will taste four Stillgarden signature gins made onsite.

Is the experience available for non-drinkers?

Non-gin and nonalcoholic options are available, but you need to let Stillgarden know beforehand.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel and receive a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.