Gin Tasting and Afternoon Tea Delight in Dublin Ireland

This is a compact Dublin tasting built around four modern Irish gins, a welcome drink, and afternoon tea. You’ll also hear about distillation and explore a wall displaying 120 botanicals, which gives the session more substance than a simple flight at a bar.

I like the generous food offering and the relaxed group size of no more than 22 people. I also like the final Q&A, especially if Glenn is leading, since he has been praised for clear explanations and lively storytelling. The main drawback is time: 90 minutes goes quickly, so this is more of a guided tasting than a full distillery visit.

Key points to know before booking

• Four signature gins: You taste a flight of four house gins, plus a welcome drink.
• A botanical wall: The 120-botanical display helps explain where gin gets its different aromas and flavors.
• Afternoon tea included: Expect sandwiches and decadent cakes after the tasting.
• A named guide to watch for: Glenn has been singled out for his history, process, and storytelling.
• Small maximum group: Sessions are limited to 22 people, keeping the presentation fairly manageable.
• Dublin 8 setting: The activity starts and ends at its listed meeting point, near public transport.

Four gins and a welcome drink in Dublin 8

Stillgarden Distillery’s format is simple and well judged. You arrive at the Dublin 8 meeting point, receive a welcome drink, and then move into the main tasting and presentation. The whole experience lasts about an hour and a half.

That timing suits you if you want an enjoyable stop without giving up half a day. It also means the staff must keep the session moving. You should expect a focused introduction rather than a long production tour with every stage shown in detail.

The heart of the experience is a flight of four signature gins. Four is enough to show differences in style without turning the tasting into a blur of similar samples. You can compare the gins as you go, then ask questions during the closing Q&A.

The welcome drink gives you a gentle start before the formal flight. It is a useful touch for anyone who prefers to settle into the setting first rather than begin immediately with a list of tasting notes.

The supplied details do not specify the exact gin styles, garnishes, serving sizes, or strength of each pour. That is worth keeping in mind. You are booking a guided introduction to the distillery’s range, not a menu promising particular botanicals in each glass.

The 120 botanicals that give the session its character

The botanical wall is one of the most interesting details here. Rather than treating gin as a single flavor, it shows you the large range of ingredients that can shape a spirit.

For a first-time gin drinker, this visual display can make the tasting easier to follow. You may already know juniper, citrus, or herbs by taste, but seeing a wall of 120 possible ingredients gives useful context. It helps explain why two clear spirits can smell and taste so different.

The session also covers the history of distillation. That adds a little depth to the tasting, since you learn not only what is in the glass but also how distillation fits into the making of spirits.

Do not expect a scholarly lecture. The experience is designed as a social tasting with food, so the explanation should support the drinks rather than take over the afternoon. That balance is a strength for couples, friends, and small groups who want information without sitting through a technical class.

One named guide is Glenn. He has been praised for explaining the company’s history, its processes, and its interest in craft spirits. His style has been described as lively and engaging, which matters in a short session where a dry presentation could make the clock drag.

Guide assignments can change, so Glenn may not lead every time. Still, his approach gives you a useful idea of the level of storytelling to hope for: clear, energetic, and tied to the drinks in front of you.

Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes

After the gin tasting comes the food. The afternoon tea includes a selection of sandwiches and decadent cakes, making this more filling than a standard alcohol flight.

I like this pairing because it gives the experience a natural second act. You taste, compare, and ask questions, then settle in with something substantial. The food also helps pace the alcohol, though you should still drink responsibly and take the tasting at your own speed.

The menu description is broad rather than specific. It does not list the sandwich fillings, cake flavors, portion count, or special dietary options. If you have allergies or dietary needs, ask before booking or contact the provider directly, rather than assuming substitutions are available.

The phrase afternoon tea may suggest a formal, multi-tiered service to some readers. The confirmed information only promises sandwiches and cakes, so keep your expectations at that level. You are getting a food selection with the gin tasting, not a separately detailed tea menu.

For a group, this setup has an easy social rhythm. Everyone has something to taste, something to discuss, and something to eat. One particularly useful detail is the maximum group size of 22. That is not an intimate private tasting, but it is small enough to feel more controlled than a large bar event.

Why the final Q&A matters

Each session ends with a Q&A led by one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is where you can clear up questions that arise during the tasting.

The format is better than a presentation with no discussion time. You might want to ask how the botanical wall relates to the gins, what makes a modern Irish gin different in approach, or how the distillery thinks about its range. The supplied details do not promise answers to those exact questions, but the Q&A gives you a chance to ask about the parts that interest you most.

A final question period also helps different types of drinkers. If you already know gin, you can ask more focused questions. If you are new to it, you can clarify basic points without interrupting the main talk.

Because the session is only 90 minutes, do not expect a long open forum. If you have several questions, choose your best one or two. The Q&A is a useful finish, but it cannot turn a short tasting into an all-day workshop.

The value of $85.78 per person

At $85.78 per person, this is not a casual drink and snack. You are paying for a guided distillery experience, a welcome drink, four gin samples, afternoon tea, and access to a liquid expert for questions.

The value depends on how you use the session. If you want a quick cocktail stop, the price will feel high. If you want a planned Dublin activity that combines education, tasting, and food, it becomes easier to justify.

The four-gin flight is important here. A single drink with a small explanation would not support this price as well. The added comparison gives you a better sense of Stillgarden’s range, while the afternoon tea makes the booking feel like a complete outing rather than a short sample.

The group limit also adds some value. A maximum of 22 people does not guarantee personal attention at every moment, but it keeps the experience from becoming an oversized public talk.

I would compare the price with other paid tastings in Dublin, but I would not judge it against the cost of ordering one gin at a pub. This is a hosted activity with food and structured content. You are paying for the setting, the explanation, and the convenience of having everything arranged together.

The experience is booked an average of 53 days ahead, which suggests that planning early is sensible, especially if you have fixed Dublin dates. That does not guarantee every date sells out, but it is a good reason not to leave this until the last minute.

Getting there and planning your visit

The meeting point is listed in Dublin 8, and the activity ends back at that same point. It is near public transportation, which makes it easier to fit into a day around central Dublin without arranging a separate return transfer.

The supplied address is presented as a location code and Dublin 8 address information rather than a familiar landmark. Check the exact meeting instructions on your confirmation before setting out. Arriving in the correct area matters, since the experience does not include hotel pickup.

Mobile tickets make the booking easy to carry on your phone. Confirmation is sent at the time of booking, so keep the details available when you travel to the meeting point.

The session is for people aged 18 and over. That is important for mixed-age groups planning a Dublin day out. Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. If you cancel or request changes later than that, you may not receive a refund, and changes made inside the 24-hour window are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

I would recommend this to you if you enjoy food and drink experiences with a clear social element. It is particularly well suited to couples, friends, and small groups who want to taste several gins without spending an entire day at a distillery.

It also works for a curious beginner. You do not need to know the difference between various gin styles before arriving. The botanical display, distillation background, guided flight, and Q&A give you a structure for learning as you go.

Gin fans may appreciate it for a different reason. Four house gins let you compare the distillery’s style rather than simply order a familiar label. The conversation with a liquid expert gives you a chance to ask more specific questions.

The activity may be less suitable if you want a full technical tour of the production floor. The information provided focuses on history, distillation, botanicals, tasting, food, and questions. It does not promise a detailed walk through every piece of equipment or a behind-the-scenes production schedule.

It may also disappoint you if you expect an elaborate traditional afternoon tea. The confirmed food is sandwiches and cakes, with no detailed menu or formal service style given. Think of it as a generous tea selection paired with a gin experience.

My booking verdict

You should book the Stillgarden Distillery tasting if you want a well-paced Dublin activity that combines four gins, food, and useful background in one 90-minute session.

I especially like the mix of tasting and explanation. The 120-botanical wall gives the experience a visual focus, the flight provides real comparison, and the afternoon tea makes the price easier to weigh. Glenn’s praised presentation style is another reason to look forward to the experience, though the guide on your date may differ.

Skip it if you are seeking a long production tour, a detailed published tea menu, or the cheapest way to have a drink in Dublin. For a group outing or a first structured introduction to Irish gin, however, the package is clear and appealing. Book ahead, arrive with your mobile ticket ready, and treat the Q&A as part of the value rather than an afterthought.

FAQ

How long does the gin tasting and afternoon tea last?

The experience lasts approximately 90 minutes.

What is included in the ticket?

The ticket includes a welcome drink, a tasting flight of four signature gins, afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes, and the closing Q&A.

Where does the experience start and finish?

It starts at the listed meeting point in Dublin 8, Ireland, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the activity available in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Are children allowed to join?

No. The activity is for people aged 18 and over.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, provided you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time, based on the local time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.