Distill a bottle of Gin on mini copper stills

Gin gets much more interesting when you make it yourself. This Edinburgh class takes you inside a tiny working distillery, where you taste different gin styles, choose your own botanicals, and distill a 500ml bottle on an individual copper still. I like the hands-on format and the personal guidance from hosts such as Neil and Gary. I also like that you leave with a labelled, named, wax-sealed bottle rather than only a few samples. The main drawback is simple: at $125.01 per person, this is not a cheap tasting, and it will appeal far more to gin and cocktail fans than to anyone who only drinks occasionally.

Plan on about three hours at Sip Antics, beginning at noon from The Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street. The class is offered in English and is limited to a maximum of two people, which means plenty of attention but also makes it feel more like a private appointment than a lively group party.

Key points before you book

• You distill a full 500ml bottle: This is not just a demonstration. You create and take home your own gin.
• Three tastings guide your choices: Sampling different botanical mixes helps you decide what kind of gin you actually enjoy.
• Your recipe is your own: You select ingredients from the available botanicals, with help when you need it.
• Every person uses a mini copper still: The equipment gives the class a proper distillery feel while keeping the process manageable.
• The class includes drinks throughout: You receive a gin and tonic on arrival, a cocktail while your gin is distilling, and a taste of the finished spirit.
• The group size is tiny: With no more than two participants, you should expect direct help and plenty of time to ask questions.

Starting at The Cumberland Bar at noon

Your meeting point is The Cumberland Bar, at 1 to 3 Cumberland Street in Edinburgh. The class starts at 12:00 p.m. and returns to this same location when it ends.

That arrangement is handy because you do not need to find a separate distillery entrance in an unfamiliar part of the city. The activity is near public transportation, too, so you can reach the meeting point without arranging a private transfer.

The supplied details do not specify the exact walking route from the bar to the distillery room, so allow enough time to arrive, get settled, and find the meeting point. Confirmation is provided when you book. Since this is a small session with a fixed start time, arriving late could matter more here than it would on a large sightseeing outing.

The experience lasts about three hours. A noon start makes it a good afternoon plan. You can pair it with lunch before the class or continue with dinner and drinks afterward, but keep in mind that you will be sampling several alcoholic drinks during the session.

A gin and tonic sets the tone

You begin in a bespoke micro distillery room with a gin and tonic. This first drink is more than a welcome pour. It gives you time to settle in while the host explains how the class works.

The setting is designed for participation, not for standing behind a rope while someone else handles the equipment. That distinction matters. You are not simply being shown how gin is produced. You are being prepared to make decisions about flavour, balance, and style.

The opening explanation also gives you a useful framework for the rest of the class. Gin can seem like a simple spirit, but the character changes sharply depending on the botanicals used and how they work together. The session helps you notice those differences before you start building your own recipe.

One practical point: this is a spirit-making class, not a general Edinburgh sightseeing tour. You will spend the afternoon in the distillery room, with the focus firmly on gin.

Three samples help you find your style

The tasting begins with three different gin samples. You use them to compare botanical mixes and varieties before deciding what you want to make.

This is one of the strongest parts of the experience because it gives your choices some purpose. You are not picking ingredients at random from a tray. You can think about whether you prefer a sharper, more juniper-led style, a softer botanical profile, or something with a different balance of flavours.

The tastings also suit people who think they already know gin. One participant described learning that there was much more to the flavours than expected, even after assuming they knew the spirit fairly well. That is a useful warning not to arrive with a fixed recipe in mind. Your preferences may shift once you taste the options side by side.

The host explains the styles, categories, and flavour qualities as you go. Neil has been praised for making this part entertaining and easy to follow, while also discussing the history and personalities behind different brands and categories. The result is practical rather than overly technical. You learn enough to make better choices without being buried under distilling jargon.

You should still expect alcohol to be part of the lesson from the start. If you are sensitive to spirits, pace yourself. The class includes a welcome gin and tonic, three samples, a cocktail, and a taste of your finished gin.

Building a recipe from botanicals

After tasting, you design your own gin recipe from the available ingredients. This is where the experience becomes personal.

You choose the botanicals that appeal to you, then work with the host to shape a balanced recipe. The guidance is important. A creative class is more enjoyable when you can make your own decisions, but it helps to have someone explain how those decisions may affect the finished drink.

The best approach is to treat this stage as a conversation. Tell the host what you liked in the tasting. If you prefer a certain style, say so. Neil has been praised for giving clear advice while still allowing individual interpretation, which is exactly the balance you want. You should finish with a gin that reflects your taste, not a standard formula handed to everyone.

This is also where the small group size earns its keep. With a maximum of two people, you should have room to ask why one botanical might suit another, or how a particular choice could change the final result. On a larger class, this kind of one-to-one help would be harder to provide.

The only limitation is that the ingredients are drawn from what is available in the room. You are creating a personal recipe within the distillery’s selection, not designing a limitless spirit from every botanical in existence.

Your own mini copper still does the work

Once your recipe is set, you use an individual mini copper still to distill it. This is the memorable centre of the class.

Copper stills give the process a proper craft-distillery feel, but the small format keeps the activity approachable. You are close to the equipment and involved in the process without needing prior distilling experience. The host guides you through what to do, so you are not left trying to work out the method on your own.

The result is a 50cl bottle of gin, or 500ml, for each participant. That is a generous keepsake compared with a small tasting bottle. It is also large enough to share with friends or family after you return home, though you may be tempted to keep it for yourself.

The distilling stage takes time, which is why the class runs for roughly three hours. Rather than waiting in silence, you use the interval for another drink. This makes the timing feel less like dead time and gives the afternoon a relaxed rhythm.

The equipment is a major reason to book this class instead of choosing a standard gin tasting. You are learning by doing. If you are curious about how a spirit is made, the still turns an abstract process into something you can follow with your hands and senses.

A cocktail while your gin is distilling

While your batch is working, you enjoy a cocktail. This keeps the class social and gives you another way to think about gin beyond drinking it neat or with tonic.

The cocktail also creates a useful pause between making your recipe and judging the finished spirit. You get time to talk with the host, ask questions, and compare the choices you made with the other person in the room.

Neil is often described as funny, musical, warm, and easy to talk with. Those qualities matter in a small class. In a two-person setting, the host shapes the entire mood. A stiff or overly formal teacher could make the afternoon feel like a lecture. The right host makes it feel like a relaxed lesson with drinks.

Named hosts include Neil and Gary, so the person leading your session may vary. The available information does not guarantee a particular guide for every date. If a specific host matters to you, check before booking.

Tasting, bottling, and sealing your finished gin

When the distillation is complete, you taste your new gin before bottling it. This is an important step because it lets you assess the result while the memory of your recipe is still fresh.

You then fill the bottle, label it, give it a name, and finish it with a wax seal. These details turn the product into a proper souvenir rather than a plain container of homemade spirit.

The naming and labelling are especially good touches if you are making the bottle as a gift. You can take home a physical reminder of your time in Edinburgh, with a story attached to it. A regular bottle from a shop may be excellent, but it will not have your recipe, your name, or the memory of making it.

The final tasting can also be a lesson in itself. You may discover that your preferred ingredients work differently together than they did in isolation. That is part of the fun. The goal is not to produce a laboratory-perfect spirit. It is to make something personal, learn from the process, and enjoy the result.

Does the $125.01 price offer good value?

At $125.01 per person, the price is high for a three-hour activity. If you compare it with a short distillery tour or a standard tasting, it will look expensive.

The value improves when you count what is included: a welcome gin and tonic, three samples, guided recipe development, use of an individual mini copper still, a cocktail, a taste of your finished gin, and a 500ml bottle to take home. You are paying for instruction, equipment, several drinks, and a hands-on product, not just admission to a room.

I would call it good value for someone who already enjoys gin, likes craft workshops, or wants a special Edinburgh memory. It is less convincing for a casual drinker who would be satisfied with one tasting flight.

The tiny class size is another part of the value. A maximum of two people means direct attention throughout the recipe-making and distilling process. If you are booking as a couple or with one friend, the price buys a very personal session.

The bottle also changes the calculation. You leave with a 500ml souvenir rather than only photographs and a few sips. It may not repay the full cost by itself, but it gives the experience a lasting physical result.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this class to:

• Gin fans who want to understand botanical flavours better
• Couples or friends looking for a private-feeling activity
• People who enjoy craft workshops and learning by doing
• Visitors who want a Scottish souvenir they can share at home
• Cocktail fans curious about how gin changes across styles
• Anyone celebrating a special occasion with a drink-focused activity

It may not suit someone who dislikes alcohol, prefers outdoor sightseeing, or wants a fast, inexpensive introduction to Edinburgh. The pace is relaxed and the subject stays tightly focused on gin.

The class could also work well for someone who thinks they are already a gin expert. The tasting and recipe stages may reveal preferences you had not noticed before. One participant who expected to know the subject well came away with a new understanding of the flavours involved.

Practical details that affect your decision

The experience is offered in English. You receive confirmation at booking, and service animals are allowed. It is near public transportation, which makes reaching The Cumberland Bar easier.

The start time is noon, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Allow about three hours, with no separate return journey to plan afterward.

Only two people can take part at a time. That is excellent for personal guidance, but it means availability can be limited. The experience is booked an average of 48 days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last moment if your Edinburgh dates are fixed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses Edinburgh local time.

Should you book the mini still experience?

Book it if you want more than a drink in a bar. You will taste, choose, distill, and bottle your own gin, with enough guidance to make the process fun rather than intimidating.

The strongest reasons to go are the tiny class size, the hands-on copper still, and the full 500ml bottle you take home. Neil and Gary have both been praised for making the class friendly, funny, and clear, with Neil receiving especially warm comments for his storytelling and personal help.

Skip it if $125.01 feels too steep for a drinks activity, or if you are not interested in gin itself. For the right person, though, this is a memorable Edinburgh afternoon: part lesson, part tasting, part workshop, and part souvenir-making session.

FAQ

Where does the gin-making experience begin?

It begins at The Cumberland Bar, 1 to 3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK.

What time does the experience start?

The start time is 12:00 p.m.

How long does the class last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the experience finish?

It ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum of two participants.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes, the experience is offered in English.

Do I get to make my own gin?

Yes. You choose a recipe from the available botanicals and distill it with guidance on an individual mini copper still.

How much gin do I take home?

You take home a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of your finished gin.

What drinks are included during the class?

You receive a gin and tonic on arrival, three gin tasting samples, a cocktail while your gin is distilling, and a taste of your finished gin before bottling.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.