Edinburgh: Gin Distillation Workshop with Gin Tasting

Edinburgh’s Sip Antics Micro Distillery gives you more than a drink at the bar. You choose your flavors, distill a 500ml bottle of gin, taste the finished spirit, and finish it with your own label and wax seal. Host Neil leads the session in a lively, hands-on way.

I like the small two-person format, which gives you room to experiment rather than simply watch. I also like the clear rhythm of the afternoon: welcome G+T, three gin samples, your own distillation, a cocktail while you wait, then bottling. The main drawback is practical: the workshop is downstairs and not wheelchair accessible, and no food is served.

Key points to know before booking

• You make a full 500ml bottle: Distill your own bespoke gin and take it home in a finished bottle.
• Neil leads the workshop: He combines gin instruction with humor and helps you choose flavors that suit your taste.
• The group is limited to two people: This is a personal workshop, not a large demonstration.
• The tasting is built into the experience: You receive a welcome G+T, three flavored gin samples, and a cocktail.
• The final bottle gets a proper finish: You taste the gin, then bottle, label, and wax-seal it.
• Plan for three hours downstairs: The experience starts at the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street and ends there.

What this Edinburgh gin workshop is really like

This is a hands-on gin-making session rather than a standard tasting. You are not simply handed a flight of drinks and told a few facts about botanicals. The central task is making a bottle of gin that reflects your own flavor choices.

The setting is downstairs in the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street. You should enter through the bar’s main entrance about 15 minutes before your scheduled start time. Your guide will be waiting upstairs and will lead you down to the room used for the workshop.

That meeting arrangement matters. If you arrive at the street entrance and do not immediately see a distillery sign, you are in the right place. Go into the main bar entrance and wait for the guide. The activity finishes back at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup.

The session lasts three hours. That is a substantial amount of time for a drink-based activity, but it makes sense here. You are tasting several spirits, making flavor decisions, waiting for your distillation, and finishing a bottle by hand. This is not a quick add-on between sightseeing stops.

Starting with a G+T and three gin samples

The workshop begins with a welcome G+T. It is a relaxed way to settle in and gives you an immediate sense of gin’s character before you start making decisions for your own bottle.

Next comes a tasting of three different flavored gins. This is one of the most useful parts of the session because it gives you a direct comparison before you choose the direction of your own gin. You can pay attention to the flavors you like, the ones you do not, and how different ingredients affect the drink.

If you already know your favorite style of gin, you will have a useful base for comparison. If you are new to gin, the tasting keeps the decision from feeling like guesswork. You can sample first, then make choices with a better idea of what your finished bottle might become.

Neil is the guide, and his style is a major part of the experience. He is described as funny, enthusiastic, and informative, with a clear passion for gin. That combination should suit you if you want instruction without a stiff classroom feel.

The small group size helps here. With only two participants, you should have a better chance to ask questions and talk through your flavor preferences. It also means the session is more personal than a large group workshop, where the instructor has to keep moving and give everyone the same answer.

Choosing flavors for your bespoke gin

After the samples, you create your own gin. The important word here is your. The point is not to reproduce one fixed house recipe. You get to experiment with different aromas and decide what fits your taste.

That creative element gives the workshop its value. A typical gin tasting lets you compare products made by someone else. This session asks you to think like a maker. You consider the kind of profile you want, make choices with Neil’s help, and then wait to see how those decisions come together.

You do not need to be a gin expert to take part. The structure works for beginners because you taste before you choose. It also works for someone who already knows the category and wants to test personal flavor ideas.

I would treat this part as a chance to be curious rather than overly careful. You are making a keepsake, not entering a spirits competition. The fun is in creating a bottle with a story behind it, especially if you are attending with a family member, partner, or friend who has different tastes.

The supplied details do not list the exact botanicals or flavor options, so you should not expect a fixed menu of ingredients in advance. Neil helps define the final style, but the precise choices will be made during the session.

Distilling your 500ml bottle

Once you have made your choices, each participant distills a bespoke 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of gin. This is the main practical part of the workshop and the reason the three-hour schedule feels worthwhile.

You are not merely watching a distiller work behind glass. You take part in producing the bottle that you will later taste and carry home. That makes the souvenir more meaningful than a standard shop purchase. You know which choices went into it, and you have taken part in the process from flavor selection to final seal.

The distillation also creates a natural pause in the session. While your gin is being finished, you receive a gin cocktail. This gives you something to enjoy while you wait rather than leaving you standing around with nothing to do.

The activity description does not specify the exact cocktail or the technical equipment used. What it does make clear is that the cocktail is included and served during the waiting period. If you are interested in the mechanics of distillation, this is a good time to ask Neil questions.

The group of two is especially helpful during this stage. You can focus on your own bottle while Neil explains what is happening. You should expect a guided workshop, not a completely independent lab exercise, but you still have a clear personal role.

Tasting, bottling, and wax-sealing the finished spirit

Before the bottle is closed, you taste your new gin. This is a small but important step. It lets you see how the finished drink compares with the flavors you chose at the start.

That final tasting also gives the session a satisfying arc. You begin by sampling established flavored gins, then make your own choices, and finally compare the result with your original expectations. You might discover that a flavor you loved on its own behaves differently in the finished gin. That is part of the appeal.

After tasting, you bottle the gin, label it, and wax-seal the bottle. The handmade finish turns the spirit into a proper take-home memento rather than a sample in a plain container.

The bottle is 500ml, so it is a meaningful souvenir without being an awkwardly large item to carry around Edinburgh. You should still think about how you will pack it for the journey home, particularly if you are flying. The tour information confirms that the bottle is yours to take home, but it does not provide specific airline or luggage guidance.

What makes the price worthwhile

The listed price is $114 per person. That is not a cheap tasting, so the value depends on what you want from the outing.

If you only want to try gin, you can find less expensive ways to have a drink. This workshop includes several tastings, but its main value is the activity itself. You receive a welcome G+T, three flavored gin samples, a cocktail, instruction from Neil, and a 500ml bottle that you make, label, and seal.

The price makes more sense if you enjoy participatory experiences and want something you cannot get by simply ordering at a bar. You are paying for the guided process, the small group, the drinks during the session, and the finished bottle.

I would consider it a good fit for a special afternoon, a birthday, a couple’s activity, or a small celebration. It is also a stronger choice for someone who enjoys taking home a souvenir tied to a personal experience.

There is one clear limit to the value: no food is served. You should eat beforehand or plan a meal afterward. Three hours of tasting and drinking without food may not suit everyone, and the activity should not be treated as lunch.

Because this is an alcohol-focused workshop, it is also worth planning your wider day sensibly. The information provided does not state the alcohol quantities in each serving, so you should pace yourself and avoid scheduling anything that requires driving afterward.

Who will enjoy this best

I would recommend this experience to adults who like gin, hands-on workshops, and small-group activities. It suits beginners particularly well because the tasting comes before the flavor decisions, and Neil helps you shape the result.

It is also a good choice for a gin enthusiast who wants more than a standard flight. You get to compare different flavored gins, talk through aromas, and make a bottle according to your own preferences.

The activity may work well for a family group with adult members. The reported age range in one booking was 30 to 62, and the experience was enjoyed across that group. The key requirement is that every participant must be at least 18.

I would not choose it for children, anyone looking for a food-focused outing, or a visitor who dislikes alcohol. It is also unsuitable for anyone with mobility impairments because the room is downstairs and not wheelchair accessible.

The small two-person limit makes it less suitable for a large party. If you are traveling with several friends, you should check how the provider handles separate bookings, since the supplied information only confirms that the group is limited to two participants.

Timing your visit in Edinburgh

The workshop lasts three hours, and starting times vary. You need to check availability for the actual time before booking.

Allow a little extra time to reach Cumberland Street. Arriving 15 minutes early is part of the stated meeting instructions, and it gives you time to enter the Cumberland Bar and find the guide without rushing.

Since the activity begins and ends at the same location, it is easy to pair with other plans in central Edinburgh, but be careful not to make the schedule too tight. The distillation and bottling stages are central to the experience, so leaving early would mean missing the part you paid for.

The end point is the meeting point at the Cumberland Bar. From there, you can continue with your Edinburgh plans, but remember that you will be carrying a bottle of gin and may have had several drinks.

Practical details that affect your decision

The workshop is conducted in English. You should be comfortable following explanations and discussing your taste preferences in English.

The room is downstairs and not wheelchair accessible. The activity is specifically not suitable for people with mobility impairments, so check this carefully before booking.

Children under 18 cannot take part. This is an adult activity built around gin tasting, distillation, and cocktails.

There is free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which may help if your Edinburgh schedule is still changing.

The overall rating is 5 out of 5 from nine ratings, with particular praise for Neil’s humor, enthusiasm, and ability to explain the process. I would treat that as useful evidence about the guiding style, while remembering that the group is small and the experience is strongly shaped by the host.

Should you book the Sip Antics gin workshop?

Book it if you want an intimate, alcohol-centered activity where you make something personal and take it home. The strongest reasons are the two-person format, Neil’s lively teaching style, the chance to create your own flavor profile, and the complete finish of bottling, labeling, and wax-sealing a 500ml bottle.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, want food included, are under 18, or prefer a simple tasting with a shorter time commitment. You should also plan a meal separately.

For the right person, the $114 price buys more than drinks. It buys a three-hour project, a guided introduction to gin-making, and a bottle connected to your own choices. That is a fair trade for a visitor who prefers doing something active over simply ordering another cocktail.

FAQ

Where does the gin workshop begin?

It begins downstairs in the Cumberland Bar on Cumberland Street in Edinburgh. Enter through the main entrance about 15 minutes before the start time, and the guide will meet you upstairs and lead you to the workshop room.

Where does the activity finish?

The workshop ends back at the Cumberland Bar meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts three hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

How many people can join the workshop?

The group is limited to two participants.

Is the workshop conducted in English?

Yes. The instructor language is English.

What drinks are included?

You receive a welcome G+T, three different flavored gin samples, and a gin cocktail while your gin is being distilled.

How much gin can I take home?

Each participant makes and takes home one bespoke 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of gin.

Is food included?

No. Food is not served during the workshop, so plan to eat before or after the activity.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

No. The workshop room is downstairs and is not wheelchair accessible. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.