Distill a bottle of Gin on mini copper stills

Edinburgh’s gin lesson gets personal when you choose the botanicals, write your own recipe, and make a bottle on a mini copper still. You’ll taste three different gins first, then distill 500ml of your own creation to bottle, label, name, and wax-seal.

I like two things in particular: the hands-on recipe-making gives you room to follow your own tastes, and the small group size means you can get individual help. One consideration: this is a three-hour, alcohol-focused activity, and it costs $125.01 per person, so it makes the most sense if you’re genuinely interested in gin.

At a glance

• Make a full 500ml bottle: You distill your chosen ingredients on an individual mini copper still and take the finished bottle home.
• Taste before you design: Three sample gins help you compare styles and decide what flavors you want in your own recipe.
• Cocktails are part of the session: You’re welcomed with a gin and tonic, then enjoy a cocktail while your gin distills.
• Your recipe is your own: A host guides your choices without taking away the chance to experiment.
• Expect a very small group: The activity has a maximum of two participants, which allows for plenty of direct attention.
• Allow about three hours: The session begins at noon at the Cumberland Bar and ends back at the meeting point.

A gin lesson that ends with your own bottle

Many tastings let you sample someone else’s work. Here, you get to make something of your own. The session at Sip Antics combines a short introduction to gin, guided tasting, recipe design, and distilling, with the finished bottle as a keepsake you can actually pour and share.

The process is approachable even if you’re new to gin. You try a few styles, consider the ingredients you like, and get help turning those preferences into a recipe. People who think they already know gin may find the botanical tasting especially useful: it gives you a more precise sense of what flavors appeal to you, rather than leaving you with a general preference for one brand or another.

The hosts named by people who have taken the class include Neil and Gary. Neil is described as entertaining, warm, and good at explaining the details while leaving room for personal choices. Gary is also praised for helping participants tailor their recipes. The host may vary, so don’t book on the assumption that one particular person will lead your session.

From welcome drink to first tasting

The session begins at the Cumberland Bar, at 1-3 Cumberland Street, with a gin and tonic on arrival. You’ll settle into the bespoke micro distillery room while the host explains how the class will work. That welcome drink is a practical start: it gives you something familiar in the glass before the class moves on to comparing different gins.

Next come three tasting samples. The point is not just to try more gin, but to notice differences and work out what you want in your own bottle. You can ask questions about gin styles, ingredients, and the character of different varieties before making your choices.

This part is useful even if you’re already a gin drinker. Several people who have taken the class found they learned more than expected about how flavors are built. If you’re buying gin back home, that knowledge can help you make better choices at a shop or bar. If you’re mainly here for the fun, the samples still give you a good starting point for a personal recipe.

Build a recipe from botanicals

After tasting, you design your own gin recipe from the ingredients available. You’ll have guidance, but the recipe is meant to reflect your preferences. The host can help you consider your choices and make the process less daunting, while still letting you decide what goes into your gin.

That balance is a real strength. Without guidance, a table of unfamiliar ingredients can feel like a guessing game. With too much direction, your bottle might feel like the instructor’s recipe rather than yours. The format aims for a middle ground: learn enough to make informed choices, then put your own stamp on the result.

The exact botanical selection isn’t specified, so don’t arrive expecting a particular ingredient or a fixed recipe menu. The important point is that you choose from the ingredients available and get hands-on help shaping a bespoke blend. If you have strong preferences, tell your host as you work through the options.

Distill your gin on a mini copper still

Once your recipe is set, you use an individual mini copper still to distill the chosen ingredients. This is the part that makes the experience more than a tasting or a cocktail class. You’re involved in making a bottle from your own flavor choices, rather than simply watching a demonstration.

The still is small, but the result is not just a token sample. The experience produces a 500ml bottle for you to take home. The supplied details don’t specify the technical distillation steps or the strength of the final gin, so focus on the experience as a guided introduction rather than a full professional distilling course.

While your gin is distilling, you enjoy a cocktail. That pause gives the process time to run without leaving you waiting around. It also keeps the session social and relaxed, though this is still an alcohol-centered activity: you’ll have a gin and tonic on arrival, three tasting samples, a cocktail, and a taste of your own gin.

Taste, bottle, label, and take it home

When your gin is ready, you taste it before bottling. Then comes the finishing touch: you bottle, label, name, and wax-seal your creation. That small act of naming it makes the end product feel personal, not like a standard souvenir bought on the way out.

You leave with a bottle that carries a story. It can be a memento of your time in Edinburgh, but it’s also something you can open at home and share. Several people who took the class especially valued being able to bring their gin back to family and friends. If you’re looking for a gift or a souvenir with more meaning than a logo on a glass, this has a clear advantage.

There is also a practical limit to what the bottle represents. It is a one-off creation made during the class, not a commercially produced gin with a repeatable recipe and brand. That’s part of the charm, but if you want to buy the exact same bottle again later, don’t assume that will be possible.

What $125.01 buys you

At $125.01 per person, this is not a cheap drink or a quick tasting. The price covers about three hours of instruction and activity, several drinks, the chance to design and distill a gin, and a 500ml bottle to take home. The value depends on whether those elements matter to you. If you want a single cocktail, it’s an expensive way to get one. If you like gin and want a guided, participatory activity with a tangible result, the price is easier to justify.

The small group size adds value in a different way. With a maximum of two participants, you should have room to ask questions and get direct help with your recipe. That suits couples or friends who want to do the activity together, but it also means there’s little scope for a larger group outing.

People who have taken the class often praise the host’s humor, warmth, and ability to make the subject easy to follow. The experience is educational without turning into a lecture, and entertaining without making the details feel like an afterthought. That combination matters: the best part isn’t only leaving with a bottle, it’s understanding more about why you like the gin you like.

Timing, meeting point, and booking

The activity starts at 12:00 pm at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, and ends back at the same meeting point. It lasts about three hours. The location is near public transportation, and the experience is offered in English.

Bookings are made an average of 48 days in advance, which is a useful sign to plan ahead, particularly if your Edinburgh dates are fixed. The activity uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made less than 24 hours before the activity aren’t accepted, and cancellations inside that 24-hour window aren’t refunded. The cut-off follows local time in Edinburgh.

Who will enjoy this most

This is a strong choice if you already enjoy gin, like learning how food and drink are made, or want a souvenir that you helped create. It also suits a couple or two friends looking for a compact indoor activity that combines tasting, conversation, and a bit of hands-on work.

You don’t need to be a gin expert. The session begins with samples and guidance, and the host helps you work out your preferences. On the other hand, if you don’t drink alcohol or have no interest in spirits, the central parts of the class may not be a good fit. The supplied details don’t list non-alcoholic alternatives.

Should you book it?

Book this if you like gin and want more than a standard tasting. The chance to choose botanicals, use a mini copper still, and take home a bottle you designed gives the session a clear purpose and makes the price easier to understand.

Skip it if your priority is a low-cost drink, a large group activity, or an outing that doesn’t revolve around alcohol. For everyone else, this is a personal, good-humored way to spend three hours in Edinburgh, with a bottle that can bring the memory home.

FAQ

How long does the gin-making experience last?

It lasts about three hours.

Where does the activity start?

It starts at the Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What time does it start?

The listed start time is 12:00 pm.

How much gin do I take home?

You distill and take home a 500ml, or 50cl, bottle of your own gin.

What drinks are included?

You receive a gin and tonic on arrival, taste three gin samples, enjoy a cocktail while your gin distills, and taste your newly made gin before bottling.

How many participants can take part?

The activity has a maximum of two participants.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.