Afternoon Tea & Gin Masterclass

This afternoon tea and gin masterclass at Stillgarden Distillery is interesting because you get a proper distillery-style lesson, then you sit down to tea like it is still the afternoon. I like that it is fully hosted from start to finish, and I like the focus on a tasting flight with 4 signature gins. The only real consideration is that it is not kid-friendly, and it is built around gin, so you should plan ahead if you want non-gin or non-alcoholic options.

You’ll spend about 90 minutes learning how modern Irish gin comes together, with a walk through the history of distillation and their wall of 120 botanicals. Then you finish with afternoon tea (sandwiches and cakes) and a Q&A led by one of their liquid experts.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Stillgarden gins made onsite, so the story matches what is in your glass
• Hosted by Stillgarden liquid experts, including a Q&A at the end
• Tasting flight of 4 signature gins, plus a welcome drink
• Wall of 120 botanicals, explained during the guided portion
• Afternoon tea included, with sandwiches and decadent cakes
• Non-gin and non-alcoholic options available if you ask ahead

Stillgarden Distillery in Dublin County: What Makes This Tea Plus Gin Plan Work

If you have ever looked at a gin menu and thought, I want to understand this without doing homework, this is a clean fit. The experience is built around tasting, but it is also built around context. You do not just sample four gins and hope you figure it out. You learn what they are using, why they use it, and how botanicals shape the final flavor.

I like that the masterclass connects the nerdy part and the fun part. The guide talk is tied to what you taste during the flight. Then the afternoon tea section keeps the whole thing grounded, with sandwiches and cakes that make it feel like a proper Dublin County afternoon, not a bar crawl in nice clothing.

One note to plan around: because the core is a gin tasting flight plus a welcome drink, this is adult-oriented. If you want non-gin or non-alcoholic alternatives, it is smart to request that ahead of time, so they can set you up correctly instead of trying to improvise once you arrive.

Your 90 Minute Timeline: From Welcome Drink to Q&A

This is a tight, friendly schedule. Expect a total duration of about 1.5 hours, with starting times varying, so you’ll want to check the available sessions when you book.

Here is the flow you can expect:

Step 1: Welcome drink and guided start

You begin with a welcome drink included in your ticket. This is your entry point, and it also helps you settle into the setting at Stillgarden Distillery. It is not just a casual snack stop, you are officially in the masterclass.

Step 2: Distillation history and their botanicals wall

Next comes the guided portion, where you hear the story behind their modern Irish gins. The tour includes:

• The history of distillation
• A walk through their wall of 120 botanicals

That botanicals wall is the key image to picture. It is one thing to hear that gin uses plant ingredients, and it is another to see a large collection that is used to build flavor. This part matters because it gives your tasting flight a framework. When you later taste each gin, you have a mental map for why it might be citrusy, spicy, floral, or herbal.

Step 3: The 4 gin tasting flight

Then you move into the main tasting moment: a 4 gin tasting flight. These are their signature gins, and you’ll sample all four as part of the ticket.

Because it is a flight, not one pour at a time, you can compare. That is where a lot of value comes from. You get a mini lineup of styles, and your palate can learn quickly by contrast.

Step 4: Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes

After the tasting, you switch gears to afternoon tea. Your ticket includes a selection of sandwiches and cakes. The sweet stuff is part of the plan, and so is the balancing factor of the sandwiches.

If you are the type who always worries that tasting experiences will leave you hungry, this is one of the reasons I would choose this over a pure tasting in a bar. You get a proper tea break with food, not just sips.

Step 5: Q&A with a liquid expert

To wrap up, you get a Q&A led by one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts. This is often where the experience becomes personal. If you liked one gin more than the others, this is your chance to ask what drives that difference.

The Botanicals Wall: Why Seeing Ingredients Matters More Than You Think

A lot of gin experiences talk about botanicals in theory. What makes this one feel practical is that you get to see a wall with 120 botanicals and hear how that connects to what ends up in the bottle.

Even if you do not remember every ingredient name, you will leave with better tasting instincts. You start to connect these ideas:

• Botanicals are not decoration. They are the flavor building blocks.
• Different botanicals often push a gin toward different moods, like bright and zesty versus more herbal and dry.
• Gin is not one single flavor. It is a blend style.

That is useful when you go back out into Dublin County or the rest of Ireland and you see a gin list with several options. Instead of reading it like a jumble, you start thinking in categories, which makes your next order easier.

Your 4-Gin Flight: How to Taste Like You Mean It (Without Being Pretentious)

The tasting flight is the headline, so let’s make it work for you. You taste 4 signature gins. Because they are served as a flight, you can compare each one in order, and you can start spotting patterns.

Here is how I suggest you approach the tasting:

1. Smell first, sip second. If you go straight to drinking, you miss a lot of the information.
2. Think in terms of family traits. For example, does the gin lean more citrus-forward, spice-forward, herbal, floral, or more dry and juniper-like?
3. Use the sandwiches and tea after the flight as your reset. The food is not an afterthought, it helps your palate reset before the next flavor conversation.

Also, this experience is fully hosted. That matters because you are not stuck guessing. The liquid expert’s explanations during the tour and later in the Q&A give you a safety net. Even if you consider yourself a casual gin drinker, you can ask straightforward questions and still get answers you can use.

Afternoon Tea at a Distillery: Sandwiches, Cakes, and a Better Pace

I enjoy pairing distillery tastings with afternoon tea because it changes the pace. You are not only tasting alcohol. You are stepping into the calmer rhythm of tea service: sandwiches, sweets, and time to sit down.

In this case, afternoon tea includes decadent cakes and sandwiches. The exact tea details are not listed beyond that, but you can expect a traditional afternoon tea feel, with enough food to keep things comfortable after the tasting flight.

For me, this is also what makes the value feel more “rounded.” You are paying for a structured event that includes both the tasting lesson and an actual meal component. At $74 per person, you are not just buying drinks, you’re buying time, instruction, and food in one package.

Non-Gin and Non-Alcoholic Options: Plan Ahead and Tell Them Early

Stillgarden offers non gin and non alcoholic options available. The important detail here is that you should let them know beforehand.

That matters because the experience is scheduled around the flight and the welcome drink. If you wait until you arrive, you might end up with a mismatch, like getting something that does not align with the pacing of the masterclass. If you tell them ahead, they can help you get an experience that stays part of the flow.

If you are the designated driver, you can still enjoy the tasting lesson side of this. If you are just not in a drinking mood, you still get the history of distillation and the botanicals talk, which is honestly a big chunk of why this works.

Who This Dublin County Experience Suits Best

This masterclass is a good fit if you want an organized, adult-friendly afternoon that mixes learning and tasting.

I would especially recommend it if:

• You like afternoon tea and also want something more grown-up than tea with a view
• You want a guided way to understand modern Irish gin
• You enjoy structured tastings where comparison matters

It is not a fit if:

• You are looking for a kids activity, since it is not suitable for children under 18
• You prefer a purely food-focused afternoon tea with no alcohol tasting elements (even though non-alcoholic options exist)

Price and Value: Is $74 Worth It?

At $74 per person, you are paying for more than a drink. The ticket includes:

• A welcome drink
• A 4 gin tasting flight
• Afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes
• A guided experience that covers the history of distillation and the wall of 120 botanicals
• A Q&A with a liquid expert

So the value equation looks like this: you are not paying only for alcohol. You are paying for a hosted distillery walkthrough plus guided tasting plus food. That makes the cost feel more reasonable for a one-off afternoon experience than a basic tea that has no teaching component.

Also, it lasts about 90 minutes. That means you can fit it into a day in Dublin County without losing half your itinerary to a long multi-hour program.

Rain or Shine Sessions: What That Means for Your Day

The masterclass runs rain or shine. In practical terms, plan for an indoor-friendly plan at Stillgarden Distillery, and dress for Irish weather like you always do: layers help, and comfortable shoes are smart even if most of the experience is inside.

The rain-or-shine detail is not a downside by itself. It’s actually helpful for planning. When the event doesn’t pause because of weather, you can build your day around it.

Should You Book This Afternoon Tea and Gin Masterclass?

I think you should book this if you want a fun Dublin County afternoon that mixes learning with a guided tasting flight and includes real food. The structure is clear, the experience is hosted, and you get the bonus of a Q&A so you can ask the questions that show up after tasting.

If you are very alcohol-focused and you want lots of pours, this may feel moderate because the tasting is specifically a flight of four signature gins, plus a welcome drink. If you are mostly tea-focused and want to avoid gin altogether, remember you should request non-gin and non-alcoholic options in advance so the experience matches what you want.

One final tip: treat the tasting flight like the main event, but give your palate a hand by eating and resting. The sandwiches and cakes are part of the design, not something you tack on at the end.

With an overall rating of 4.2 and a written note of Excellent, this is one of those experiences where the basics are doing their job: hosting, tasting, and tea service all land together.

FAQ

How long does the Afternoon Tea and Gin Masterclass last?

The experience lasts about 90 minutes, which is listed as 1.5 hours.

What is included in the ticket?

Your ticket includes a welcome drink, a 4 gin tasting flight, and afternoon tea with a selection of sandwiches and decadent cakes.

Is there a Q&A at the end?

Yes. All sessions end with a Q&A from one of Stillgarden’s liquid experts.

Are non-gin or non-alcoholic options available?

Yes, non gin and non alcoholic options are available. You should let them know beforehand.

Is this experience suitable for children, and does it run in bad weather?

It is not suitable for children under 18, and the experience takes place rain or shine.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible, and can I get a refund if plans change?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible. There is free cancellation with a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance.