Your own gin starts on a tiny copper still. At Sip Antics in Edinburgh, you step into a micro gin distillery room, get a welcome gin and tonic, and learn how gin flavor actually gets built before you start making your own.

I love how hands-on it is, with you using a mini copper still to turn your chosen botanicals into your very own bottle.

I also like the tasting part: you sample three different gin styles and botanical mixes, which makes your recipe decisions feel smart, not random. The end result is a 500ml (50cl) bottle you keep, complete with your label and finishing touches. One consideration: the group is capped at 2 people, so if you’re hunting for big, noisy social energy, this is more calm workshop than party.

Key Reasons This Gin Class Is Worth Your Afternoon

• You build a gin recipe yourself, then distill it using your own setup
• Three tastings guide your choices, so you get clearer about what you like
• Mini copper still time is real time, not a staged demo
• You get a cocktail while your gin distills, so the waiting doesn’t drag
• Take-home bottling is part of the experience, with labelling, naming, and wax sealing
• A small group (max 2) means you get more direct attention

Entering Sip Antics: Where the Class Starts in Edinburgh

The experience meets at The Cumberland Bar, on Cumberland Street in Edinburgh, and it’s scheduled to start at 12:00 pm. It runs about 3 hours, and you end back at the same meeting point. That makes it easy to plug into a day of walking—Edinburgh’s full of good distractions.

When you arrive, you’re welcomed into a bespoke micro distillery room. This isn’t the kind of tour where you stand in the corner and watch a screen. You settle in, get a drink right away, and then you get the outline for how the class will flow.

What You Actually Do: The 3-Hour Gin-Making Flow

This is a full, hands-on format. You start with a guided tasting and then shift into recipe-making and distillation. By the end, you’ve got something you can take home and share, which is the big difference between a typical tasting and this kind of class.

Here’s the rhythm, in plain terms: you learn the “why” behind gin flavors, you pick your ingredients, you distill on a mini copper still to make a 500ml bottle, and then you bottle, label, name, and finish it with wax sealing.

Welcome Pour: Gin and Tonic On Arrival

You begin with a welcome gin and tonic and time to get comfortable in the distillery room. I like this start because it sets a relaxed tone fast. Also, it nudges you into thinking like a gin drinker, not like a museum visitor.

After you settle in, there’s a run-through of what’s coming next. You’ll get the structure of the tasting and recipe-building so you don’t feel rushed once you’re standing in front of the ingredients.

The Tasting That Makes Your Recipe Better

A key part of this class is tasting three different gin samples. You’re not just tasting for fun (though it is fun). You’re doing it to learn what you personally like and how botanical combinations show up in the glass.

If you’ve ever wondered why two gins can both be “dry” but taste completely different, this is where it starts to click. You’ll be given the chance to taste varieties and botanical mixes, then use what you learn as you design your own.

Designing Your Bespoke Gin Recipe (From Available Ingredients)

Then comes the main creative work: you develop your own gin recipe with hands-on guidance. You’ll choose from the ingredients that are available as part of the class, and you’ll build a blend that matches your taste preferences.

This is where the small-group setup really helps. With only up to 2 people, you get more back-and-forth time to steer your decisions. It’s the kind of attention that helps a beginner feel confident, and it keeps an experienced gin lover from feeling like they’re just going through motions.

Distilling Your Gin on a Mini Copper Still

Next you move to the stage that feels most real: you use your own mini copper still to distill your chosen ingredients. The goal is a final bottle of 500ml (50cl) that you can take home.

This part matters because you’re seeing the transformation instead of just hearing about it. Even if you’ve read about gin botanicals before, distilling brings the process down to something you can understand through what you smell and learn along the way.

Also, the setup is individualized. Each person distills their selected mix, which means you’re not sharing a final product with someone else’s recipe.

While It Distills: Cocktail Time

Distilling takes a bit of time, and the class doesn’t leave you standing around. While your gin is running, you enjoy a cocktail. This is smart pacing—enough time passes that you can relax without losing momentum.

I like that they treat the waiting as part of the experience rather than downtime. You get a drink, you keep the social energy moving, and you stay focused on what’s next: the tasting of your own gin.

Tasting the Gin You Made, Then Finishing It for Take-Home

Once your gin is distilled, you taste your newly made gin before bottling. That moment is surprisingly satisfying. It’s the checkpoint where your recipe choices either sing for you or you notice what to adjust for next time.

Then the class shifts into the “make it yours” phase:

• you bottle the gin
• you label it
• you name it
• and you finish it with wax sealing

This isn’t just packaging. The labelling, naming, and wax sealing turns your bottle into an actual souvenir, not a random takeaway. If you like having something physical to remind you of a place, this hits that goal.

The Guides’ Style: Education With Personality

You’ll get guidance from the instructor(s) running the class, and the standout theme from their style is that they keep things fun without sacrificing clarity. In particular, names like Neil and Gary show up in the experience’s consistent praise, with many people highlighting how the host makes the class easy, engaging, and tailored to your tastes.

What I think you’ll appreciate most is the balance: you get instruction on how gin styles work and how botanicals influence flavor, but you still have room to make your own decisions. It’s not a rigid “follow this script and you’ll be right” situation. It’s more like, here’s the framework—now make something that fits you.

Price and Value: Is $125.01 a Good Deal?

At $125.01 per person for about 3 hours, the price looks steep if you’re comparing it to a basic bar tasting. But it makes more sense when you remember what you’re paying for: active instruction, guided tastings, ingredient selection support, individual distillation, and a take-home bottle (500ml) finished with labeling and wax sealing.

In other words, this is less like a drink and more like a workshop with a souvenir at the end. If you’re a gin fan, or you’re traveling with someone who likes craft, it’s a strong “experience value” option because you leave with something you can share at home.

One more angle: the group size is limited (max 2 people). That usually means more time and attention per person, which is part of why the session feels personal rather than factory-like.

Practical Notes for Your Visit (So It Runs Smoothly)

The class is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. You’ll also have confirmation at booking, which helps with planning your day. The location is near public transportation, which matters because Edinburgh walking can be fun but tiring.

Service animals are allowed, and the maximum group size is 2, so it’s a relatively intimate setting. Since alcohol is part of the experience (gin and tonic on arrival and a cocktail during distillation, plus tasting your final gin), plan your timing accordingly.

Who This Edinburgh Gin Workshop Is Best For

This fits best if you want something hands-on in Edinburgh that’s a break from museums and castles, but still feels rooted in local craft. It’s also great if you love bringing home a story with a physical “proof” of the day.

If you’re:

• a gin drinker who wants more than a standard tasting
• a curious cook/DIY type who likes customizing a recipe
• traveling with a partner who also enjoys food and drink workshops

…then you’ll likely have a great time. If you’re not into alcohol at all, this probably won’t be the best match, since tasting and cocktails are built into the session.

Should You Book Sip Antics to Make Your Own Gin?

I think you should book this if you want a real gin-making souvenir, not just a drink. The combination of three tastings, guided recipe design, individual distillation, and the final bottle with labelling and wax sealing is the kind of complete experience that justifies the price.

Book it now if you like small-group attention and you’re confident you’ll enjoy a hands-on workshop pace. If you prefer huge social events and lots of mingling, you might find the max-2 format a bit quieter—but that same small group is exactly why many people leave with a bottle they feel genuinely proud of.

FAQ

How long is the gin distilling class?

The experience lasts about 3 hours.

Where does the activity start and end?

It starts at The Cumberland Bar, 1-3 Cumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6RT, UK, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the class start?

The start time listed is 12:00 pm.

What do I get to take home?

You produce a 500ml (50cl) bottle of gin, and you’ll bottle it with your own label, name, and wax sealing.

Is there a group size limit?

Yes. The maximum group size is 2 travelers.

What drinks are included during the class?

You receive a gin and tonic on arrival, a cocktail while your gin is distilling, and you also taste your newly made gin after distillation.

What language is the class offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is it suitable for people using service animals?

Service animals are allowed.

If you tell me your travel dates (and whether you’re coming solo or as a pair), I can help you judge whether the 12:00 pm start and the max-2 format fits your day plan.