Aberdeen Gin Distillery Tour (2026 Guide)
The City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School offers one of the most distinctive and experience-led attractions in the city, combining local history, guided tastings, and hands-on distilling in a setting unlike any other. Located inside a historic railway arch in the centre of Aberdeen, it provides a more personal and immersive experience than larger, more commercial distilleries.
There are two main ways to experience the distillery, depending on how much time you have and how involved you want to be. The Discovery Tour is a shorter, guided experience that introduces you to the distillery, the production process, and a selection of locally made gins. It is the most popular option and works well as part of a day of sightseeing.
For those looking for something more interactive, the Gin School Experience offers a deeper, hands-on session where you create your own bottle of gin using a wide range of botanicals. This longer experience turns a visit into a personalised activity rather than just a tour, making it particularly popular with couples and small groups.
Both experiences are led by the distillers themselves and take place in a working distillery environment, giving you direct insight into how gin is made in Aberdeen today. Choosing between them comes down to whether you want a quick introduction or a more immersive experience, and this guide will help you decide which is right for you.
What to Expect from the Discovery Tour
The Discovery Tour is the best starting point for most visitors, offering a one-hour guided experience that introduces you to the distillery, the production process, and the flavours behind Aberdeen’s locally made gin. It is designed to be accessible, informative, and enjoyable, even if you have no prior knowledge of gin.
The experience begins with a welcome double gin and tonic (or a non-alcoholic alternative), setting a relaxed and social tone from the moment you arrive. From there, the tour is led by the head distiller or a member of the distilling team, which gives it a more personal and engaging feel compared to standard scripted tours.
As you move through the space, you will explore how gin is made, from botanical selection through to distillation and bottling. One of the highlights is access to the working production area, allowing you to see exactly how everything operates behind the scenes. The distillery’s compact layout means you are never far from the action, which helps make the experience feel more immersive.
Tastings are built into the tour, with samples taken from the distillery’s own range. These typically include both classic London Dry styles and more experimental fruit-based gins, giving you a better understanding of how flavours can vary depending on ingredients and technique.
The setting itself is part of what makes the tour memorable. Located within a historic railway arch, you will often hear trains passing overhead during the experience, reinforcing the feeling that you are inside a working, independent distillery rather than a large commercial attraction.
Overall, the Discovery Tour offers a well-balanced introduction to gin-making, combining education, tasting, and atmosphere in a format that fits easily into a day in Aberdeen.
What’s Included in Your Ticket
The Discovery Tour provides strong value, with several elements included that turn it into a complete experience rather than a simple visit.
On arrival, you receive a double gin and tonic, which immediately sets a welcoming tone and allows you to start exploring flavours straight away. During the tour, you will also enjoy samples of the distillery’s gin range, giving you the opportunity to compare different styles and understand how they are produced.
The experience includes guided access to the production areas, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the distillery operates. This is one of the key highlights, as it provides insight into the full process from ingredients through to the finished product.
At the end of the tour, you are given a goodie bag and a miniature bottle of gin to take home, adding a tangible element to the experience and extending it beyond your visit.
Additional touches such as non-alcoholic drink options and on-site facilities help ensure the experience is comfortable and accessible for a wide range of visitors.
Taken together, the combination of guided tour, tastings, and take-home items makes this a well-rounded activity that offers both entertainment and insight, rather than just a quick attraction stop.
What to Expect from the Gin School Experience
The Gin School Experience is a hands-on, small-group session that takes place over approximately 2 to 3 hours, offering a much deeper level of involvement than the standard Discovery Tour. Instead of observing the process, you become part of it, working directly with the distillers to create your own gin.
The experience begins with a welcome drink, helping to set a relaxed and social atmosphere while introducing you to the flavour profiles you will be working with. From there, the session moves into a guided exploration of gin-making, led by the head distiller or an experienced member of the team.
A key part of the experience is learning how different ingredients influence flavour. You will be introduced to a wide range of botanicals, including juniper, citrus, spices, and more unusual flavour components, and guided through how to combine them to create a balanced recipe.
Using a mini copper still, you then distil your own gin on-site. This is a step-by-step process, with support and advice throughout, making it suitable even if you have no prior experience. The session includes tastings along the way, allowing you to refine your choices and better understand how different elements come together.
The experience finishes with you bottling your creation, naming it, and taking it home. This makes the Gin School not just an activity, but a personalised experience with a tangible result, which is one of the main reasons it stands out.
Overall, this is best suited to visitors looking for a more immersive, interactive, and memorable experience, particularly couples, small groups, or anyone interested in craft spirits.
What’s Included in Your Gin School Ticket
The Gin School Experience includes a range of elements that turn it into a complete and premium activity, rather than a simple workshop.
On arrival, you are welcomed with a double gin and tonic, setting the tone for the session. Throughout the experience, you will enjoy multiple tastings of the distillery’s gin range, helping you understand different styles and refine your own recipe.
The core of the experience is the opportunity to create your own 70cl bottle of gin, using a selection of over 100 botanicals. This is produced using a mini copper still, guided step by step by the distilling team, and results in a completely personalised product to take home.
Drinks are provided throughout the session, including additional gin tastings and cocktails, making the experience feel relaxed and social as well as educational. Non-alcoholic options are also available if required.
At the end of the experience, you take home your custom-made bottle of gin, along with small extras such as branded items, adding to the overall value of the session.
Taken together, the combination of hands-on distilling, guided instruction, tastings, and take-home elements makes this a premium experience that goes well beyond a standard distillery visit.
Discovery Tour vs Gin School: Which Should You Choose?
The City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School offers two distinct experiences, and choosing the right one depends on how much time you have and how involved you want to be.
The Discovery Tour is the shorter option, lasting around one hour, and is designed as an introduction to the distillery. It includes a guided walkthrough, access to the production area, and a series of tastings, making it ideal if you are looking for a quick, informative experience that fits easily into a day of sightseeing.
The Gin School Experience is longer, typically lasting 2 to 3 hours, and is far more hands-on. Instead of observing the process, you actively take part by creating your own gin using a wide selection of botanicals. This makes it a more interactive and personalised experience, with a stronger focus on learning and participation.
For most visitors, the Discovery Tour is the more convenient choice, particularly if time is limited or if you are exploring multiple attractions in one day. It delivers a well-balanced introduction without requiring a large time commitment.
However, if you are looking for something more memorable or want a standout activity during your trip, the Gin School offers a level of involvement that goes far beyond a standard tour. It is particularly well suited to couples, small groups, or anyone with a strong interest in gin.
In simple terms, the Discovery Tour is the best option for a quick introduction, while the Gin School is better if you want a full experience that you will remember long after your visit.
Is the Aberdeen Gin Distillery Tour Worth It?
For most visitors, the answer is yes, particularly if you are looking for something that goes beyond traditional sightseeing.
The Discovery Tour offers a strong balance of value, atmosphere, and insight, combining guided explanations with tastings in a setting that feels personal and authentic. The fact that the tours are led by the distillers themselves adds a level of credibility and engagement that is often missing from larger, more commercial experiences.
The setting also plays a big role. Being located inside a working railway arch, with trains passing overhead, gives the experience a distinctive character that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. This helps the visit feel less like a typical attraction and more like a genuine behind-the-scenes experience.
The Gin School takes this a step further by offering a fully interactive session, where you create and take home your own bottle of gin. For many visitors, this turns the experience into a highlight of their trip, particularly if they are celebrating a special occasion or travelling as a couple.
That said, the experience may not suit everyone. If you have very limited time, or if you are not particularly interested in gin or distilling, you may find that other attractions are a better fit for your itinerary.
Overall, for travellers who enjoy food and drink experiences, hands-on activities, or local craft industries, the distillery is one of the most worthwhile and memorable things to do in Aberdeen.
How to Book & Best Times to Visit
Both the Discovery Tour and the Gin School Experience at the City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School operate on scheduled time slots, which means you cannot simply walk in and join a session. Advance booking is essential, particularly for weekends and evening experiences when demand is highest.
Tours and experiences typically run between 10:00 and 22:00, seven days a week, with multiple sessions throughout the day. The Discovery Tour is easier to fit into a flexible itinerary due to its shorter duration, while the Gin School requires a longer, dedicated time slot, so it is best planned in advance.
If you are visiting Aberdeen for a short stay, booking the Discovery Tour earlier in your trip works well, as it allows you to structure the rest of your itinerary around it. For the Gin School, afternoon or early evening sessions tend to offer the most relaxed experience, especially if you are combining it with dinner or other activities afterwards.
Booking ahead not only guarantees your place but also allows you to choose a time that fits naturally into your day, helping you make the most of your visit without feeling rushed.
Where Is the Aberdeen Gin Distillery?
The City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School is located in the centre of Aberdeen, making it one of the easiest attractions to reach during your visit. It is set within a historic railway arch (Arch #10), giving it a distinctive character that immediately sets it apart from more traditional venues.
The distillery is just a short walk from Aberdeen Railway Station and Union Square, meaning most visitors can reach it on foot in 5 to 10 minutes. This central location makes it easy to include as part of a wider day exploring the city.
Its proximity to other attractions, including the harbour area and city centre landmarks, means you can combine your visit with nearby museums, shops, or restaurants without needing additional transport.
Shop Opening Hours & Tour Times
The distillery operates with different hours for the shop and experiences, which is important to understand before planning your visit.
The shop is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 12:00 and 17:00, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. However, it may be closed during scheduled tours and experiences, even within these hours.
Tours, tastings, and Gin School experiences run seven days a week between 10:00 and 22:00, but only at pre-booked time slots. Because of this, advance booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Understanding this difference helps ensure your visit runs smoothly and avoids confusion on arrival.
Tips for Visiting the Distillery
Planning ahead can make your visit to the distillery smoother and more enjoyable, particularly if you are fitting it into a busy itinerary.
Arriving a little early is always a good idea, as it gives you time to settle in before the experience begins. Since tours run on fixed schedules, arriving late may mean missing part of the session.
It is also recommended to avoid wearing strong fragrances, as these can interfere with your ability to fully appreciate the aromas and flavours of the gin during tastings.
Because the distillery is centrally located, it works well when combined with nearby attractions. Pairing your visit with time at the harbour, a museum, or a meal in the city centre helps create a more balanced and enjoyable day.
Rupert’s Handy Travel Tips
Planning your visit to the Aberdeen Gin Distillery? Here are a few tips to help you make the most of it:
- Book in advance: Tours and gin school sessions fill quickly, especially at weekends.
- Choose the right experience: The Discovery Tour is ideal for a quick visit, while the Gin School is better for a longer, hands-on session.
- Arrive early: Experiences run on fixed times, so give yourself a buffer before your session starts.
- Plan your evening around it: The central location makes it easy to combine with dinner or drinks afterwards.
Want to meet the reindeer behind our travel tips? Find out more in our page Who is Rupert?.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Aberdeen Gin Distillery
How long does the Discovery Tour last?
The Discovery Tour typically lasts around one hour, making it easy to fit into a day of sightseeing.
How long is the Gin School Experience?
The Gin School usually takes around 2 to 3 hours, depending on the session and group size.
Do you need to book in advance?
Yes, advance booking is required, as all tours and experiences run on scheduled time slots.
Is the distillery accessible?
Yes, the distillery is wheelchair accessible, with facilities designed to accommodate visitors with additional mobility needs.
Is there an age restriction?
Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and alcohol-related elements apply to those aged 18 and over.
Further Reading & Related Guides
If you are planning your time in the city, it is worth reading our Things to Do in Aberdeen guide, which helps you build a full itinerary and combine the distillery with other key attractions nearby. This ensures you make the most of your time without unnecessary travel.
For a broader overview, our Aberdeen Travel Guide covers where to stay, how to get around, and how to structure your visit across multiple days. If you are exploring beyond the city, the Best Day Trips from Aberdeen guide highlights nearby destinations including coastal castles, whisky regions, and national parks.
If you are arriving by air, our Aberdeen Airport Transfers guide explains the best ways to reach the city centre quickly, making it easier to plan your visit to the distillery as part of your arrival day.
Last Updated
April 2026
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