Whisky Experience
Four drams across Scotland's regions, plus our award-winning new make. £32 a person.
Explore whisky →The Gin Experience, daily tastings
Book your spot
Six gins and the story of Stirling's first distillery in over 170 years. Pick a date and time below, instant confirmation. Adults £34.12, drivers £18.37, children £6.30.
Stirling Distillery Experiences
The Gin Experience
Six gins and liqueurs, and the copper still that makes them a few feet from your glass. Leave knowing which gin is actually yours, and how to pour it properly.
£32 a person · 1.5 hours · Sessions through the day · Ages 18+
★★★★★
#2 of 112 things to do in Stirling on Tripadvisor · 4.9 from 1,800+ reviews across the web
Open Mon to Sat 11am to 5pm · Sunday 12pm to 5pm
What you actually get
Everything in your ticket
An afternoon in a working distillery, not a walk round a visitor centre.
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Six gins and liqueurs, guidedTasted side by side, which is the only way you ever really tell them apart. Most people arrive certain they know what they like and leave having changed their mind.
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An hour and a half with the people who distil itAsk anything. They made it. There is no script and nobody is reading from a card.
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Inside the still roomFeet from the working copper still, not behind glass on a walkway. Including why hand foraged Stirlingshire nettles make a gin nobody else can copy.
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The tricks that make your gin better at homeSimple habits from the team, so every G&T you pour after this one is a better drink.
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10% off everything in the shop that dayTake home the one you liked best, for less than anyone else pays.
£32 a person
FareHarbor adds a £2.12 booking fee, so £34.12 all in. Nothing else to pay on the day.
Have a look first
Where you'll be sitting
The Old Smiddy, below the castle. Small, warm, and a few feet from the still that makes it all.
“Went to the gin tasting with my mom and aunt and we had a fantastic time. Izzy made the experience fun and we learned a lot.”Kelsey M · Tripadvisor
Who you're spending it with
Why here, and not one of the big names
Scotland is not short of distillery tours. Most are run by staff working from a script written by a marketing department.
Stirling Distillery is family owned and family run, built into the Old Smiddy at the foot of the castle. It is the first legal distillery in Stirling in over 170 years. The person pouring your gin is usually the person who distilled it, which is why nobody has to pretend to be interested.
The gin is a 43% London Dry built on six botanicals including hand foraged Stirlingshire nettles, a flavour nobody else can copy because nobody else picks them. It has taken Great Taste 2022, and silver at both the USA and London Spirits Awards.
That is the whole difference. Everything else on this page is detail.
What you walk out with
More than a tasting
You don't need to know anything
Most people arrive knowing nothing about gin. That is rather the point, and nobody is going to test you.
You'll see it being made
The copper still is feet from your glass, not behind glass on a walkway.
You'll pour a better G&T
Simple habits from our team, so every gin and tonic you make at home is better after this.
Pick your ticket
Every price is what you pay at checkout, booking fee already included.
Adult Most peopleThe full tasting. £32 plus the £2.12 booking fee. Ages 18+.
£34.12
Flexi AdultSame tasting, but rebook at any time with no extra charge.
£38.33
SpecialAdds a 5cl bottle and a Glencairn glass to take home.
£44.10
DriverThe full experience and the story, without the drinks.
£18.37
ChildUnder 18s welcome alongside an adult. Includes a mocktail.
£6.30
Plans might move? Choose Flexi and rebook whenever you like, no extra charge.
After you book
Instant confirmation. Your ticket arrives by email the moment you book.
On the day, arrive 5 minutes early at the Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling FK8 1EN.
Parking is limited on street, so use the city centre car parks a few minutes away.
Coming as a group?
The daily tasting seats 30. For a private tasting we can seat up to 48 in the Old Smiddy, which makes it work for work away days, clubs, birthdays, and hen and stag groups. Tell us your date and your numbers and we'll build the day around you.
Enquire for a private tasting Or call us on 01786 596496.Where we are
A few minutes down from the castle
The Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling, FK8 1EN
We sit at the top of the old town, a short walk down from Stirling Castle, so most people pair the two in one afternoon.
On-street parking is limited, but the city centre car parks are a few minutes away. Questions before you come? Call us on 01786 596496.
Get directionsExplore other experiences
Not sure the Gin Experience is the one? Here's what else is on.
The Old Smiddy Gin School
Distil a bottle that exists nowhere else, with your own label on it. 2 for £140.
Discover Gin School →
Walk-In Mini Tastings
Already in town? Drop in for a guided flight, no booking needed. From £15.
See mini tastings →Good to know before you book
How long does it last, and when does it run?
Around 1.5 hours, seated with your guide. Sessions run through the day. Tap Book the Gin Experience and the live calendar shows exactly what is available on your date.
What will I pay?
The tour is £32 a person. FareHarbor adds a £2.12 booking fee, so £34.12 at checkout. There is nothing else to pay on the day, and you get 10 percent off in the shop afterwards.
I don't know anything about gin, will I be out of my depth?
No. Most people who come have never done a tasting before, and the whole point is to leave knowing more than you arrived with. Nobody is going to test you.
How much gin do I actually get?
Six 25ml measures of our gins and liqueurs, guided. Drivers get the full experience without the drinks for £18.37.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
The standard adult ticket is non-refundable and non-transferable. The Flexi ticket at £38.33 lets you rebook at any time with no additional charge, so choose that if your plans might move.
Do I need to book ahead?
There are 30 seats a day and weekends go first, so booking guarantees your place. If you are already in town, we also run walk-in mini tastings when there is space.
Can I bring under-18s?
Yes. The Child ticket is £6.30 and includes a mocktail. The tastings themselves are strictly 18+.
Can you take a big group?
Yes. The daily tasting seats 30, and for a private tasting we can seat up to 48 in the Old Smiddy. Get in touch with your date and numbers.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are always welcome at the Old Smiddy.
Where do we park?
On-street parking is limited, but the city-centre car parks are a short walk away, and most guests pair us with a wander up to the castle.
Six gins. One still. One afternoon.
An hour and a half in a working distillery with the people who make the gin, a cocktail in your hand and the still close enough to touch.
Book the Gin Experience £32 a person · A few minutes' walk from Stirling Castle · Drivers £18.37 · Children £6.30Loved on every platform
Rated excellent everywhere
Don't just take our word for it. Here's how visitors and customers rate us across the web.
★★★★★
4.9 · 315 reviews
Tripadvisor
★★★★★
4.9 · 1,391 reviews
Judge.me
★★★★★
4.7 · 317 reviews
That is 1,800+ reviews across the web, and we are ranked number 2 of 112 things to do in Stirling on Tripadvisor.
★★★★★
"A tiny intimate space, a nice change of pace from other distillery and brewery tours we've done. Rachel was a wealth of knowledge and made it more than just sipping whiskies."
Tripadvisor reviewer
★★★★★
"Rachel was a wonderful host, warm, knowledgeable, and passionate about the whiskies she introduced us to. She struck just the right balance between sharing interesting information and keeping things fun."
Betsy Travels
★★★★★
"The distillery is so unique and I enjoyed the smaller feel of it, it definitely felt like a family run business. The whole family enjoyed the experience, especially tasting the Gin!"
Catie T
Take a bottle home
Take the gin home with you
Tasted something you loved? Every bottle ships across the UK.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Gin Experience and what happens?
It runs for around an hour, a relaxed guided tasting of our gins with the story of the Old Smiddy and how we brought distilling back to Stirling.
How much does it cost?
Experiences start from 34 pounds per adult. If you are short on time, walk in mini tastings start from 15 pounds and need no booking.
Can drivers and non drinkers still take part?
Yes. Drivers and non drinkers are welcome, and we are happy to provide samples to take away so nobody misses out.
Is it suitable for groups, hen parties or celebrations?
Yes, we love hosting groups and celebrations. Get in touch and we will help arrange your visit.
Can I buy the Gin Experience as a gift?
Yes. Gift vouchers are available and make a memorable present for any gin lover.
Before you visit
Get to know gin before you come
Guide
The types of gin explained
London Dry, navy strength, pink and more, so you can taste with confidence.
Read the guide →Guide
How to make the perfect gin and tonic
The ratio, ice, glass and garnish that turn a good G and T into a great one.
Read the guide →Recipes
Gin cocktails to make at home
Eight easy serves built around our own range, from spritz to Negroni.
See the recipes →
Planning a visit?
Find us below Stirling Castle
The Old Smiddy, 9 Lower Castlehill, Stirling FK8 1EN.
Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 12 to 5pm.
Exploring the area? See our guide to distillery tours near Stirling.