★★★★★
"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
Tripadvisor · Jul 2026
Private Experiences
Make a gin that exists nowhere else
A copper still for your afternoon. Choose your botanicals, distil it, bottle it with your name on the label, and finish with a G&T made from the gin you just made.
2 for £140 · About 2.5 hours · Ages 18+ · Private sessions up to 15
★★★★★
#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 session
Two and a half hours making something that has never existed before and never will again.
✓
A copper still to workNot a demonstration you watch. A still you charge, run and taste from. On the two-person booking you share one still between you.
✓
A welcome cocktail to startMade for you before anything else happens, because nobody distils well thirsty.
✓
Choose your own botanicalsThe story of gin first, from its medicinal years to the Scottish gin boom, then a table of botanicals and a decision that is entirely yours.
✓
Taste it coming off the condenserThe bit nobody expects. You taste your own spirit as it runs, and adjust while there is still time.
✓
A bottle, with your own labelBottled and labelled by hand, in your name. There is exactly one of it in the world and you take it home. Two sharing a still take home one bottle between them.
✓
A G&T made from the gin you just madePlus a Stirling Gin perfect serve alongside it, so you can taste what yours does differently.
2 for £140
Two share one still and take home one bottle between them. Or £90 for one, with a still and bottle to yourself. Plus FareHarbor fees, so £147 for two and £94.50 for one at checkout.
Have a look first
Where you'll be working
The Old Smiddy, an 1888 blacksmith's forge below the castle, with a row of small stills in it.
What it costs
Prices below are before the FareHarbor booking fee, which is added at checkout.
Two people Best valueShare one still and take home one bottle. £70 each, £147 at checkout with fees.
£140
One person£94.50 at checkout with fees.
£90
Private sessionUp to 15 people, the whole room to yourselves. Get in touch for a date.
Enquire
Private group experience
Your Gin Journey
A private gin outing for a group who want the day planned for them. A different thing entirely from Gin School: you are taken out across Stirling rather than staying at a still.
- Private taxi to our production warehouse
- Stories of Stirling as you pass the Bridge and the Castle
- Meet the maker and see production in action
- Guided tasting of Stirling Classic Gin
- Seated tasting of Blue Line, Red Cap, Green Lady and Battle Strength
From Tripadvisor
What people say
★★★★★
"This isn't something I do very often but the lovely people at Stirling Distillery deserve this. From walking in the door in the early afternoon to leaving in the evening, what an amazing unforgettable experience."
Alan R
Tripadvisor · Aug 2026
Bigger than fifteen?
Gin School caps at 15 for a hands-on session at the stills. For a private tasting we can seat up to 48 in the Old Smiddy, which is what most work away days, clubs, birthdays and hen and stag groups end up doing. A private tasting is a fixed price we quote on enquiry, with at least 24 hours notice. Tell us your numbers and your date.
Enquire for a large group 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 book? Call us on 01786 596496.
Get directionsGood to know
What does Gin School cost?
Two people for £140, or £90 for one, plus FareHarbor fees. That comes to £147 for two and £94.50 for one at checkout. The session runs about 2.5 hours and you take home the bottle you make.
I've never distilled anything. Will I be out of my depth?
No. Almost nobody who comes has done it before, and you are guided through every step. The only decision that is really yours is which botanicals go in, and there is no wrong answer.
How long does it take?
About 2.5 hours. You charge your still, choose your flavours, taste the gin as it comes off the condenser, and bottle it with your own label.
Is there a minimum group size?
No. There is no minimum, so it works just as well for two people as for a group.
Can I book it privately?
Yes. Gin School can be booked as a private session for up to 15 people. Get in touch with your date and numbers.
Can you take more than 15?
Not for Gin School itself. But we host private tastings for up to 48 in the Old Smiddy, which is what most larger groups do instead.
What is Gin Journey, and how is it different?
Gin Journey is a private outing for 8 to 10 adults that takes you out across Stirling by taxi to our production warehouse, with tastings along the way. Gin School keeps you here, at a still, making your own bottle. Different days entirely.
Is it 18+?
Yes, strictly. Gin School involves distilling and tasting spirit throughout.
Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?
Yes. We have step-free wheelchair access through our side door. The old town around us is on a hill, but the distillery itself is on the flat, so if you arrive by car there are no issues. Call us on 01786 596496 if you want to check anything before you visit.
Prefer to just taste?
Gin School is the hands on one. The daily tastings are the relaxed version.
Whisky Experience
Four drams across Scotland's regions, plus our award-winning new make. £32 a head.
Explore whisky →One bottle. Yours. Nobody else's.
Two and a half hours at a copper still, and a bottle at the end of it with your name on the label that exists exactly once.
About 2.5 hours · Ages 18+ · No minimum · Private sessions up to 15Old Smiddy Gin School
Book Gin School
Make your own gin at a copper still, with the distillers beside you. Pick a date below to see live availability and book.
- 2 for £140
- 2.5 hours
- Ages 18+
- Maximum 15
- Instant confirmation
Loved 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.
★★★★★
4.8 · 349 reviews
Tripadvisor
★★★★★
4.9 · 1,390+ reviews
Reviews.io
★★★★★
4.6 · 240+ 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
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gin School?
A hands on session where you distil a bottle of gin at a copper still, choosing your botanicals and taking it home. On the two-person booking a pair share one still and take home one bottle.
How long does the Gin School last?
It is a relaxed half day. You build your recipe, distil your spirit and leave with a personalised bottle to enjoy.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Our team guides you through every step, so it suits complete beginners as well as gin lovers.
Is the Gin School a good gift?
Yes. Gin School vouchers are one of our most popular gifts for a special occasion.
Can I book the Gin School privately for a group?
Yes. Private sessions can be arranged for groups and celebrations. Contact us to plan your date.
Where can I make my own gin in Scotland?
At Stirling Distillery's Gin School, in the Old Smiddy beneath Stirling Castle. It is a hands on gin making session where you choose your own botanicals, distil your gin on a copper still and take home a bottle with your own label. It runs year round, a short walk from Stirling Castle and under an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
How much is Gin School and how long does it take?
Gin School is 90 pounds for one person or 140 pounds for two sharing a still, plus a small booking fee, and runs for about two and a half hours. You choose your botanicals, distil your own gin and leave with a bottle to take home.
Before you visit
New to gin? Start here
Guide
The types of gin explained
Know your styles before you build your own bottle at the Gin School.
Read the guide →Guide
How to make the perfect gin and tonic
Pour a better G and T with the gin you take home from your session.
Read the guide →Recipes
Gin cocktails to make at home
Eight easy serves to try with your own gin once you are back home.
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.
What next
Two ways to take it further
For someone else
Give this as a gift
They distil their own bottle at the Old Smiddy, booked for a date that works. Printed and posted to you.
Gift a Gin School sessionBefore you come
Plan your visit
Opening hours, how to find us below the castle, parking and everything else you need before your visit.
Plan your visit