Distil a Bottle of York: Handcraft Your Own Gin at York Distillery

YORK DISTILLERY FIELD GUIDE

Distil a Bottle of York: Handcraft Your Own Gin at York Distillery

A three-hour, hands-on workshop at York Distillery: taste core gins, choose botanicals (some from the on-site garden) and distil a personalised 700ml bottle to take home.

Distil a Bottle of York: Handcraft Your Own Gin at York Distillery.

Duration
3 hours
Location
York
Operator
York Distillery
Category
Distillery
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Set inside York Distillery, this guided, immersive session combines a tasting, a short history of the spirit and a practical lesson in distillation — culminating in a personalised 700ml bottle you assemble and distil yourself.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

Welcome drink and a tour of the still
THE SETTING

Welcome drink and a tour of the still

The experience begins with a welcome gin and tonic and an introduction to the distillery’s origins and full production still, giving you a clear view of how their gin is made.

Guided tasting to hone your palate
THE TASTING

Guided tasting to hone your palate

A guided tasting of the distillery’s core gins helps you understand styles, identify preferred botanicals and refine the flavour profile you want to create.

Pick botanicals and distil your bottle
THE HANDS-ON WORK

Pick botanicals and distil your bottle

You choose and weigh botanicals — some picked from the on-site garden — then distil your own unique recipe into a 700ml bottle to take home.

What the day feels like

What the workshop feels like

Over three hours you move from tasting to creation: a welcome drink and distillery introduction, a guided tasting to map your preferences, hands-on botanical selection (including plants from the distillery garden), and finally the distillation and labelling of a personalised 700ml bottle to take away.

Welcome drink and a tour of the still

THE SETTING

Welcome drink and a tour of the still

The experience begins with a welcome gin and tonic and an introduction to the distillery’s origins and full production still, giving you a clear view of how their gin is made.

Guided tasting to hone your palate

THE TASTING

Guided tasting to hone your palate

A guided tasting of the distillery’s core gins helps you understand styles, identify preferred botanicals and refine the flavour profile you want to create.

Pick botanicals and distil your bottle

THE HANDS-ON WORK

Pick botanicals and distil your bottle

You choose and weigh botanicals — some picked from the on-site garden — then distil your own unique recipe into a 700ml bottle to take home.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this experience suits — and who should avoid it.

1
Gin EnthusiastsIdeal for those who want to understand distillation and experiment with botanicals to craft a bespoke spirit.
2
Couples & Small GroupsA three-hour, hands-on workshop that works well as a shared learning experience for adults travelling together.
3
Hands-on LearnersSuited to people who prefer experiential workshops — you select, weigh and distil your own bottle rather than just observing.
4
Under-18s & Families with ChildrenNot suitable for minors — the activity involves alcohol and is restricted to those aged 18 and over (Challenge 25 policy applies).

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Duration

The workshop runs for 3 hours.

Meeting Point

Meet at York Distillery (within Middleton’s Hotel) for the start of the session.

What to Bring

You should be prepared to prove you are 18+ as the operator applies a Challenge 25 policy; follow any additional instructions the distillery provides prior to your booking.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the experience?

The workshop lasts 3 hours.

Where do I meet the group?

Meet at York Distillery, which is located within Middleton’s Hotel.

What do I take home?

You distil and take home a personalised 700ml bottle of gin.

Can under-18s participate?

No. The experience is for adults aged 18 and over; York Distillery operates a Challenge 25 policy.

Will I taste different gins during the session?

Yes. There is a guided tasting of the distillery’s core gins to help you understand styles and your preferred botanicals.

Are botanicals provided?

Yes. You choose botanicals for your recipe, and some options are picked from the distillery’s own garden.