About this tour
When Tom from our team rolled up to Stornoway Gin School, he and a mate got straight into the kit: picking from over 50 botanicals, blending their own recipe, and running it through proper copper pot stills. The 3-hour session kicks off with a Landfall G&T and a guided tasting — proper gin education, not just a gimmick. You walk out with a full 70cl bottle of what you've made, plus a voucher toward future orders. It's a solid rainy-day activity on the Isle of Lewis, housed in a wheelchair-accessible venue on the main drag.
Highlights
- Fifty-plus botanicals to blend your own flavour profile
- Distil on actual mini copper pot stills, not toy equipment
- Walk away with a full-size 70cl bottle of your gin
- Guided tasting from someone who knows their craft
- Wheelchair accessible, service animals welcome
- Option to reorder your recipe gin anytime after
- Drivers get soft drinks and mini bottles to take home
What to expect
You'll start with a Landfall G&T to ease in, then sit through a proper gin tasting — learning what makes each one tick. That's not fluff; the guide actually walks you through the botanical notes and distilling logic. Then you're at the bench picking your botanicals: citrus, spice, herbs, florals, whatever appeals. Once you've locked in your blend, you'll distill it on a mini copper still under guidance. The whole thing takes three hours, which feels about right — enough time to absorb what's happening without it dragging.
The space itself is on Stornoway's main street, so it's easy to find and fits naturally into a Lewis trip. Don't expect a massive venue or a crowd; it's intimate, which suits the hands-on nature. One thing to flag: if anyone in your pair is driving, you need to tell them 24 hours ahead so they can swap the alcohol tasting for soft drinks. Fair enough — they sort the measures in advance.
What travellers say
- Hands-on distilling on genuine copper stills, not gimmicky
- Fifty botanicals to choose from — real range for blending
- Guided tasting adds substance to the experience
- Proper bottle to take home, reorderable recipe
- Fully wheelchair accessible throughout venue
- Intimate, small-group feel with expert guidance
- 18+ only; excludes families and younger travellers completely
- Strict 24-hour notice needed to swap to non-alcoholic option
- Three hours indoors — not ideal in Scottish weather
- Proof of age required; risk of denial with no refund if lacking ID
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works best for proper gin enthusiasts or couples who want a shared activity with an actual skill component. You get to take home a legit bottle of something you've made, which is rare. The tasting portion gives you context for why you're choosing what botanicals — not just "pick whatever." It's wheelchair accessible throughout, which is genuinely handy on the Hebrides where options can be patchy. You can reorder your recipe gin later if you fall in love with it.
It's 18+ only, no kids or babies — so family trips are out. If you look under 25, bring a government-issued ID or you won't get in, no refund. The 24-hour notice for driver swaps is strict; leave it later and you'll have a problem. It's three hours indoors in what can be grey Scottish weather, so don't expect a scenic activity. Peak times aren't specified, but Stornoway traffic is minimal, so that's less of a worry.
Bring ID if you're anywhere near 25. Wear something you don't mind getting a splash of spirit on. Soft drinks are available for drivers. The £5 voucher each is a bonus but only covers part of a future bottle. Public transport is nearby if you're not hiring a car.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.