Paris Craft Distillery Make Your Own Gin Workshop

Gin, made in Paris, in two hours. This hands-on workshop turns a distillery visit into your own gin recipe, finished with a labeled 70cl bottle to take home.

I love the way the class mixes learning with real doing, not just watching. You start with a guided distillery tour, then get to pick botanicals, taste different flavors, and run your selection through a tiny copper pot still. One thing to keep in mind is logistics: transportation isn’t included, so you’ll want to plan your trip to 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec (75001).

The second big plus for me is the structure: you are not left alone with a confusing process. You get English-led instruction, a small group (max 8), and cocktails plus snacks during the workshop to keep the whole experience moving.

Key things to know before you go

• Small-group size (max 8), so questions are actually possible
• Your own botanical recipe, from plants and spices to finished flavor
• Tiny copper pot still time, using your selection rather than just tasting
• Gin tasting and homemade cocktails served during the workshop
• Personalized label and a 70cl bottle to bring back as a souvenir or gift

La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec, the kind of Paris class you can feel

Paris can be great at big sights, but it is also at its best when you slow down and learn something small and specific. This gin workshop is built for that. You are in a micro-distillery setting, and the point is practical: you’ll learn how gin flavor is constructed, then make your own batch from botanicals you choose yourself.

The venue matters. A micro-distillery keeps things hands-on and close up. Instead of a museum-style lecture, you are working around real equipment while the process is explained. That is one reason this workshop tends to land well for first-timers who want more than a standard tasting.

Also, I like that it feels like a “do it, take it home” experience. The final step is not just sipping politely. You customize your label and leave with your own 70cl bottle, which turns the activity into something you can actually remember on your next evening at home.

The two-hour flow, from guided tour to your labeled bottle

Think of the day as two segments: an expert-led tour, then the guided gin-making workshop that ends with bottling.

1) The one-hour distillery tour and orientation

You begin at 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, and the workshop starts with a one-hour guided tour with an expert. Expect the focus to be on how the distillery works and how gin styles are shaped by ingredients. You should also be ready for the basics of distillation: not just the romantic idea of spirits, but what the equipment is doing and why.

Why this step is valuable: it gives you context for what you are about to do. When someone explains distillation and botanical choices first, your selections later make more sense. You are not just picking herbs randomly because you can.

Possible drawback: since it’s about learning, not an extended deep workshop, the tour is not going to become a long technical seminar. If you want a very academic course, this two hours may feel fast.

2) Gin tasting and homemade cocktails during the workshop

After you get oriented, you move into tasting and mixing as part of the learning. The workshop includes gin tasting plus homemade cocktails served during the session, along with a small food plate with snacks.

This matters because flavor in gin is not one-note. Even within gin, botanicals can steer the profile toward citrusy, herbal, spicy, or more pine-like directions. Tastings help you calibrate your choices. Then cocktails keep it enjoyable while you experiment and build confidence.

If you are planning your evening after, keep in mind that you will be drinking. Pace yourself and treat the class like a tasting experience, not a quick stop for one sip.

3) Choosing botanicals, building a recipe that feels personal

Now the class becomes truly yours. You choose plants, herbs, and spices to fashion a unique gin recipe. The idea is simple: you decide the character, the instructor guides the process, and you learn how different ingredient choices can push the final style.

Practical tip: when you start choosing botanicals, go for a plan with a purpose. If you pick one that smells great but overwhelms everything else, your recipe may taste different than you expect. The tastings and guidance are there to help you balance.

Why this step is so satisfying: it turns gin-making from a spectacle into a creative project. You are leaving with something more meaningful than a generic souvenir.

4) Distilling your selection on a tiny copper pot still

Here’s where the “hands-on” part really shows up. You then distill your botanicals yourself on a tiny copper pot still. That means you are not just observing the key moment; you’re participating in the transformation from ingredient choices to actual gin spirit.

Copper pot still work typically signals craft and detail, and the smaller setting keeps the learning immediate. It also helps you connect the theory you heard on day one with the reality of what a distillation process changes.

Possible drawback: this is still a short workshop. You will likely not have time for repeated distillation trials or experimenting until you find a perfect final product. You get one good shot, guided by professionals, then you move on to bottling.

5) Bottling day, customizing your label, and taking your gin home

At the end, you customize your label and leave with your very own 70cl bottle of gin. That is a big practical win. In one activity, you get both the experience and a take-home product you can share or keep.

If you like gifting, this is perfect. A personalized label turns it into a story you can explain at dinner. In fact, the idea of making a themed bottle, like holiday-style gin, is exactly the kind of thing this format supports because you get to build the recipe from the start.

Botanicals, style choices, and how to make your gin taste like you

The heart of the workshop is choosing botanicals. Gin can look simple until you realize how many ways herbs and spices can steer flavor.

Here’s what I think helps most people during this part:

• Start by picking botanicals you already enjoy smelling or tasting. If you don’t like the aroma, the flavor may not work either.
• Think in layers. Many people naturally want one “main character” note, then support it with herbs or spices.
• Use the tastings as your reference point. They make your choices less guessy.

Also, notice how the workshop teaches styles of gin that exist. Even if you are not trying to identify a specific commercial style, the explanation helps you understand why certain botanicals tend to land in certain directions. That’s what makes your finished gin feel less random.

One nice touch: you fashion your recipe by choosing the plants yourself. It gives you ownership, and ownership makes the final bottle feel more personal.

Tastings, cocktails, and snacks, why they are more than an add-on

This workshop is not only about making alcohol. It’s about learning how the flavor system works, and that requires sampling.

The tasting plus cocktails do three jobs:

1. They show you what the gin base can do when combined with other flavors.
2. They help you calibrate your senses while you are selecting botanicals.
3. They make the session feel like an experience, not a chore.

The snacks are included as a small food plate. That sounds basic, but it matters in practice. If you are tasting and mixing, having something to nibble on helps you enjoy the learning.

If you’re the type who gets impatient with classes, this format helps. You have something to do and something to taste at each step, so your attention stays engaged.

Meeting point and getting there, what to plan in advance

You meet at 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. That simple loop is useful in a city where transit and walking times can shift fast based on where you start.

It is near public transportation, which is a plus for a Paris workshop. You also get a mobile ticket, so have your phone ready at check-in.

Group size is capped at 8 travelers. That is a sweet spot. You get personal attention, without it turning into an awkward one-on-one formality.

One practical consideration: this kind of class is popular. If you want a specific date, I’d book earlier rather than later, since the workshop is commonly booked about two months ahead on average.

Price and value of the $132.17 workshop

At $132.17 per person for roughly two hours, the price can feel “boutique” if you compare it to a standard tasting. But this class is more expensive because it includes more.

Here’s what you are paying for, in plain terms:

• A one-hour guided distillery tour
• Gin tasting and homemade cocktails
• A full make-your-own gin workshop
• A big range of botanicals to choose from
• A small snack plate
• A finished product: a labeled 70cl bottle you take home

That last item changes the value equation. You are not just paying for instruction, you are paying for a souvenir that becomes part of your real life after you leave Paris.

Could it be a drawback? If you only want a quick sip and don’t care about making or bottling, you might find this too structured. But if you want a hands-on craft memory plus a giftable bottle, it’s a strong deal.

Who this gin workshop fits best

This is a great match if you:

• Want an authentic small-group activity in Paris, not another checklist day
• Like food-and-drink experiences where you learn how flavors are built
• Enjoy making a personalized souvenir you can actually use
• Travel with friends or as a solo traveler and want a social-but-not-crowded class

It might not be ideal if you:

• Hate alcohol tastings as part of an activity
• Want a super long course or a repeated trial-and-error approach
• Prefer instruction in a language other than English, since the workshop is offered in English

Should you book Paris Craft Distillery Make Your Own Gin?

I’d book it if you want a Paris experience that ends with something tangible and personal. The small group size, the hands-on distillation, and the fact that you take home a labeled 70cl bottle are the big reasons this works.

You should also book if you like the idea of choosing botanicals and understanding how gin styles are shaped by ingredients. It’s one of those activities where the learning actually connects to the outcome, so you leave with a story you can explain.

If you are on the fence, ask yourself this: do you want a tasting, or do you want to make something? This workshop is clearly the second one.

FAQ

How long is the Paris craft gin workshop?

The workshop lasts about 2 hours.

Where does the workshop meet in Paris?

You start at 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris, France.

What is included in the ticket price?

It includes a one-hour guided distillery tour, gin tasting, homemade cocktails served during the workshop, a make-your-own gin workshop with botanicals to choose from, and a small food plate with snacks.

Will I make and take home my own gin?

Yes. You will create your own gin recipe, distill it during the workshop, customize a label, and leave with a 70cl bottle of gin.

How big is the group?

The workshop has a maximum of 8 travelers.

What language is the workshop offered in?

The workshop is offered in English.

Does transportation to and from the distillery cost extra or is it included?

Transportation to and from the distillery is not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time, and you can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before it starts.