Paris gin making workshop in English

Gin starts here, in a tiny Paris workshop. If you like spirits, this Paris gin making workshop in English turns you from spectator into maker, with a guided distillation lesson and a hands-on bottling payoff. You pick botanicals, distill your own batch on a tiny copper pot still, and build a gin recipe that actually tastes like it belongs in Paris.

Two things I especially like: the small group setup (limited to 8) keeps it personal, and you leave with a custom-labeled 70cl bottle you made yourself. One possible drawback to think about first, though: you get a little snack, but no full meal, so plan accordingly if you come hungry.

Key highlights

• English instruction with a host who walks you through the full process at a comfortable pace
• Choose your own botanicals, then distill them on a tiny copper pot still
• Taste multiple gins and learn how different styles come from the botanical choices
• Create a balanced recipe with input during the process, not just a one-size formula
• Bottle your own 70cl gin and customize the label before you go

Where You’ll Start: The Huge Blue Door In Paris

This workshop meets at number 52, and you really will not miss it. Look for the huge blue door, then go straight through, and head to the end of the courtyard where the distillery space sits.

That simple direction matters more than you might think. When you’re trying to find a small micro-distillery in central Paris, a clear meeting point helps you arrive calm, not sprinting. And arriving on time is smart here, because the session moves in a logical order from intro, to botanicals, to tasting, and then to distilling and bottling.

What Happens In The 2 To 2.5 Hour Gin Lesson

The format is built to feel like one continuous making session, not a grab bag of separate activities. Expect roughly 2 hours, and the workshop is listed as about 2.5 hours, so treat it as a half-aftenoon commitment you should protect.

Here’s the flow, in practical terms:

1) Welcome and gin background

You get the history of gin and learn what makes distillation tick. This is useful because it gives you context for what you’re about to smell, mix, and distill.

2) A tasting and cocktail moment

You’ll taste different gins and also enjoy homemade cocktails. This helps you map flavor in your head. You taste, you compare, and then you move into recipe building with a clearer sense of what you like.

3) Botanicals selection and planning your recipe

You choose the plants, herbs, and spices yourself. That’s the heart of the experience: you’re not just choosing from a menu, you’re building a profile.

4) Distillation on a tiny copper pot still

After you select your botanicals, you distill your selection yourself on the pot still. This is where the “hands-on distiller” part becomes real.

5) Bottling and a custom label

At the end, you bottle your gin (70cl), customize a label, and take your bottle home.

The best part of this flow is that each stage feeds the next. You’re tasting and smelling while you learn, then applying that learning when you build and distill your own recipe.

Tiny Copper Pot Still: The Distillation Lesson That Matters

A lot of food and drink workshops are mostly about watching. This one puts you closer to the actual work: you create your gin on a tiny copper pot still guided by professional distillers.

What I like about the way this is set up is that it’s practical. Instead of dumping theory, you learn what to pay attention to while you do it. Gin distillation is all about aromatic detail, so being guided while you distill is the difference between “I mixed ingredients” and “I produced something that tastes like gin.”

Also, the small group size (up to 8) helps a lot. You’re more likely to get questions answered and to understand what’s happening at each step, especially if you’re new to spirits.

One detail worth noting: you’re also in a real micro-distillery setting, not a classroom version of one. The atmosphere tends to be more focused and less staged, which makes the whole process feel more authentic.

Choose Your Botanicals Like a Perfumier

Botanicals are where your gin identity starts. You’ll choose the plants, herbs, and spices yourself, and that choice directly shapes the final character.

This matters because gin styles are basically a flavor strategy. Even when two gins both taste like gin, the botanical lineup changes the story: it can move from herbal to floral, from spicy to citrusy, or toward a more resinous, bold profile depending on what you pick.

During the session, you also learn how different gin styles exist. That’s helpful, because it gives you a framework for your own recipe decisions. You’ll be tasting gins along the way, so your choices stop feeling random.

If you’re the type who likes to geek out a little, this part is for you. You get to smell a lot of botanicals and decide what works together. And if you’re less confident, the guidance during recipe building is there to help you land on something balanced, not just experimental.

Tasting Gins And Homemade Cocktails Like A Pro

The workshop includes tasting different gins and enjoying homemade cocktails. This is not just a perk. It’s a tool for learning.

When you taste multiple gins back-to-back, you start to notice patterns: how botanicals show up on the nose, how they shift on the palate, and how the finish changes with style. That makes your later recipe building make more sense because you’re not guessing. You’re applying what you tasted.

The cocktails also help you understand how gin behaves in mixed drinks. Gin that tastes bright neat might feel different in a cocktail, and learning that in the same session makes the workshop more useful for your real-life bar cart.

Recipe Building: Making Something Balanced, Not Random

When you create your own gin recipe, you’re doing the fun part: combining your chosen botanicals into a formula that fits your taste.

What I like is that you get input to help with balance. In practice, this means you’re not left alone with a basket of herbs and a prayer. You choose the botanicals, but you still have professional guidance so your gin ends up tasting intentional.

This is also where the small group vibe helps. With fewer people, the host can spend time on how your blend is working. If your plan is leaning too heavy on one botanical direction, you’re more likely to get advice that corrects it early.

Bottling Day: Your 70cl Gin And Custom Label

This is the payoff that makes the whole experience feel worth it. You create your gin recipe, you distill your selected botanicals, and then you leave with your own 70cl bottle of gin plus a customized label.

That label step is more than a fun souvenir. It makes the bottle feel like an actual product, like something you’d serve, gift, or keep as your personal “I made that” bottle. It also helps you remember your recipe decisions later, which is handy if you want to remake the vibe at home.

In some sessions, there may also be a small snack or food included during the distillation period. The workshop does provide a little snack, and some experiences mention a small cheese plate during the distillation stage. Either way, the key point for planning is simple: snacks are covered, meals are not.

Price And Value: Is $129 Worth It?

At $129 per person, you’re paying for more than a tasting. You’re paying for:

• Professional guidance through gin history and distillation technique
• A hands-on distillation process using your selected botanicals
• Multiple tastings of gins and homemade cocktails
• A finished 70cl bottle of your own gin
• A custom label, so you take home something finished and personalized

If you compare this to the cost of buying quality gin bottles plus paying for a distillery tour that does not include a take-home product, the value shifts quickly. The workshop is expensive only if you treat it as entertainment. It becomes more reasonable when you treat it like a “learn, make, and take home a bottle” experience.

The small group limit (up to 8) also helps the value argument. When the class is smaller, you get more direct attention and less time waiting around.

Who This Workshop Suits Best (And Who Should Skip It)

This is ideal for:

• Gin lovers who want more than a tasting
• Curious beginners who want guided distillation, not complicated technical lectures
• People who like hands-on food and drink experiences with a social but focused feel
• Anyone who wants an English-led workshop in Paris, with a take-home product

It’s not for everyone. It is not suitable for children under 18 and not suitable for pregnant women. Also, pets are not allowed.

Finally, if you have a sensitive stomach or you’re expecting a long meal, plan for a snack only. Bring your appetite expectations accordingly.

Before You Go: Practical Notes That Save Your Time

A few practical tips will make your session smoother:

• Expect English instruction throughout
• Plan to spend about 2 to 2.5 hours in total
• If you tend to get hungry, eat before you arrive since meals are not provided
• Wear something comfortable. You will be standing and working during the distillation part
• If you want flexibility, there’s free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, plus reserve now and pay later options

Should You Book This Paris Gin Making Workshop?

I’d book it if you want a real making experience, not just samples in a tasting room. The combination of choosing botanicals, distilling on a tiny copper pot still, tasting different gins, and leaving with a 70cl bottle makes this feel like a complete craft day in miniature.

Skip it if you’re mainly after a low-effort activity, or if you need a full meal included. Also, take the age and pregnancy suitability limits seriously.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to smell, mix, and compare flavors, this workshop is a strong fit. And if you’re hoping for an English class in Paris that feels personal and not overly tourist-shaped, the small group setup does a lot of the heavy lifting.

FAQ

How long is the gin making workshop?

The workshop runs for about 2 hours, and it is listed as a 2.5-hour gin-making workshop.

Is the workshop taught in English?

Yes, the instructor and workshop are provided in English.

How many people are in the group?

The group is small, limited to 8 participants.

What do I take home at the end?

You leave with your own 70cl bottle of gin, and you can customize the bottle label.

Is food included during the workshop?

The workshop provides a little snack, but it does not provide meals.

Is this workshop suitable for children or pregnancy?

It is not suitable for children under 18, and it is not suitable for pregnant women. Pets are also not allowed.