Gin in Paris, built with your own hands. This English-led workshop turns you from curious drinker into temporary distiller, with a hands-on tiny copper pot still experience in a small micro-distillery setting. I like that it’s focused, not showy, and you get real guidance while learning how gin flavor is actually engineered.

You also leave with something tangible: a 70cl bottle of your own gin and a customized label you designed. The one thing to consider is timing and food: it’s about a two-hour experience and you only get a little snack, not a full meal, so plan your lunch or dinner around it.

Key Things You’ll Love Here

• Choose your own botanicals and build a recipe you can explain later
• Single-pot distilling taught by a pro, step-by-step
• Taste multiple gin styles so your palate starts sorting notes fast
• Create a balanced blend with guidance so it doesn’t taste like flavored water
• Customize your bottle label and take home a full 70cl bottle

A Micro-Distillery Day in the Middle of Paris

This workshop is all about getting your hands on the process, not just watching it. In the heart of Paris, you’ll spend about two hours learning the basics of gin—from its background to how the distillation choices shape flavor. The tone stays friendly and practical, and because it’s a small group, you don’t feel like you’re squeezed into a crowd.

The setting matters here. You’re not in a giant museum or a high-volume tasting room. Instead, you’ll step into a working-style space run by La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec, where the process still feels like something crafted, not packaged.

And yes, it’s in English. That sounds simple, but for a spirits workshop, it’s a big deal—you’ll actually understand what you’re doing with botanicals and why the distillation method changes the outcome.

Finding La Distillerie de l’Arbre Sec (That Big Blue Door)

Meeting point is very straightforward, which I appreciate when I’m running on Paris energy. Head to number 52. Look for the huge blue door—you can’t miss it.

Once you’re through the door, go straight. The distillery is located at the end of the courtyard. It’s the kind of place where you’ll be glad you followed the directions closely, because the entrance doesn’t look like a typical street-level activity.

If you’re thinking about timing, I’d plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can settle in and start with the group instead of rushing and getting flustered.

Distillation Secrets, Straight from the Pro

This is where the workshop earns its place on a spirits lover’s list. You’ll learn gin history and the secrets of distillation from a professional distiller, and the lesson stays grounded in what you can taste afterward.

You’ll work through the core concept of distillation using a tiny copper pot still. Copper matters in distilling because it’s part of what helps the vapor-to-liquid transformation behave in a certain way, and you’ll feel that the workshop is serious about craft even though the setup is compact.

A highlight is that you’re not handed a recipe and told to follow it blindly. Instead, you’re taught how botanicals behave, how the distillation step pulls out different aromas, and how to think like someone balancing a spirit rather than assembling a scent blend.

Choosing Botanicals: Your Recipe Starts with Your Nose

Your gin doesn’t start in the still. It starts with you standing in front of a lot of possible plants, herbs, and spices and deciding what goes where.

You’ll be able to choose your own botanicals and then distill that selection yourself. This is the part that feels most memorable because it makes the final bottle personal. When you taste later, you’ll know what you were chasing and what you decided to leave out.

Here’s the practical value: you learn how to build structure. Gin isn’t only about one bold flavor. It’s about top notes, body notes, and that final clean bite that keeps it tasting like gin instead of herbal syrup. You’ll get guidance while selecting, so you’re not stuck guessing.

Also, because it’s a small group limited to 8 participants, you’ll likely have enough time to smell, ask questions, and refine choices rather than being hurried through.

Tasting Different Gins and Learning the Styles

Before you distill your own gin, you’ll taste different gins and learn how styles differ. This is a big help because it gives you a frame for what you’re building.

You’ll sample multiple gins and learn to connect what’s in the glass with what’s happening in production. That means you’ll be able to say more than it tastes good. You’ll start identifying why one gin leans more citrus-forward, another feels more floral, and another carries warmer spice notes.

I like this approach because it turns you into an active participant. Instead of thinking of tasting as a passive activity, you start using it like feedback—your senses become part of the recipe-making process.

Distilling on a Tiny Copper Pot Still (Your Moment)

Now for the hands-on part. You’ll distill the botanicals you selected yourself. The still is small, which is part of why this workshop feels intimate and doable in a short time window.

The guidance from professional distillers is key here. You’ll get walked through the steps, and you’ll understand what you’re doing rather than just performing actions. Since it’s single-pot distilling, the lesson centers on how that specific setup extracts and carries flavor.

This is also where you learn that distillation isn’t magic—it’s timing, control, and making smart decisions based on what you observe. Even if you don’t become a home distiller afterward (and you shouldn’t—rules and safety matter), you’ll leave with a clear mental model of how spirits transform.

Bottling Your Gin and Designing Your Label

When you finish distilling and creating your recipe, you don’t just leave with tips—you leave with product. You’ll create your own label and then bottle your gin.

The grand finale is that you’ll take home your very own 70cl bottle of gin. That makes the workshop feel like more than an experience. It becomes something you can use: for cocktails, for gifting, or simply for showing friends that you made this yourself.

The label customization is more than decoration. It’s the last step of turning a flavor experiment into a personal brand. You’ll remember your choices because the bottle literally wears your decisions.

What the Workshop Includes (So You Know What You’re Paying For)

At $129 per person, it’s not a bargain version of a tasting. But it’s also not overpriced if you look at what’s included. You’re paying for a short class, expert guidance, multiple tasting samples, and the production of a full take-home bottle.

You get:

• a 2.5-hour workshop experience (the duration is listed as 2 hours, so expect about that time range)
• guidance from professional distillers
• tasting of homemade cocktails
• creation of your own gin recipe
• distillation of your selected botanicals
• a 70cl bottle of your own gin
• a customized bottle label

On top of that, there’s a little snack provided, but meals are not included. That’s worth planning for because tasting and spirits can work up an appetite.

Price and Value Check: Is $129 a Fair Deal?

Here’s how I’d judge the value without hype. You’re getting four things at once: education, tastings, hands-on distillation, and a full bottle to take home.

If you compare it to doing gin tastings only, you’d pay for samples with no direct bottle-making outcome. If you compare it to buying a fancy bottle at retail, you’ll likely spend similar money, but you won’t get the story, the process knowledge, or the custom label.

So for $129, the value comes from participation. It’s worth it if you want your senses trained and your palate smarter by the end of the session—and if you actually enjoy gin enough to taste styles and make choices.

If you’re mainly looking for a casual drink and a quick photo, you might find it more engaging than you need. But if you like the idea of choosing botanicals and learning distillation basics, this price makes more sense.

Small Group (Up to 8): Why That Matters

A limit of 8 participants changes the whole feel. With fewer people, it’s easier to get real answers, not just general instructions. You’re also more likely to have time to smell botanicals closely and refine your recipe choices.

In a workshop this hands-on, group size affects your experience more than most people realize. When you’re working near a still and handling steps in sequence, you don’t want to be rushed.

English instruction also helps here. You won’t have to translate the process in your head, which is where a lot of confusion happens in other workshops.

Who This Gin Workshop Fits Best

I think this fits best if you fall into one of these buckets:

• You genuinely like gin and cocktails and want to learn what makes a style taste the way it does
• You want a hands-on experience that produces something real: a bottle you can use at home
• You enjoy small-group craft activities with an expert who talks in plain language

It’s not the right fit if you’re looking for a kid-friendly activity or if you need child-appropriate programming. The workshop is not suitable for children under 18, and pets are not allowed.

Also, it’s listed as not suitable for pregnant women, so plan accordingly.

Before You Go: Snacks, Time, and Expectations

A little practical planning goes a long way. There’s a snack provided, but no full meal. I’d eat beforehand so you’re comfortable while you taste cocktails and concentrate on the distillation process.

Plan for about two hours, possibly closer to the 2.5-hour workshop window. If you’re lining up dinner reservations right after, keep some buffer.

If you care about getting the most from the experience, come ready to smell and taste. Your “homework” is just paying attention—how botanicals smell, how samples differ, and how your own blend changes as you work.

Should You Book This Paris Gin Making Workshop?

Book it if you want a genuine spirits-focused class in Paris that’s more hands-on than most tasting experiences. The strongest reasons to go are the botanical selection, the distilling on a tiny copper pot still, and the fact that you take home a full 70cl bottle with your own customized label.

Skip it only if you’re not that into gin beyond a quick cocktail, or if you need a meal included because the snack-only setup won’t work for you. Also, be mindful of the listed suitability limits.

If your idea of a good Paris day includes learning something real and bringing home a bottle that actually represents your choices, this workshop is a smart use of time.

FAQ

Is the workshop in English?

Yes. The instructor teaches in English.

How long is the gin making workshop?

The duration is listed as 2 hours, and the workshop is also described as lasting about 2.5 hours. Plan for roughly that time range.

What’s the group size?

It’s a small group limited to 8 participants.

Can I choose my own botanicals?

Yes. You choose your own plants, herbs, and spices and then distill your selection.

Do I taste gin during the workshop?

Yes. You’ll taste different gins and learn about different gin styles, and you’ll also taste homemade cocktails.

Do I leave with a bottle of gin?

Yes. You’ll bottle your own gin and take home a 70cl bottle.

Can I customize the label on my bottle?

Yes. You can customize your own label.

Is there food included?

A little snack is provided, but meals are not provided.

Who is it not suitable for?

It’s not suitable for children under 18, and it’s also not suitable for pregnant women.

What are the main venue details and meeting point?

The distillery is at number 52 with a huge blue door. Go straight through the door, and the distillery is at the end of the courtyard. Pets are not allowed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and there’s also an option to reserve now and pay later.