You walk in with a question. You leave with a bottle you made. If you've ever wondered what happens at Gin School, this is it, start to finish. The Wise Old Owl Gin Making Experience takes place inside our family-run distillery on King Street in King's Lynn, and it's built around three simple ideas: dabble, tinker and enjoy.
You don't need to know anything about gin before you come. Plenty of people arrive thinking juniper is a type of tree they half-remember from a crossword. You only need to be curious and 18 or over.
What happens at Gin School: the short version
Gin School is a hands-on session where you design your own gin recipe and then distil it. Here's roughly how it goes:
- Dabble: get to know the botanicals by smelling, handling and comparing them.
- Tinker: build a recipe that suits your taste, with our team guiding you.
- Distil: watch your recipe go through the still and become gin.
- Enjoy: bottle it, label it and take it home.
It's practical, it's relaxed and nobody marks your homework. Here's what each stage looks like.
Dabble: meet the botanicals
The first thing you'll see is the botanicals, set out in small bowls and jars. This is where the session really starts. You pick them up, crush a little between your fingers and smell them. You'll soon notice how different they are: some are sharp and fresh, some are warm and spicy, some are soft and floral.
Every gin starts with juniper, which has to be the main flavour for a spirit to be called gin. Everything else is up to you. The aim here isn't to remember names. It's to work out what you like. Do you go for citrus? Something peppery? Something earthy and savoury? Your nose will tell you more than any label.
If you already drink gin, it can help to think about bottles you enjoy. Someone who likes a classic, juniper-forward gin such as our Signature Dry Gin might build something quite different from someone who leans towards bright citrus or fruit.
Tinker: build your own recipe
This is the Gin School part people talk about afterwards. With your favourite botanicals picked out, you start measuring and balancing. A bit more of this, a little less of that. Our team are on hand to explain how each botanical tends to behave, what might take over and what will sit quietly in the background.
There's no single right answer. Some people play it safe and make a gin they know they'll love in a G&T. Others go bold and try something they'd never find on a shelf. Both are good results. It's your recipe, so it should taste like you.
Write it down as you go. Most people want to remember exactly what went into their bottle, especially if it turns out to be a favourite.
The still: where your recipe becomes gin
Once your recipe is set, it goes into the still. This is the bit that turns a bowl of botanicals into a clear spirit, and it's worth watching. The team will talk you through what's happening as the flavours are carried from the botanicals into the gin.
It's a good moment to ask questions. Why does gin taste the way it does? What's the difference between a dry gin and a flavoured one? Why are some gins stronger than others? You're standing in a working distillery with the people who make our spirits every day, so use them.
Enjoy: bottle it, label it, take it home
Then comes the payoff. Your gin is bottled, you label it, and it's yours. Holding up a bottle you made yourself, from a recipe nobody else has, is a satisfying way to finish the session.
When you get home, try it first with a good tonic and a simple garnish that matches your botanicals: a slice of citrus for a zesty recipe, or a few berries if you went fruity. Then tinker with the serve until it suits you. Pour sensibly and share it with people who enjoy flavour.
One practical note: if you're planning to try a drink while you're with us, sort out your journey home before you arrive.
Who Gin School suits
Gin School works well for lots of occasions:
- Birthdays: a day out with something to take home afterwards.
- Couples and friends: a relaxed, hands-on thing to do together in King's Lynn.
- Private groups and team days: a shared project, with everyone leaving with their own bottle.
- Curious gin drinkers: anyone who has ever read the back of a bottle and wondered what all those botanicals actually do.
Giving Gin School as a gift
Experience vouchers are one of the easiest gifts to get right, because you don't need to know someone's favourite flavour. They choose it themselves on the day. You can buy a Wise Old Owl Gin Making Experience voucher for one person, or pick the gin making experience gift voucher if you'd like to share the day.
Would they rather see how a distillery works without making a bottle? A distillery tour voucher is a gentler introduction to King Street and our spirits.
FAQ
Do I need to know about gin before Gin School?
No. The session starts from the beginning, and the team will guide you through choosing and balancing your botanicals. Curiosity is all you need.
Do I really take home a bottle I made?
Yes. That's the whole point. You design the recipe, see it distilled, then bottle and label your own gin to take home.
Is Gin School suitable for under-18s?
No. Gin School is an adults-only experience for people aged 18 and over.
Can I give Gin School as a present?
Yes. Gin making experience gift vouchers are available online and make a good grown-up gift for birthdays, Christmas or any occasion where you'd rather give a day out than another thing to sit on a shelf.