Dive into the World of Gin at Crossbill Gin School

#CrossbillDistillery, based in an Aladdin's cave of a Barras market archway in Glasgow's East End is offering the most boutique gin creation and consumer experience ever seen. Step inside the Crossbill Gin School and take a step back in time to not only learn of gin's rich history but get hands-on experience creating your very own bottle of this tasty spirit. The engagement takes visitors on a gin journey combined with interactive tasks sure to enthuse both seasoned gin connoisseurs and interested novice and make for an unforgettable day out in one of Glasgow's most renowned landmarks.

A Historical Journey Through Gin

At Crossbill Gin School, your journey starts with a wonderful history exploration of gin. Gin goes back to the late 11th century when it was distilled by monks and alchemists for both flavoring agents as well as medicinal reasons, however, a sordid past did not plague gin until its Infamous Gin Craze in London during the mid-18th Century. The experienced guides from the Crossbill Distillery take you through this journey with fascinating stories and fun facts. As you will discover, gin has come quite far from its early days as a medicinal tonic to the global spirit phenomenon that it is today; experiencing particularly strong interest and resurgence within the #craftspirits movement in recent years.

The Crossbill Range: A Tasting Experience

This is followed by a crossbill range tutored tasting This part of the experience demonstrates the brand's commitment to quality and using local ingredients. Utilizing juniper berries foraged by them in the fresh air of Scottish Highlands, and East Anglian wheat (and more) whilst ignoring commercial practices to both profile and attain a distinctive flavor from so many other gins produced through contract distillation such as this flavorful number. The tasting session will cover the flavors of each gin across the range with experts explaining their profiles, aromas and more. Apart from just making you appreciate gin a lot, this simple hands-on educational tasting also guides your palette for what is to come later.

Hands-On Distillation: Crafting Your Gin

The Crossbill Gin School experience encourages visitors to get stuck in a hands-on distillation session. Select your botanicals and learn how to distill gin from an experienced master, where you can then infuse it with ingredients that reflect your palate. Decorate it traditionally with coriander and angelica root, or mix in non-traditional botanicals such as lavender (for a floral note) and citrus peels. This process is full of learning and creativity, as you get to know the impact botanicals have on gin aroma in depth.

You'll then distill your chosen botanicals, in a classic copper pot still. You are guided through every step of the process, from maceration to distillation and you will learn about both science and artistry. You will then experience the magic of distillation yourself, as fragrant vapors rise and condense into a clear spirit. This is the fun and satisfying portion of it, watching your creation come into being.

Bottling, Labeling and Wax-Sealing

Once your gin is distilled you will have to bottle the spirit. You will then bottle and label your scent, finishing with wax - to provide a wonderful alchemical addition which can be kept for posterity or given as an artisanal gift. Bottling line work: It is of course, hands-on and rewarding. A good way to make sure that when you leave Crossbill Gin School, at the end of a full day - there will be something tangible for all your effort on the production side. Now you can look upon it for inspiration, a reminder that what might once have been just another idea circulating your creative consciousness has now grown enough to fill an entire bottle which tells the tale of how your product came into being.

Commitment to Sustainability and Authenticity

A real focus on #sustainability and genuine about where they produce their spirits - Crossbill Distillery Their gins are made using botanicals of the highest quality, and they adhere to a strict policy on resource usage. The practices of the distillery are designed to generate as little waste and carbon emissions, with each bottle produced by their hand done with both carefulness and conscientiousness. Back to the sustainability angle for a second, your gin has clear conscious properties, thanks to Wynand from Wilderer Gin School in Paarl.

Personalized Gifting for Every Occasion

The Crossbill Gin School can also be booked for private bookings and is perfect to celebrate a special day, corporate events or just looking for something unique to do with your friends. The distillery can accommodate anything from birthday parties to teambuilding events but if you just need a fun and novel activity, they are happy to provide that too! 

Plan Your Visit

Are you ready to get started on your Gin Adventure? Delve into the world of gin in more depth with Crossbill Distillery, as you make your very own bottle to take home and a better understanding. Specifically, the history lessons combined with the opportunity to distill and personally bottle something front-end-to-back makes for a special overall experience.

A Memorable Experience Awaits

All in all, it is more than just an educational event; Crossbill Gin School brings you on a journey back to the revolutionary history of gin-making and distillation. Start your gin journey here whether you are someone who knows all there is to know about the wonderful juniper spirit or a complete novice just beginning their adventure. When mixed with the history of it all running your very own still, distilling and then bottle takes on a new sense entirely.

Join the growing fraternity who have tasted, smelled and touched this distillation at Crossbill Distillery with our Gin-Making workshop; a unique opportunity to create your very own bottle of gin. Not only does this experience offer the opportunity to learn more about gin, but it is a wonderfully satisfying way in which you can create your product. Well now you can do just that: snap up your opportunity to be enveloped in all things gin and take a bottle of what you made home with you.