Dublin: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience

Whiskey gets a hands-on makeover here. At Roe and Co Distillery in Dublin’s Liberties, you tour a working urban distillery, learn how flavor shapes Irish whiskey, and make a cocktail to suit your own taste. I like the friendly, funny guides, with Andrew, Luke, Erin, Isaac, Oisin, and Andy all singled out for making the hour lively and clear. I also like the price: at $28, you receive the tour, a workshop, and another Roe and Co cocktail in the Power House Bar.

The main thing to consider is the short running time. One hour passes quickly, so this is a focused introduction rather than a long distillery visit. It also involves alcohol tasting and cocktail making, so it is not suitable for anyone under 18 or for pregnant women.

Key points to know before you go

• The old Guinness Power Station: Roe and Co operates inside a striking former Guinness building in Dublin 8.
• Two workshop paths: Choose Flavours for cocktail making, or Beyond The Blend for three whiskey tastings, confectionery pairings, blending, and a cocktail.
• Your palate guides the drink: The Flavours session explores sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami before you choose your cocktail.
• A proper hands-on setup: Cocktail participants receive an apron, jigger, shaker, strainer, bar spoon, and ice.
• Two drinks are part of the experience: You make one cocktail, then receive a signature Roe and Co serving at the Power House Bar.
• Easy to reach: The distillery is on Thomas Street, near the James’s Luas stop and several Dublin bus routes.

Entering the old Guinness Power Station

Roe and Co Distillery sits in the Liberties, one of Dublin’s historic whiskey and brewing districts. The distillery occupies the old Guinness Power Station, giving the visit a strong sense of place before the whiskey talk even begins.

From Trinity College, walk along Dame Street toward Christ Church Cathedral. Continue onto Thomas Street after passing the cathedral, and the distillery appears on your right after about 500 meters. You can also take the 13, 40, or 123 bus from O’Connell Street or Dame Street. The ride takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, with stops at Thomas Street or Watling Street. On the Luas, use the Red Line and get off at James’s.

This location works well in a Dublin day plan. It is close enough to reach from the central sights, but it puts you in an area with a strong connection to the city’s drinks trade. Allow a little extra time to find the entrance, especially if you are walking from central Dublin and watching the clock for a fixed start time.

The tour ends where it begins, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

A short tour with plenty of flavor

The guided visit introduces you to Roe and Co production inside a fully operational urban distillery. The emphasis is not only on how whiskey is made, but on how different flavors come together in the glass.

You learn about the production process and the range of flavors associated with Irish whiskey. The experience is designed to keep you involved rather than having you simply listen to a long explanation. Guides use humor, questions, and conversation to keep the group moving.

That human touch is one of the strongest parts of the visit. Andrew was praised for his comedy and ability to hold attention. Luke was noted for answering questions and explaining each cocktail step. Erin was described as warm and engaging, while Isaac brought a professional but approachable manner. Oisin also received praise for making a short visit both useful and enjoyable.

Of course, a guide can shape the whole hour. The material is important, but the difference between a dry production talk and a fun introduction often comes down to the person leading it. Here, the repeated praise for the guides suggests that the staff make the technical parts accessible, even if whiskey is not usually your drink of choice.

Choosing Flavours or Beyond The Blend

Your central choice is between two workshop formats. Think about what you want from the visit before booking.

Flavours: best for cocktail fans

The Flavours option begins with the Five Pillars of Flavour: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. You consider your own palate, then choose a whiskey cocktail based on the taste you prefer.

This is a clever approach for beginners. Instead of treating whiskey as one fixed flavor, the workshop shows you how a drink changes when you adjust sweetness, acidity, bitterness, saltiness, or savory notes. You are not simply copying a recipe. You are learning why the ingredients work together.

The workshop is set up as a proper practical class. Each participant has an apron, jigger, shaker, strainer, bar spoon, and ice. That makes the activity feel like more than a quick demonstration. You measure, shake, strain, and taste your own drink.

The hands-on element also helps people who are unsure about whiskey. Several of the strongest reactions came from people who normally do not like whiskey but enjoyed it in a cocktail. The drink can soften or reshape the spirit, making the class suitable for a mixed group where one person is a whiskey fan and another is still deciding.

You then finish with another cocktail in the Power House Bar. That second drink is a welcome part of the value, especially at the $28 price. Some sessions may include a small whiskey tasting as well, but the exact flow can depend on the workshop format and current schedule.

Beyond The Blend: best for whiskey tasters

Beyond The Blend takes a more direct route into whiskey. You taste three premium whiskeys, explore the full range of flavors found in Irish whiskey, and pair the samples with specially selected artisan confectionery.

You also create your own whiskey blend and turn it into a cocktail. That gives you two different ways to think about the spirit: first as a whiskey to taste on its own, and then as a base for a mixed drink.

This option will suit you if you want to compare whiskey styles rather than focus mainly on cocktail technique. The confectionery pairing gives your palate a useful reference point, helping you notice how food changes the way whiskey tastes.

The key limitation is time. In one hour, the tasting, explanation, blending, and cocktail preparation must move at a brisk pace. You will get a well-organized introduction, but not a slow, detailed tasting seminar. If you want a long technical session about maturation or distilling, this is probably not the right format.

Making your own cocktail

The cocktail workshop is the heart of the visit for many people. You learn the basic tools, work with measurements, and get a chance to make a drink that matches your preferred flavor profile.

The equipment matters. A jigger teaches you to measure rather than pour by guesswork. The shaker gives you a feel for texture and temperature. The strainer and bar spoon introduce small techniques that you can use at home.

The class also leaves you with something practical. One guide provided a recipe list for the cocktails, which means you can try the drinks again after returning home. That is a better souvenir than a quick photograph, particularly if you enjoyed the salty, sour, or bitter flavor combinations.

Do not expect a professional bartender qualification in sixty minutes. You will learn a few useful methods and make a tasty drink, but the focus is enjoyment and discovery. The class works because it gives you enough structure to succeed without turning the hour into a serious training course.

The result can be personal. Two people following the same basic process may choose different flavor directions, and that is part of the point. You are encouraged to notice what you like rather than being told that there is only one correct whiskey cocktail.

The Power House Bar finish

After the selected workshop, you relax in the Power House Bar with a signature Roe and Co serving. This closing drink gives the visit a calmer final act after the movement and concentration of the workshop.

It also changes the experience from a lesson into a social stop. You can compare your homemade cocktail with the bar’s prepared serving and decide which style you prefer. If you are visiting with friends, this is the natural moment to talk about the tasting and the choices each person made.

The bar is not an optional extra hidden behind a separate charge. A Roe and Co cocktail is included, which is a major reason the experience feels like good value. At $28 per person, you receive more than a guided walk through a distillery. You get instruction, equipment, your own drink, and another cocktail afterward.

Alcohol is served throughout the experience, so plan your day sensibly. The hour may be short, but the drinks make it more substantial than a standard museum-style visit.

What the $28 price buys you

The value is strongest if you actually want the workshop. You are paying for a guided distillery visit plus an interactive activity, rather than just a tasting flight.

For the Flavours option, the included elements are:

• A guided tour of the distillery
• A Five Pillars of Flavour session
• Hands-on cocktail making
• A Roe and Co cocktail in the Power House Bar

Beyond The Blend adds a more whiskey-centered format with three premium tastings, artisan confectionery pairings, your own blend, and a cocktail.

That is a solid package for a one-hour Dublin activity. It is also a useful choice when you want something shorter than a full afternoon tour. You can fit it between sightseeing stops without giving up half your day.

The value is less clear if you do not drink whiskey or cocktails. The staff can make the subject approachable, and the Flavours option may appeal even if you usually avoid straight whiskey, but alcohol remains the center of the experience. There is no non-drinking alternative listed.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the Flavours workshop to cocktail beginners, couples, and friends who want a social activity with some instruction. It also suits mixed groups because the focus is on taste, not on pretending everyone already loves whiskey.

Beyond The Blend is the better match for someone who enjoys comparing spirits, tasting premium whiskey, and experimenting with blends. It offers more direct contact with whiskey itself.

This is also a good pick for visitors who have already seen Dublin’s major attractions and want an activity with a local drinks connection. Several people preferred it to larger, more heavily visited experiences nearby because the workshop felt more personal and interactive.

The hour-long format makes it useful for a quick stop. At the same time, if you prefer slow tours with extensive background detail, you may find it too brief. The distillery visit gives you a clear introduction, not an exhaustive account of every stage of Irish whiskey production.

Practical details for your visit

Bring a passport, identity card, or valid proof of age card. You must show identification, and the activity is for adults aged 18 and over.

The live tour is in English. The distillery is wheelchair accessible, which makes the experience possible for many visitors who need step-free access, though you should still confirm any personal access needs when booking.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Dublin schedule is still changing.

Check the available start times before arranging the rest of your day. Since the experience lasts only one hour and ends back at the distillery, it is easy to pair with nearby sights, but you should not assume you can arrive late and join halfway through.

Should you book Roe and Co?

Book it if you want a short, friendly, hands-on introduction to Irish whiskey and cocktails. The combination of a working distillery, a taste-based workshop, your own cocktail, and another drink at the bar gives you a lot for $28.

Choose Flavours if making a cocktail sounds more appealing than comparing whiskeys. Choose Beyond The Blend if you want three tastings, confectionery pairings, and the chance to create your own whiskey blend.

I would skip it only if you do not drink alcohol, want a long technical distillery tour, or dislike structured group activities. For everyone else, Roe and Co offers an entertaining hour in a distinctive Dublin setting, with enough practical skill to take home along with the whiskey memories.

FAQ

Where is Roe and Co Distillery located?

Roe and Co Distillery is in the old Guinness Power Station in Dublin’s Liberties district, Dublin 8, on Thomas Street.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts one hour. Starting times vary, so check availability before booking.

What workshop options are available?

You can choose Flavours or Beyond The Blend. Flavours focuses on the Five Pillars of Flavour and cocktail making. Beyond The Blend focuses on whiskey tastings, confectionery pairings, blending, and a cocktail.

Is a cocktail included?

Yes. The package includes a Roe and Co cocktail. The Flavours workshop also involves making your own cocktail, followed by a signature serving in the Power House Bar.

What identification do I need?

You must bring a passport, identity card, or valid proof of age card and present it during the activity.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is the experience suitable for children or pregnant women?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18 or for pregnant women.