Dublin: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience

Whiskey lessons get real fast here. Step into the old Guinness Power Station in Dublin 8 and you get a proper look at a working urban distillery, then you get moving with a hands-on cocktail workshop. I like that it is not just watching, you are tasting, deciding, and making.

I also like the two different ways to play with flavor: the Flavours session uses the Five Pillars of Flavour (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami) to help you build a drink that matches your palate, while Beyond The Blend leans into tasting and blending whiskey. One consideration, though: there is no hotel pickup, so you need to get yourself to Roe and Co in Liberties (and bring a valid ID).

Key highlights you will actually feel

• Former Guinness Power Station setting makes the whole thing feel like a visit with style, not a quick tasting room stop
• Choose your workshop track based on what you want, Flavours for cocktail skills or Beyond The Blend for whiskey tasting and blending
• Hands-on cocktail stations include the tools you need, like a shaker and jigger, plus clear guidance from the group leader
• You get more than one drink moment (you make one, then you are served another in the Power House Bar after your workshop)
• Guides bring the energy too, with names that show up like Luke, Andrew, Isaac, Erin, Oisin, and Andy

Entering the old Guinness Power Station in Dublin 8

Roe and Co is in Dublin’s Liberties district, inside a former Guinness Power Station. That matters more than you might think. The building already has industrial drama, and the team uses that space to make the tour feel like part history, part workshop, part drink lab.

You will meet at Roe and Co Distillery, in the old Powerhouse. The experience runs for about an hour, so it is built for focus. You are not being sent on a long wander through warehouses. Instead, the pace is tight: tour first, then the tasting and workshop, then a final whiskey serving in the Power House Bar.

Because it is a working distillery, you are also not stuck in a museum mood. You get real process, not just a story on a wall.

Two workshop styles: Flavours vs Beyond The Blend

This is where your choice really changes what you take home.

The Flavours workshop for people who like making decisions

If you pick Flavours, you build your cocktail around the Five Pillars of Flavour: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. The point is simple. You taste, you notice how each flavor shows up, and you choose a whiskey cocktail based on your own palate.

This is a great option if you want cocktail-making skills without needing to be a whiskey expert first. In practice, it turns into a fun exercise in learning what you like and why. Even if whiskey is not your usual drink, this approach gives you a path in.

Beyond The Blend for people who want to taste and mix whiskey

Beyond The Blend is the more whiskey-forward track. It includes a guided exploration of a range of whiskeys and a tasting of three premium whiskeys. You also get a pairing with artisan confectionery, which is a nice trick for learning how flavor changes when you add something sweet alongside it.

Then comes the part most people remember: you create your own whiskey blend and turn it into a cocktail. You are not just told what to taste, you are making the blend and getting to see how it comes together.

If you like the idea of blending as a creative skill, or if you want the story behind Irish whiskey flavor in a more structured way, Beyond The Blend is the better match.

What the guided distillery tour actually covers

Before the workshop, you get the guided tour through Roe and Co Distillery. It is described as a fully operational urban distillery, and that shows up in the feel of the visit. You are not just walking through empty rooms. The tour is built around the production process and the way the distillery creates its signature style.

You also see how the space is tied to the brand. The old Guinness Power Station is a big visual cue, and it helps you understand the contrast between heavy industrial history and modern Dublin beverage craft.

The tour section is also where the guide sets expectations for the tasting portion. They connect what you are seeing to what you will smell and taste later. That makes the workshop feel less random and more like a planned lesson.

The cocktail workshop, where you get your hands moving

The workshop is structured enough that you can follow along, but playful enough that it does not feel like homework.

Your workspace and tools

A standout detail is that each participant gets set up with the tools needed to make a cocktail. Some groups note you get an apron and the core bar gear, like a jigger, shaker, strainer, bar spoon, and ice. That matters because it removes friction. You can focus on the technique and the taste, not on hunting around for equipment.

Flavours track: build a cocktail from your taste map

In Flavours, the Five Pillars framework becomes your decision tool. If you lean sweet, you build around sweet notes. If sour stands out, you lean that direction. If you like bitter, you let that show up in the final drink balance.

This is a smart way to teach tasting because it is not just about memorizing. You learn to recognize the flavor role each ingredient is playing. And you get to connect that directly to a finished whiskey cocktail.

Beyond The Blend: taste three whiskeys, then make your own

In Beyond The Blend, you taste three premium whiskeys first, then you move into blending. The tasting step helps you learn what different whiskeys bring to the table, and the artisan confectionery pairing helps highlight those differences.

Then you blend your own whiskey. After that, you transform the blend into a cocktail. That sequence is exactly why this track feels like more than a class. It becomes a mini flavor process: taste first, then build, then serve.

You may get recipes to take home

A few people point out that guides share recipe lists for the cocktails. If you care about recreating drinks later, ask about any take-home cards or recipes during your session. It can turn your workshop into something you keep using.

Power House Bar: the signature pour at the end

After the tour and workshop choice, you relax with a signature blend of Roe and Co in the Power House Bar. Think of it as the reward moment that also helps the lesson stick. You spend an hour building and tasting, then you end with a final serving in a proper bar setting.

One more bonus point: many people highlight that you get a cocktail at the end in addition to the cocktail you make during the workshop. So you are not leaving with only one drink moment, you get multiple steps of the experience, which helps the session feel like full value for time spent.

Price and value, $28 for a hands-on whiskey experience

At $28 per person for a one-hour experience, this is priced like a short activity, not a full-day event. The value comes from what is included.

You get:

• A guided tour
• Your choice of Flavours or Beyond The Blend workshop
• A Roe and Co cocktail
• Plus the end-of-workshop signature whiskey serving at the Power House Bar

That package matters because it mixes three things you usually pay for separately: a distillery visit, a tasting or education component, and a guided cocktail workshop where you actually make something.

Also, the tour feels designed for “do it and move on.” People who want a quick but memorable Dublin night activity often like that the whole thing is short and focused. You can fit it into a busy itinerary without losing your evening to a long tour schedule.

Getting there quickly from Trinity, bus, or Luas

Plan on arriving a little early, since you will need time to check in and settle before the tour starts.

Walking from Trinity College

From Trinity College, walk along Dame Street toward Christ Church Cathedral. Pass the Cathedral on your right, continue to Thomas Street. After about 500 meters, Roe and Co is on your right.

By bus

Take bus 13, 40, or 123 from O’Connell Street or Dame Street. The ride is around 10 to 15 minutes. Get off at the Thomas Street or Watling Street stop, and the distillery is across the road.

By Luas

Use the Luas to the James’s stop on the Red Line, then walk from there. It is the closest stop listed for the area.

Who should book Roe and Co’s cocktail workshop?

This is a strong pick if you want:

• A short, structured activity in Dublin 8
• A distillery experience with real hands-on cocktail making
• A guided flavor lesson that does not require prior whiskey expertise

Flavours suits you if you like cocktails, enjoy understanding taste, and want a method for building drinks around what you personally love. Beyond The Blend suits you if you are more curious about whiskey itself and like the idea of tasting multiple whiskeys, then blending your own.

Two key practical notes from the rules:

• It is not suitable for pregnant women
• It is not suitable for children under 18

Also, bring a passport or ID card. You must present a valid ID or proof of age card.

Should you book this one-hour Roe and Co workshop?

If you want a Dublin experience that mixes setting, taste education, and actual cocktail-making, I think this one is an easy yes. The big strengths are the working distillery visit, the two workshop styles that match different interests, and the fact you leave with a bar moment at the end, not just a lesson.

Book it if your idea of a good time is learning through tasting and getting your hands on the shaker. Skip it only if you really dislike whiskey as a category, or if you need hotel pickup, because you will be making your own way to Roe and Co.

FAQ

How long is the Roe and Co cocktail workshop?

It runs for 1 hour.

Where do I meet for the experience?

You meet at Roe and Co Distillery in the old Guinness Powerhouse. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What workshops can I choose between?

You can choose the Flavours workshop or Beyond The Blend.

What is included in the ticket price?

Included are a guided tour, your chosen workshop (either blending or Flavours), and a Roe and Co cocktail.

Is wheelchair access available?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

What ID do I need to bring?

Bring a passport or ID card. You must present a valid ID or proof of age card.

How do I get there if I am using public transport?

From Trinity, you can walk via Dame Street to Christ Church Cathedral and then to Thomas Street. By bus, take 13, 40, or 123 from O’Connell Street or Dame Street and get off at Thomas Street or Watling Street. By Luas, use the James’s stop on the Red Line.