Dublin: Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience

Whiskey gets a cocktail makeover. At Roe and Co Distillery in Dublin 8, you tour a working urban distillery, learn how Irish whiskey is made, and mix a drink suited to your own taste. I like the friendly, entertaining guides and the fact that your workshop ends with another Roe and Co cocktail in the Power House Bar. The one drawback is the tight one-hour schedule, which leaves little time to linger.

I also like the clear choice between the Flavours workshop and Beyond The Blend. The first is best for cocktail fans, while the second puts more attention on whiskey tasting and blending. At $28 per person, this is good value if you want drinks and instruction, but it is not a long production tour.

Key points

• An old Guinness Power Station: Roe and Co operates inside the former Guinness Power House in Dublin’s Liberties district.
• Two different workshop styles: Choose a cocktail-focused Flavours session or the whiskey-tasting Beyond The Blend.
• A hands-on cocktail class: You work with a shaker, jigger, strainer, bar spoon, and ice to make your own drink.
• Five Pillars of Flavour: Sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami help you work out what suits your palate.
• Two drinks are included: You make one cocktail, then receive a Roe and Co serving at the Power House Bar.
• Strong guide-led experience: Andrew, Luke, Isaac, Erin, Oisin, and Andy have all been praised for making the session lively and easy to follow.

Arriving at the old Guinness Power House

Roe and Co Distillery sits in Dublin’s Liberties, a short walk west of the central sights. It occupies the former Guinness Power Station, giving the visit a useful sense of place before the whiskey even appears.

From Trinity College, walk along Dame Street toward Christ Church Cathedral. Pass the cathedral on your right and continue onto Thomas Street. After about 500 metres, the distillery is on your right.

You can also take the 13, 40, or 123 bus from O’Connell Street or Dame Street. The ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Get off at Thomas Street or Watling Street, with the distillery across the road. On the Luas, James’s on the Red Line is the nearest stop.

The location is handy if you are building a day around central Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, Guinness, or the Liberties. Since the experience lasts only one hour, it fits neatly between other plans. I would arrive a little early, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area or need to present identification at check-in.

A working distillery with an urban setting

The opening tour introduces you to Roe and Co’s production process. This is not simply a bar with a few whiskey bottles on display. You are visiting a fully operational urban distillery, and the setting inside the old Power House gives the experience an industrial edge.

The tour explains how whiskey moves through production and introduces the flavours associated with Irish whiskey. You should expect an entertaining presentation rather than a long technical lecture. The best guides keep the subject light, answer questions, and add humour without losing the useful details.

Andrew, Luke, Isaac, Erin, Oisin, and Andy have each led sessions praised for their warmth, clear explanations, and ability to keep the group involved. That matters here because the tour is short. A dry presentation could feel rushed, but a good guide turns the hour into a compact lesson with plenty of participation.

The visit also gives you a way to understand whiskey beyond the usual idea that it must be taken neat. Roe and Co uses the tour to show how flavour, blending, and cocktail ingredients affect the final drink. That makes the experience friendly to people who are curious about whiskey but do not already know much about it.

Choosing between Flavours and Beyond The Blend

Your main decision is the workshop format. The two options suit different interests, so check the exact choice available when you book.

Flavours for cocktail fans

The Flavours workshop is the natural pick if you enjoy mixed drinks or want to learn how cocktails are built. It introduces the Five Pillars of Flavour: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.

You consider which tastes appeal to you, then choose a whiskey cocktail based on your palate. This is a useful idea because it avoids treating every cocktail recipe as a fixed formula. A drink that works for someone who loves sour flavours may not suit someone who prefers sweetness or bitterness.

The session includes practical instruction. Each person has a bar setup with an apron, jigger, shaker, strainer, bar spoon, and ice. You measure, mix, and shake your own cocktail rather than simply watching a bartender work.

That hands-on element is the strongest part of the experience for many people. You get a small lesson in balance, then taste the result yourself. The setup also makes the class approachable if you have little cocktail-making experience.

A useful bonus is the recipe list provided after the workshop. You can take the drink-making ideas home and try them again, which gives the $28 price more value than a simple tasting.

Beyond The Blend for whiskey tasters

Beyond The Blend puts the spotlight back on whiskey. You taste three premium whiskeys and explore the broad range of flavours found in Irish whiskey.

The workshop also includes a pairing with artisan confectionery. That gives you a simple way to compare whiskey flavours with food, rather than tasting each glass in isolation.

You then create your own whiskey blend and turn it into a cocktail. This option suits you if you want to understand how blending changes the character of a drink, but still like the idea of making something at the bar.

The choice is not about one option being better. Flavours gives you more direct cocktail practice and a clearer focus on taste preferences. Beyond The Blend gives you more whiskey sampling and a blending exercise. If you are booking with a companion who has different interests, agree on the format before arrival.

What the one-hour schedule feels like

The one-hour format is both a strength and a limitation. You can fit the visit into a busy Dublin day, and the pace helps prevent the session from becoming repetitive. I like it as a focused introduction.

You should not expect a long factory visit or a slow tasting afternoon. The tour, workshop, and final drink all fit into a compact block. Questions are welcome, but there is not unlimited time for extended conversation or wandering around the building.

The sequence is easy to follow:

• You meet at Roe and Co Distillery in the old Power House.
• A guide introduces the site and the whiskey production process.
• You take part in either Flavours or Beyond The Blend.
• You finish with a Roe and Co cocktail in the Power House Bar.

The final drink is more than a small add-on. It gives you time to sit with what you have learned and enjoy a finished serving after making your own. Several sessions have included two cocktails per person in total, one made during the workshop and one served afterward.

Because alcohol is involved, the short format can feel pleasantly full. You get a tour, instruction, tasting or flavour work, and drinks without committing half a day.

Why the cocktail class works for whiskey beginners

You do not need to arrive as a whiskey expert. The Flavours workshop is particularly welcoming if you normally prefer gin, rum, or lighter drinks.

The Five Pillars exercise gives you a starting point that is easy to understand. Instead of trying to identify obscure tasting notes, you begin with broad tastes that you already know. Sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami are practical guideposts.

That approach also helps if you think you do not like whiskey. Several people who normally avoid whiskey have enjoyed the cocktails because other ingredients soften or balance the spirit. You still taste the whiskey, but you experience it as part of a drink rather than as a straight pour.

The workshop is also social without requiring you to perform. You make your own drink, compare choices with the people around you, and follow the guide through each step. The tone is relaxed, with enough instruction to make the cocktail feel like your own work.

For experienced cocktail makers, the class may be less about learning basic technique and more about the flavour exercise and the setting. If you already mix drinks regularly, the workshop could feel introductory. The extra cocktail and the distillery tour help make up for that.

The Power House Bar finish

After the chosen workshop, you return to the Power House Bar for a signature Roe and Co serving. This ending gives the experience a natural pause instead of sending you straight out after the practical class.

The bar also lets you enjoy the whiskey in a polished finished drink. Your workshop cocktail may reflect your personal taste, while the final serving shows how Roe and Co presents its own signature style.

I would use this time to ask any last questions or compare the two drinks. The setting has a modern, relaxed feel, and the bar can be a pleasant place to stay for a little while after the formal hour, subject to the venue’s arrangements.

Keep in mind that the listed activity lasts one hour. Do not assume the price includes an open-ended drinking session or extra cocktails beyond the workshop drink and the included bar serving.

Value at $28 per person

At $28, this is a strong buy for anyone who wants more than a single whiskey sample. The price includes the guided tour, your selected workshop, and a Roe and Co cocktail at the end.

With the Flavours option, you also receive the value of practical cocktail instruction and the equipment needed to make the drink. With Beyond The Blend, you taste three premium whiskeys, sample artisan confectionery, make a blend, and convert it into a cocktail.

The experience feels especially worthwhile if you would otherwise pay separately for a cocktail class or whiskey tasting. It also compares well with larger Dublin attractions if you prefer a smaller, more focused session built around drinks.

The value is weaker if you want a long, detailed production tour. This is a short introduction, not a full-day whiskey education. You are paying for a lively combination of explanation, tasting, and participation.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. That is not a serious problem because the distillery is reachable by foot, bus, or Luas from central Dublin. You simply need to make your own way to Thomas Street.

Practical details before you book

You must be at least 18 and bring a passport, identity card, or accepted proof-of-age card. Identification is important even if you look well over 18, so do not leave it at your accommodation.

The activity is not suitable for children under 18 or for pregnant women. It is wheelchair accessible, and the live guide language is English.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the scheduled start for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Dublin plans are still changing.

The experience runs at set starting times, so check the available slot before arranging other activities. A morning or early afternoon booking leaves you more flexibility afterward. A later session can work well before dinner, but remember that you will be drinking.

Guides can make a real difference. Andrew, Luke, Isaac, Erin, Oisin, and Andy have all been praised for humour, clear explanations, and friendly instruction. The guide assigned to your session may differ, but the format gives a good leader plenty of chances to make the class personal.

Who should book the Roe and Co workshop?

I would recommend this to couples, friends, solo visitors who enjoy small group activities, and anyone seeking a shorter Dublin attraction with a drink at its centre.

Choose Flavours if:

• You prefer cocktails to straight whiskey.
• You want to learn basic shaking and measuring.
• You like adjusting drinks to your own taste.
• You want recipes and ideas to use at home.

Choose Beyond The Blend if:

• You want to taste three whiskeys.
• You are interested in blending.
• You enjoy comparing flavour differences.
• Artisan confectionery sounds like a useful pairing.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, dislike guided group activities, or want a large museum-style attraction with lots of time for independent viewing. The session is friendly and informative, but it is still a one-hour commercial experience.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a compact and good-value Dublin activity that combines local production, whiskey, and practical cocktail making. The Flavours workshop is the safest choice for mixed groups and whiskey beginners, while Beyond The Blend is better for people who want more tasting and blending.

I especially like the fact that you do not just watch a bartender. You make a drink, learn why certain flavours work, and then receive another cocktail at the Power House Bar. Book it when you want a lively hour in the Liberties, not when you want an exhaustive study of Irish whiskey.

FAQ

Where is Roe and Co Distillery located?

It is in the old Guinness Power House on Thomas Street in Dublin’s Liberties district, Dublin 8.

How long does the experience last?

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

What is included in the price?

The price includes a guided tour, your choice of the Flavours or Beyond The Blend workshop, and a Roe and Co cocktail.

What is the difference between Flavours and Beyond The Blend?

Flavours focuses on the Five Pillars of Flavour and cocktail making. Beyond The Blend includes tastings of three premium whiskeys, artisan confectionery, your own whiskey blend, and a cocktail made with that blend.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $28 per person.

Is the activity suitable for people under 18?

No. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

What identification should I bring?

Bring a passport, identity card, or valid proof-of-age card.

Is Roe and Co Distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.