What is the duration of the experience?

Approximately 2 hours; arrive by 3pm with the tasting session beginning at 3.30pm and the event winding up around 6pm for additional purchases.

Is this event age-restricted?

Yes. This is an 18+ event; you must present valid photo ID at the gate.

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

Yes—there is an accessible carpark opposite the Castle, drop-off outside the Ballroom, and wheelchair access into the Ballroom; garden paths may be uneven.

Can I buy more food and drink after the tasting?

Yes. Additional food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are available for purchase after the tasting concludes.

Where does the tasting take place in bad weather?

The Garden Marquee booking moves to the Grand Ballroom in wet conditions—check event communications before travel.

How can I learn more about Sandymount Distillery?

Sandymount’s production practices and product details are available at sandymount.nz, which the host will also reference during the tasting.

Full Bloom & Botanicals: Larnach Castle Garden Tasting with Sandymount Distillery | Distillery | Castle

At Larnach Castle on the Otago Peninsula, Full Bloom & Botanicals invites visitors to pair Sandymount Distillery spirits with seasonal canapés amid the castle’s formal gardens. Located on the outskirts of Dunedin, the tasting takes place in the Garden Marquee in the Ballroom Café Courtyard with the Grand Ballroom as a wet-weather option. This two-hour experience (approximately 2 hours) balances sensory storytelling and place-based craft. Guests arrive from 3pm to wander the full-bloom borders before the 3.30pm seated tasting where Sandymount’s host presents four bespoke cocktails and explains the botanicals, distillation choices, and flavour profiles. Each cocktail is matched with canapé-sized pairings crafted by Larnach Castle’s kitchen; additional food and drink purchases are available after the session until approximately 6pm. The combination of heritage architecture and curated plantings makes this a distinctive Otago experience. Garden features include formal beds, specimen shrubs, and sheltered lawns that reveal coastal light and seasonal blooms. Sandymount Distillery, made by hand on the peninsula, draws on local botanicals and sustainable sourcing; their award-winning approach pairs well with dishes that highlight Otago flavours. Accessibility is considered: an accessible carpark sits opposite the Castle, guests can be dropped outside the Ballroom, and there is wheelchair access into the Ballroom. Note that paths through gardens are uneven and stairs are present. Why book this event? It compresses good storytelling, local craft, and place into a brief, celebratory sitting. Whether you’re a spirits curious traveller, a garden lover, or a visitor to Dunedin, this tasting reads like a concentrated primer on Otago flavour and horticulture, staged inside a historic property. It’s an easy way to connect with local producers, taste uniquely regional ingredients, and leave with a clearer sense of how landscape feeds flavour on New Zealand’s southern coast. Practical notes are simple: bring photo ID (this is an 18+ event), wear comfortable shoes for uneven garden surfaces, and plan to arrive early to enjoy the gardens. The tasting is hosted by Sandymount’s team, whose distilling philosophy emphasizes low-impact sourcing and botanical experimentation; more about their process is available at sandymount.nz. Bookings are limited to adults and the session works well for pairs, small groups, and visitors keen on tasting rather than a long sit-down meal. The setting — the Garden Marquee and Ballroom Courtyard — frames each pour with garden scent, seasonal colour, and often a cool southern breeze off the peninsula. For anyone planning a Dunedin visit, Full Bloom & Botanicals offers a compact, memorable window into Otago’s culinary and botanical craft: a tasting that feels local, specific, and uncannily of place. Reserve early; arrive ready to walk a little, sip deliberately, and leave with a new appreciation for how peninsula plants and distillers shape Otago’s flavour profile. Enjoy.