Hands-On Gin Masterclass at Old Young’s Distillery in Swan Valley

On a Sunday morning in Henley Brook, Western Australia, the cellar door at Old Young’s Distillery hums with the focused energy of small-group craft. The Gin Masterclass is a hands-on 1.5‑hour session that takes you behind the bar and behind the bottle: guests step to the blending bench, nose a lined-up selection of botanicals, and learn the basics of distillation before composing a personal recipe. Guided by the distillers who run the stills and the tasting room, you’ll taste, tweak, and refine until your blend sings the way you want it to, then bottle and label a bespoke 200ml keepsake to take home. This experience sits in the long, open sweep of Swan Valley—an agricultural and wine region beside the Swan River that feeds Perth’s food and drink culture—so the class feels part laboratory, part local tasting. Key features are the cellar door setting, the blending bench for hands-on mixing, a curated botanical selection emphasizing juniper and citrus, and the tactile finale: bottling and custom labeling. The sensory choreography of smell, taste, and texture is the core of the session; you learn how botanicals layer, which ones amplify pepper or florals, and how small changes shift the spirit’s profile. Old Young’s Distillery is described as award-winning, and that pedigree shows in the practical instruction: short technical explanations of maceration, distillate cuts, and how botanicals interact in condensate, paired with approachable tasting notes. The class is limited to ten people, which keeps the experience personal and ideal for couples, friends, or a small celebratory group. Minimum age is 18. The masterclass is an excellent complement to a Swan Valley day: follow a morning of blending with an afternoon tasting at nearby wineries or a riverfront walk. It’s also a creative gift for someone who enjoys craft spirits and wants an entry-level deep dive into how gin is made. Because sessions happen in a working tasting room, check-in is at Old Young’s Tasting Room and wear comfortable shoes—there’s standing and close-up work at benches. Whether you’re interested in technique or simply want a memorable souvenir, the Gin Masterclass turns distilling from a black box into a practical, flavorful workshop. Expect to leave with a labeled 200ml bottle, a clearer vocabulary for botanicals, and a new appreciation for the precision and play that go into a well-made gin. Bookings usually fill quickly on weekends, so reserve your spot online via the booking link; sessions run with a maximum of ten participants, ideal for learning without crowds. The class is beginner-friendly and engages curious palates; many attendees use the session as a starting point for experimentation. Bring a notebook if you want to record recipes and tasting notes to reproduce your blend back home.