A whiskey lesson inside a former power station. You tour Roe and Co in Dublin’s Liberties, then get hands-on with a cocktail workshop built around the Five Pillars and finished with a relaxing pour in the Power House Bar. I especially like the way the workshop gives you a clear, repeatable flavor method, and I also like that you actively make a drink instead of just watching. The main drawback is the timing, it’s only about one hour, so it can feel brief if you want lots of extra time for tasting.

With a $28 per person price tag and a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 489 reviews, this is one of the more focused, good-value Dublin distillery experiences. I’ve seen guides bring big energy to the room, with names like Luke and Isaac popping up in feedback, and it shows in the delivery. If you want a long, slow brewery-style day, this one hour format may not match your pace.

Key highlights to look for

• Former Guinness Power Station setting, where you learn whiskey making in a real working space
• Choose your workshop style, either Flavours for cocktail technique or Beyond The Blend for whiskey tasting and blending
• Five Pillars of Flavour (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami) to help you pick a cocktail that matches your palate
• Hands-on mixing tools at your station, including the shaker and jigger setup used during the class
• Finish with an included Roe and Co drink in the Power House Bar after you workshop

Roe and Co in the old Guinness Powerhouse, not a museum set

Roe and Co sits in the old Guinness Power Station in Dublin 8, right in the Liberties area. That matters because the space feels like something built to work, not a staged showroom. You get the practical sense that whiskey production is still happening in the same building, and that makes the whole experience easier to take seriously.

The building’s layout also helps the pacing. You can move through the tour segments without feeling rushed from room to room, then you switch gears into a more interactive workshop. It’s a nice change of tempo for anyone who wants history, but also wants to do something with their hands.

Price and what you actually get for $28 in one hour

At $28 per person for roughly one hour, you’re paying for three distinct things: a guided distillery tour, a structured cocktail workshop option, and an included Roe and Co drink afterward. When a tour hits all three, it tends to feel like value, even if you know you’ll pay extra for tastings and classes in Dublin.

What makes the price easier to justify is how much you do during that hour. You’re not just sampling whiskey. You’re making your own whiskey cocktail as part of the workshop, then you also get a signature serving afterward in the Power House Bar. Several people also mention getting recipe cards or at-home instructions from the guide, which turns your experience into something you can repeat later.

The watch-out is simple. Because it’s one hour, the session moves. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to linger at every taste and ask 20 follow-up questions, you may want to plan a second stop nearby for extra sipping.

Dublin 8 directions that get you there without stress

You’ll meet at Roe and Co Distillery in the old Guinness Powerhouse. If you’re walking from Trinity College, go along Dame Street toward Christ Church Cathedral. Pass the cathedral, continue to Thomas Street, and after about 500 meters you’ll see Roe and Co on your right.

If you prefer public transport, bus routes 13, 40, or 123 from O’Connell Street or Dame Street get you there in about 10 to 15 minutes. Get off at the Thomas Street or Watling Street stop, and the distillery is across the road. If you’re using the Luas, the James’s stop on the Red Line is the nearest stop.

This is one of those experiences where you’ll appreciate arriving a few minutes early. It’s not a problem if you’re late due to Dublin traffic, but you’ll get more from the briefing if you’re settled before the group starts.

The guided distillery tour, what you’re learning as you walk

The tour is built to give you a real view of how the distillery works, not just a narrated brand story. You’ll move through the distillery during the guided tour, and the experience is designed to set you up for the workshop flavors and whiskey choices that come next.

What I like about this approach is the way it connects learning to tasting. The workshop isn’t random cocktail time. It’s tied to how Irish whiskey flavors are shaped across the spectrum, so the later steps feel grounded rather than gimmicky.

Even if you’re not the biggest whiskey person, this is the type of tour that can convert you. A common thread in feedback is that people who normally do not like whiskey ended up enjoying the session because the cocktail format makes the flavors approachable.

Flavours workshop: using the Five Pillars to build your cocktail

If you pick the Flavours option, your class focuses on cocktail technique and how to tune a drink to your palate. The core framework is the Five Pillars of Flavour: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. You’ll taste and identify where you lean, then choose a cocktail aligned with those preferences.

This workshop is ideal for you if you want a more mixing-forward class, and you enjoy understanding flavors like ingredients in a recipe. Instead of learning whiskey through labels, you learn it through sensation: what sweet means in your glass, how sour changes the balance, how bitter can add structure, and how salty and umami shape the finish.

One detail that makes this option feel genuinely hands-on is that you get a dedicated setup at your station. Feedback mentions that each participant receives the key tools for the class, including an apron, jigger, shaker, strainer, bar spoon, and ice. That turns the workshop into something you practice, not something you watch.

By the end, you should leave with a cocktail you made yourself plus a better way to describe why you liked it. That’s the kind of skill that travels well, even if you do not plan to recreate everything at home.

Beyond The Blend: tasting three whiskeys and creating your own blend

The Beyond The Blend workshop is the option for you if you want more whiskey tasting and more blending focus. Instead of starting with the five flavor pillars, you start with sampling the range and learning how Irish whiskey flavors can move across that spectrum.

In this workshop, you taste three premium whiskeys. You also get a specially curated pairing of artisan confectionery designed to complement what you’re tasting. Then you create your own whiskey blend, and you transform that blend into a delicious cocktail.

I like that this option keeps the class structured. You get guided tasting, then the workshop steps give you a chance to make decisions. That makes it feel like you’re learning the logic of blending, not just mixing ingredients.

Also worth noting: the guide experience seems to matter a lot here. Several names come up in feedback, including Luke and Isaac, and people describe the guides as funny, energetic, and clearly invested in the session. A class like this depends on that kind of momentum to keep the group engaged while you smell, taste, and then build.

Power House Bar finish: your included signature pour

After your workshop, you relax with an included Roe and Co serving in the Power House Bar. This is a great part of the experience to plan for mentally. The class is hands-on and a bit active, so the bar time gives you a chance to slow down and actually enjoy what you made.

A few reviews mention that you effectively get two drinks during the session, one as part of the workshop and another at the end in the bar. Either way, you’ll leave with something you can sip while you compare how your choices came out in the glass.

If you’re the type who likes to compare notes, this is also a natural moment to ask your guide small questions. You already learned the flavor framework, so it’s easier to connect what you tasted during the workshop to what you’re enjoying now.

Picking the right option: Flavours vs Beyond The Blend

Here’s how I’d choose, based on what you’re likely craving that day.

Choose Flavours if you want:

• A clearer, practical method for picking flavors in cocktails
• More emphasis on mixing and cocktail craft
• The Five Pillars approach so you can describe your preferences

Choose Beyond The Blend if you want:

• More whiskey-forward tasting with three premium samples
• Confectionery pairings to explore sweet and finish notes
• A blending exercise that ends in your own cocktail

You can also make the decision based on your group. If you’ve got one friend who loves cocktail workshops and one friend who is more “just get me a good drink,” Flavours often satisfies the cocktail person and keeps the whiskey learning accessible for the other.

Practical tips that make the hour go smoother

A few smart moves help you get more out of the short duration.

First, bring valid ID. You must present a valid ID or proof of age card, and the workshop requires passport or an ID card. I’d treat this as non-negotiable, because the session is timed and they need everyone ready to go.

Second, think about your pace. It’s only about one hour, so don’t plan a tight connection right after. If you want to linger, do it after the included bar stop, when the formal part is finished.

Third, this experience is not for everyone. It is not suitable for pregnant women, and it is not suitable for children under 18. Also, it’s English language guided, which is helpful if you’re comfortable with English instruction.

Finally, if you care about the guides’ style, you might notice patterns in feedback. Names that show up include Andrew, Andy, Luke, Isaac, Erin, and Oisin. People describe comedy and a fun group energy, and that’s consistent with what a guided workshop depends on.

Who should book this Roe and Co workshop?

This is a strong match for you if:

• You want an authentic Dublin distillery experience without a full-day commitment
• You enjoy tasting and want a structured way to understand whiskey flavors
• You like cocktail workshops and want to make a drink yourself
• You’re excited by the Five Pillars framework or whiskey blending choices

It may not be the best fit if:

• You’re looking for a long, slow tour with unlimited time for tasting
• You dislike structured workshops or prefer free-form bar hopping
• Your group needs a very quiet, minimal-interaction experience

For groups, the format works because everyone gets tools and a role during the mixing steps. You’re not waiting around for someone else to do all the work.

Should you book this Roe and Co workshop?

If you want one high-impact activity in Dublin, I think this is an easy yes. The setting in the old Guinness Power Station is a big part of the appeal, and the workshop options give you a meaningful choice, not a one-size-fits-all experience. At $28 for a guided tour plus hands-on mixing plus an included drink, the value is strong for a one-hour stop.

Book Flavours if you want a cocktail skill you can explain and repeat. Book Beyond The Blend if you want the whiskey tasting and blending angle to be the main event. Either way, bring your ID, show up on time, and treat it like a focused class, not a casual bar visit.