Roe & Co Distillery Experiences

Roe & Co makes whiskey less of a lecture and more of a hands-on lesson. In the former Guinness Power Station, you can work through a flavor workshop, mix an Old Fashioned, and finish with a signature drink in the Power House Bar.

I like the small group, which gives the instructor room to make the session personal, and the choice between blending and flavor exploration. One consideration: this is more about tasting and cocktail-making than a traditional, machinery-focused distillery tour.

At a glance

• A whiskey workshop, not just a tasting: Explore flavor through a guided activity, with a cocktail as part of the experience.
• Two ways to take part: Choose the blending session, which focuses on building an Old Fashioned, or the flavors session, which helps you identify your preferred taste profile.
• A historic setting: The distillery occupies the former Guinness Power Station in Dublin’s Liberties district.
• A small group: The stated maximum is four people, allowing more interaction with your instructor.
• A drink to finish: The session ends with a signature serve in the Power House Bar.
• Strictly for adults: You must be over 18 and bring valid age ID.

Whiskey flavor takes center stage

Roe & Co is a good choice if you want to do more than stand at a tasting counter and sip. The experience puts flavor and mixing at the heart of its whiskey lesson, giving you a practical way to think about how a drink comes together.

That approach also makes this a different kind of stop from a conventional distillery visit. You should expect some whiskey history and an introduction to the brand, but the main event is the guided workshop. If your ideal tour means a long account of production equipment and whiskey-making stages, this may not be the right fit. If you enjoy a well-made cocktail and want to understand what goes into one, it should suit you better.

The session takes place in the Liberties, an area of Dublin 8 with several distillery attractions close by. Roe & Co’s home is the former Guinness Power Station, a striking industrial building that gives the visit a strong sense of place. The setting is not just a backdrop: it helps make this feel like a modern whiskey experience rooted in Dublin’s distilling past.

Choosing blending or flavors

When booking, you choose between two workshop styles. The blending experience centers on the whiskey’s character and on building your own version of a Whiskey Old Fashioned. Rather than simply being handed a finished drink, you take part in making one and learn how to put the cocktail together.

The practical appeal is clear: you leave with a better idea of how to make an Old Fashioned, not just a memory of having one. One visitor described working with a large square ice cube and following instructions to make the drink. That detail suggests a guided, step-by-step activity, though the exact materials and format may vary.

The alternative is the flavors experience, which looks at five pillars of flavor and helps you identify the tastes you prefer. It’s a useful choice if you’re more interested in learning what you like than in following a specific cocktail recipe. The activity can include sampling aromas and tastes, so you’ll have something to compare and discuss rather than relying only on a menu description.

Both options are designed to make whiskey approachable. You do not need to arrive as a whiskey expert. The small-group format gives the instructor a chance to explain the ideas as you go, and the focus on flavor offers an easy entry point for someone who is curious but unsure what to order.

One point to keep in mind: the workshop portion can feel short if you expect a long, technical class. The full visit is about 75 minutes, but the cocktail-making itself is only one part of that time. Think of it as a compact guided tasting and mixing session, rather than an extended course.

Inside the former Guinness Power Station

The building adds character before the first sip. Roe & Co is housed in the former Guinness Power Station, an industrial site that has been repurposed as a whiskey attraction. The atmosphere is described as contemporary, with the Power House Bar providing a dramatic setting for the final drink.

This is a notable contrast with older distillery tours. Here, the emphasis is not on a preserved production floor or a detailed walk through every stage of manufacturing. The experience uses the building as a setting for a modern brand and puts its attention on taste, blending, and cocktails.

The location is convenient if you are planning a day around Dublin whiskey. Roe & Co is close to the Guinness attraction and Pearse Lyons Distillery, so you can potentially pair it with another stop. Just be realistic about your pace: Roe & Co alone takes around 75 minutes, and each additional visit needs its own time and energy. A full day of distilleries can be fun, but it can also turn into a lot of standing, tasting, and keeping track of the clock.

A personal lesson, not a crowd tour

The maximum group size is four, one of the experience’s strongest practical advantages. Whiskey can be a little intimidating if you’re new to it, especially when a guide starts talking about aroma, texture, and balance. In a small group, it’s easier to ask a question, compare impressions, and get a reply that is not aimed at a roomful of people.

The instructors are an important part of the visit. Andrew, Tim, and Isaac are among the guides named by people who have taken the session. Their approaches were described as engaging, funny, and helpful. Those are individual experiences, of course, and you can’t book a particular guide based on the information available. Still, the small-group setup should give your instructor more opportunity to interact with you than a large tour usually allows.

The group limit is listed as four, though one account described a group of five. Treat four as the stated maximum, while recognizing that group sizes may not always feel identical in practice. Either way, this is designed to be far more personal than a packed tasting room.

The session is offered in English. The activity is strictly for people over 18, and valid age identification is required, so bring it even if you are clearly over the legal drinking age. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

The Power House Bar finale

After the workshop, you settle into the Power House Bar for a signature serve. This gives the experience a natural ending: you’ve spent time considering flavor and mixing, then get to try a finished drink made by the bar team.

Some accounts describe making one cocktail and then receiving another prepared drink at the bar. That extra serve is a welcome contrast. You can compare your own work with a house cocktail and see how a bartender uses flavor in a different way. One memorable example was a cocktail made with clarified grapefruit juice, which illustrates the bar’s interest in craft drinks beyond a simple whiskey pour.

There may also be other tasting options at the distillery, but don’t assume every whiskey flight or age statement is included in the standard workshop. One visitor mentioned buying a separate flight and finding that a 14-year whiskey was available only to drink on site. If a specific whiskey matters to you, ask about availability when you arrive rather than counting on it being part of your booked experience.

The bar is a reason to allow the full 75 minutes, even if the hands-on portion feels brief. It turns the outing into more than a class, while giving you a chance to enjoy the building at a slower pace. Keep in mind that the experience is adult-only, and plan your next activity with time for the drink rather than trying to rush straight out.

Is $33.86 good value?

At $33.86 per person, Roe & Co sits in the range of a paid Dublin attraction, but the value depends on what you want from a whiskey visit. You’re paying for a guided small-group activity, a chance to make or explore a whiskey cocktail, and a signature drink in the bar. That is more engaging than a basic pour-and-leave tasting if you like learning by doing.

The experience also offers a clear point of difference from a standard whiskey tour: you spend time on flavor and cocktail technique, rather than focusing only on distilling history. For someone who enjoys mixology, that makes the price easier to justify. For someone who wants a deep technical account of whiskey production or a large selection of neat whiskey samples, the format may feel light.

The session lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. That’s a manageable slot for a Dublin itinerary and leaves room to visit another nearby attraction, but the workshop is not a full afternoon activity. Plan around it as a compact experience, not a long tour.

The activity is often booked around 18 days ahead on average. That is useful planning context, not a guarantee that you must book three weeks out. If you have a fixed date or want a particular time, booking ahead is the sensible move.

Getting there and planning your visit

Roe & Co is in Dublin 8, in the Liberties, and is near public transportation. Its location makes it relatively easy to work into a central Dublin sightseeing day, particularly if you’re already visiting the Guinness site or another distillery nearby.

You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at booking. The experience is listed as requiring good weather. If poor weather leads to a cancellation, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. Although the activity takes place in a former power station, don’t assume weather can never affect operations.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund. Keep the age rule in mind, too: all participants must be over 18 and show valid ID.

Who should book Roe & Co?

I’d choose Roe & Co if you enjoy cocktails, want a small-group setting, or are curious about whiskey but prefer a practical introduction to a formal tasting. The two workshop choices let you shape the visit around your interests, and the Power House Bar gives it a satisfying finish.

I’d look elsewhere if your priority is a long tour of whiskey production, a large flight of neat samples, or an in-depth technical class. This is a short, social experience built around flavor and making a drink. If that sounds like your kind of afternoon, Roe & Co offers a distinctive way to spend an hour in Dublin’s Liberties.

FAQ

How long does the Roe & Co experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

What are the two workshop options?

You can choose the blending experience, which focuses on creating a Whiskey Old Fashioned, or the flavors experience, which explores five pillars of flavor to help identify your taste profile.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum is four travelers.

Is the experience suitable for people under 18?

No. It is strictly for people over 18, and valid age ID is required.

What language is the experience offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Is a drink included at the end?

The experience ends with a signature serve in the Power House Bar.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.