Newcastle: Spirit Blending Class at Earp Distilling Co.

At Earp Distilling Co., you choose gin, vodka, or rum, then build a personal blend from more than 20 botanicals. The one-hour class ends with a taste of your creation and a labelled 200ml bottle to take home.

I like two things here: you get to make choices rather than just watch a demonstration, and all three spirit options share the same class, so friends can try different bases together. The expert-led introduction also gives your blending a bit of context, covering traditional and contemporary spirits.

The main consideration is the scale: this is a compact, one-hour introduction, and your take-home bottle is 200ml. It suits a fun Newcastle afternoon more than anyone hoping to produce a large stash of spirits.

• Pick your base: Choose gin, vodka, or rum, with all three options running in the same class.
• Build a flavour: Select from more than 20 premium botanicals to shape your own blend.
• Learn by doing: An expert team explains compound spirit making as you blend and taste.
• Make it personal: Name and hand-label your own spirit.
• Take home a bottle: Each participant receives one 200ml bottle of their bespoke blend.
• Plan for an hour: The class is English-language, wheelchair accessible, and for adults aged 18 and over.

Start with a spirit, not a recipe

This is a small-scale workshop in compound spirit making, which means the focus is on blending rather than on watching a full production run. You begin by choosing a base: gin, vodka, or rum. Then you use botanicals to shape the flavour, taste your blend, and decide on a name for its label.

That hands-on format is the heart of the experience. You are not simply hearing about how spirits are made; you are making choices that affect the character of your own bottle. The expert team guides the process, so you do not need prior knowledge of gin, rum, or vodka to take part.

I also like that the three spirit choices share a class. If you come with a partner or friends, you can choose different bases and still share the hour. That makes the activity more flexible than a gin-only workshop, especially for a group with varied tastes.

Choose gin, vodka, or rum together

At the start, you select which spirit you want to blend. The class covers gin, vodka, and rum in the same session, so each participant can follow their own preference while learning alongside the rest of the group.

That shared format is practical, but it also means the experience is not described as three separate, specialised workshops. If you have a strong interest in one spirit and want a deep technical course focused only on that category, this may feel more like a lively introduction than a specialist masterclass. For most beginners, the freedom to pick your own base is a useful advantage.

The class is suitable for both enthusiasts and first-timers. If you already enjoy spirits, you can focus on the flavours you like and test how botanicals change a blend. If you are new to the subject, the guided explanation gives you a starting point before you make your choices.

Use botanicals to build a flavour

Once you have picked your base, you choose from more than 20 premium botanicals. That is the point where the class becomes personal: rather than taking home the same bottle as everyone else, you create a blend shaped by your own selections.

The exact botanical choices are not specified in advance, so I would avoid arriving with a fixed recipe in mind. Go ready to explore the options presented in class and use the team’s guidance as you decide what to include. You will get more from the session if you pay attention to how each choice affects the flavour you are trying to create.

The guided format matters here. A table of ingredients can be fun, but it can also leave a beginner guessing. With an expert team explaining the blending process, you have help as you make decisions and a chance to understand the thinking behind compound spirits. The workshop is designed to cover both traditional and contemporary histories of spirits, adding context to the practical work.

Taste, name, and label your blend

After selecting your botanicals, you blend and taste your creation. The taste is more than a quick final flourish: it gives you a chance to experience the result of your choices before you bottle it. The activity is about making a signature blend, not just picking ingredients for the sake of it.

You then name and hand-label the spirit. It is a simple but appealing finish, turning the bottle into something personal rather than a standard souvenir. You leave with one 200ml bottle of your own gin, vodka, or rum. That is enough to remember the experience or share a little of it at home, though it is not a large bottle.

I would think of the take-home spirit as part of the workshop, not the sole reason to book. The value is in the hour of guided learning and making, with the bottle as a tangible result. If you mainly want the most alcohol for your money, a blending class is unlikely to be your best buy. If you want an activity and a modest keepsake, the format makes more sense.

A relaxed indoor plan for Newcastle

The venue is Earp Distilling Co. in Newcastle, New South Wales. The room itself is part of the appeal: the distillery space has been described as beautiful and relaxed, making the class feel like a comfortable place to spend an afternoon rather than a formal lesson.

This is also a useful all-weather activity. You do not have to build your day around good conditions outdoors, and the one-hour duration makes it easy to fit into a broader Newcastle visit. The meeting point can vary depending on the option booked, so check the location details for your selected session rather than assuming every booking uses the same meeting spot.

The short duration is both a strength and a limit. An hour is easy to plan around, and the session has a clear beginning and end: learn, blend, taste, bottle, and label. But it does not leave much room for an extended class on distilling or a long tasting. Go in expecting a focused activity, not a full afternoon course.

Is $34 good value?

At $34 per person, the price covers a 60-minute guided session and one bespoke 200ml bottle. You are paying for both the instruction and the chance to make something yourself, which gives the price more substance than a simple tasting flight or a quick look around a venue.

Value depends on what you want from the hour. If you enjoy spirits, hands-on activities, or making a souvenir that is more personal than a shop purchase, this is a fair package. The bottle helps, but the main return is the experience of learning how blending works and trying out your own flavour ideas.

For a couple or a small group of friends, the shared class format adds appeal. You can each choose a different base and compare the results, without needing everyone to share the same interest in gin. It also works for a relaxed weekend outing: Saturday sessions have been described as a good fit, and the indoor setting makes it a dependable choice for an afternoon when outdoor plans are less appealing.

Who will enjoy this class most?

I would put this near the top of the list for adults who enjoy spirits and want more than a standard tasting. It is also a good fit for curious beginners, since the team leads the process and the class is designed for both newcomers and enthusiasts.

Couples and groups of friends are a natural match. Each person can make a different choice, and the process gives you something to talk about beyond the usual Newcastle lunch or drink. It can also work as a gift experience: the named, hand-labelled bottle gives you something to take away, while the session itself is the main event.

It is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women. And if you are looking for a long technical course, a distillation demonstration, or a large bottle to take home, check your expectations. The offering here is a one-hour blending session and one 200ml bottle per participant.

Practical details before you book

The class lasts 60 minutes and is conducted in English. It is wheelchair accessible. The meeting point may differ depending on the option booked, so confirm the details for your chosen session.

The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which may help if you are fitting the activity into a changing Newcastle itinerary. The starting times depend on availability.

Should you book the Earp blending class?

Book it if you want a sociable, indoor Newcastle activity with a real hands-on element, and you like the idea of leaving with a small bottle you made yourself. The strongest reasons are the choice of three bases, the chance to work with more than 20 botanicals, and a guided format that works for beginners as well as spirit fans.

Skip it if you want a long-form distilling course or are mainly seeking a large quantity of spirits. For everyone else, $34 buys a practical hour of learning, tasting, and personalising a bottle, a neat way to spend an afternoon without making the day revolve around it.

FAQ

How long is the spirit blending class?

The guided session lasts 60 minutes.

Which spirits can I blend?

You can choose gin, vodka, or rum. All three options run in the same class.

How many botanicals are available?

You can choose from more than 20 premium botanicals to create your blend.

What do I take home?

Each participant receives one 200ml bottle of their bespoke spirit, which they can name and hand-label.

Is the class suitable for beginners?

Yes. The class is designed for both enthusiasts and beginners, with an expert team guiding the blending process.

Is the activity suitable for children or pregnant women?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women.