Reykjavík: Old Harbor Craft Gin Tasting

GYG

Reykjavík: Old Harbor Craft Gin Tasting

★ 5.0(1 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 1.5 hours

from $39

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

A 1.5-hour gin tasting at the Old Harbor

This tour starts in Reykjavik and takes you to Thoran Distillery for a 1.5-hour craft gin tasting. You will be guided through the experience in English or Icelandic by a dedicated guide, so you are not left to wander on your own. The tour is priced from 39 USD, which makes it the cheapest option in its category of 21 food and drink tours in Reykjavik. It is a short, focused stop rather than a full afternoon, so it suits travelers who want a specific tasting without committing to a longer excursion. The departure point is the city itself, meaning you do not need to travel far from central Reykjavik to reach the distillery. This is a straightforward, compact activity for anyone curious about Icelandic craft spirits.

Photographs from the operator Thoran Distillery. They show the listing, not your day.

What the 39 USD covers and what it does not

The entry price of 39 USD covers the guided tasting at Thoran Distillery. The operator explicitly states that food is not included in this price, and hotel pickup is also not part of the deal. You will need to make your own way to the distillery and arrange any meals separately. The tour sits in a minority within its category: only six other listings in the group of 20 food tours also exclude food, so this is not a meal replacement. The price is the lowest in its group, which ranges from 39 USD up to 1,348 USD, so you are paying for the tasting itself rather than a full dining experience. No additional fees apply at any of the places on the itinerary, so the 39 USD is the figure to plan around.

What a 5.0 score from one review is worth

The tour carries a 5.0 rating, but that score comes from a single review. That is too thin a base to treat the rating as meaningful evidence of quality. In its category of 21 food tours, this listing ranks 16th by number of reviews, which places it near the bottom in terms of how much public feedback exists. The perfect score is a starting point, not a track record. By contrast, the Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting in the same category has a 4.9 rating from 368 reviews, which gives that listing far more weight. If you are choosing between distilleries, the Eimverk option offers a much larger body of opinion to judge by, though it costs more at from 47 USD. The Old Harbor tasting is a newer or less-reviewed operation, so you are relying on the operator's description rather than a crowd of past customers.

When the tasting works best

Reykjavik's temperatures peak in July with an average high of 15 degrees and a low of 9 degrees, while January and February sit at 3 degrees high and minus 2 degrees low. The tasting itself is indoors at the distillery, so the weather matters less for the activity itself than for your walk to the venue. In the colder months from November through March, when highs stay at or below 5 degrees, you will want warm layers for the short trip to the Old Harbor. From June to August, the milder 13 to 15 degree highs make the walk pleasant. The 1.5-hour duration means you can slot it into a morning or afternoon without worrying about losing daylight, especially in winter when the short days are a factor. The tour runs year-round based on the temperature data available, so there is no season when it is off the table.

What happens when you arrive

You will meet your guide at the distillery in the Old Harbor area of Reykjavik. The guide leads the tasting, so you do not need to manage the experience yourself. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, according to the operator, so if that is a requirement for you, this is not the right choice. The distillery is a staffed venue, so unlike many Icelandic sights that are unstaffed with just a car park and a path, you will have people on hand to guide you through the tasting. There are no opening hours listed for this specific tour, so the schedule is set by the operator's booking times rather than a public venue timetable. The short duration means you are in and out within 1.5 hours, leaving the rest of your day free.

Who this suits and who should look elsewhere

This tour suits travelers who want a quick, affordable introduction to Icelandic craft gin, with a guide to explain what you are tasting. It is also a good fit for those on a budget, since it is the cheapest option in its category. If you are looking for a longer experience that includes food, the Reykjavik Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings runs for 3 hours and costs from 150 USD, with a 4.9 rating from 1,933 reviews. That tour gives you a broader sense of Icelandic food culture rather than just spirits. Similarly, the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour at 2.5 hours and from 125 USD covers more ground if you want variety beyond gin. The Old Harbor tasting is not for anyone who needs wheelchair access, and it is not a meal replacement given that food is excluded. If you want a distillery comparison, the Eimverk tour at 1.2 hours and from 47 USD has a much stronger review base to consider.

GYG

Reykjavík: Old Harbor Craft Gin Tasting

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $39

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