Distillery Tour and Guided Tasting

Old Kempton Distillery puts the stills in an unexpected place: the old coaching stables of Dysart House, built in 1842. You get both a short heritage visit and a clear look at how whisky, gin, and liqueurs are made, followed by four spirit samples.

I like the mix of local history and working distillery. I also like that the tasting covers four Old Kempton products rather than stopping at one pour. The main consideration is timing: the visit begins at 1:30 pm in Kempton, so you need to plan your drive and arrange transport if you intend to taste freely.

Key points to know before you book

• A historic setting: The distillery operates from Dysart House’s old coaching stables, with the house dating from 1842.
• Four samples included: Your tasting covers four Old Kempton spirits, including products from its whisky, gin, and liqueur range.
• Tasmanian ingredients: The spirits are made using 100% Tasmanian ingredients, giving the tasting a strong local focus.
• A small-group format: The maximum group size is 20 people, which should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• About 90 minutes: The experience is advertised at approximately one hour and 30 minutes, while the distillery stop itself is listed as one hour.
• Easy cancellation terms: You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 1:30 pm start.

Why the old coaching stables matter

The setting gives this experience more character than a simple tasting-room stop. Old Kempton Distillery operates from the former coaching stables at Dysart House, an 1842 property in the small Tasmanian town of Kempton.

That matters because you are not only sampling spirits in a modern bar. You are seeing a working distillery inside an older building with a clear connection to the area’s past. The tour includes a guided look at Dysart House, so the visit has two threads: the story of the building and the practical work now done inside it.

I like this arrangement for a road trip. You can spend time in one place and get a sense of local history without booking a separate house tour and distillery visit. The old setting also gives the tasting a stronger sense of place, especially since the spirits use Tasmanian ingredients.

The available information does not promise a full architectural tour of every room, so keep your expectations in check. The house is part of the guided experience, but the main focus remains the distillery and its products.

What happens at the 1:30 pm meeting point

You meet at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania 7030. The activity returns to this same meeting point, which keeps the logistics simple.

The start time is fixed at 1:30 pm. That is useful if you are building a day around the visit, but it leaves little room for a late arrival. I would plan to reach Kempton with time to spare, especially if you are driving from another town.

Private transportation is not included. You need to make your own way to Dysart House, and the tour does not provide a transfer after the tasting. Since four alcoholic samples are included, this point deserves attention. If you are the driver, treat the tasting as a sampling experience and plan responsibly. If everyone in your party wants to drink, arrange transport in advance.

The group limit is 20 people. That is not an intimate private tour, but it is small enough for a guide to address the group directly. One especially positive account names John as the guide and credits him with explaining the process behind the hand-crafted whisky, gin, and other liqueurs. Guide assignments can change, so you should not assume John will lead every departure.

Inside the distillery at Dysart House

The distillery visit explains how spirits are produced and how their characteristics differ. This is the useful part for anyone who enjoys tasting but wants more than a quick pour and a list of ingredients.

You can expect the guide to connect the production process with the finished spirit. Whisky, gin, and liqueurs are not simply different bottles on a shelf. They have different ingredients, methods, and flavor profiles, and the guided format helps you understand what you are tasting.

The information provided does not set out every stage of production or name each piece of equipment. That is a good reason to use the visit as a chance to ask questions. If you are curious about how Old Kempton approaches its single malt whisky, how botanicals shape its gin, or how its liqueurs differ from its whisky, the group tour gives you a natural opening.

I value this kind of explanation because it makes the tasting more useful. Without context, four samples can blur together. With some guidance, you can pay attention to the differences between the spirits and decide which styles appeal to you.

The distillery has operated at Dysart House since 2015. That gives the site a nice contrast: an old building with a comparatively recent production story. You get the heritage of the property, but you also see a modern Tasmanian business using the building for active spirit making.

Four Old Kempton spirits to taste

Four Old Kempton alcoholic samples are included in the price. The exact selection is not specified, so you should not book expecting a named lineup of four particular bottles.

The range includes single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. That variety is one of the best reasons to choose this experience over a single-spirit tasting. If you already know you like whisky, you can still compare it with other styles. If whisky is not your usual drink, the gin and liqueur samples may give you more to enjoy.

The spirits are made from 100% Tasmanian ingredients. That detail gives the tasting a clear regional identity. It also lets you think about the products as part of Tasmania’s food and drink culture, rather than as generic spirits served anywhere.

A tasting is not the same as receiving four full drinks. The supplied information confirms four samples, but it does not state the pour size. I would treat the activity as an introduction to the range, not an afternoon of heavy drinking.

The strongest praise for the experience centers on the tasting and the explanation of production. One account describes the whisky, gin, and liqueurs as hand-crafted and calls the visit a worthwhile stop on the way to Hobart. That fits the tour well: it is a short, focused stop for people who want to learn a little and try several Tasmanian spirits.

The value of the $32 price

At $32, this experience offers solid value if you plan to use both parts of it: the guided tour and the four tastings. You are paying for access to a working distillery, a guided look at historic Dysart House, an explanation of spirit production, and four samples.

The price makes more sense for someone who would otherwise buy several tasting pours separately. It is also useful for couples or small groups who want a structured stop rather than an unplanned cellar-door visit.

I would be less enthusiastic if you only want a quick drink. The visit includes history and production information, and the group format means you will spend time listening before and during the tasting. That is a plus for curious drinkers, but it may feel slow if you want only to purchase a bottle.

The tour is also a sensible choice for a road trip between destinations. One account describes it as a good stop on the way to Hobart. Kempton’s position makes the experience practical for a day that already includes driving, though you must allow time to arrive for the 1:30 pm start and make your own transport arrangements.

Who will enjoy this stop most

I would recommend Old Kempton to several kinds of visitors:

• Whisky and gin drinkers who want to compare different spirit styles in one sitting.
• Visitors interested in Tasmanian produce who value ingredients and regional identity.
• History fans who enjoy seeing an 1842 property used for a present-day business.
• Road trippers looking for a planned stop between larger destinations.
• First-time distillery visitors who want a guided introduction rather than an unstructured tasting.

It may be less suitable if you want a private tour, a long technical workshop, or a full meal with your drinks. The maximum group size is 20, and the supplied details describe a guided group visit rather than a private appointment.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. No special physical demands are stated, but the activity is held at a historic property, so you may want to ask the provider directly if you have specific mobility concerns. The available information does not give detailed access notes.

How to make the most of the 90 minutes

Allow roughly one hour and 30 minutes for the full experience, even though the distillery stop is listed as one hour. That extra time may cover the house visit, movement between parts of the property, and the tasting.

Arrive ready to listen. The best part of this kind of tour is often the link between what you see and what you taste. Pay attention when the guide explains the characteristics of the spirits, then use the four samples to compare them.

If you are traveling with a driver, decide before the tour how you will handle the tasting. Four samples may be small, but the booking does not include private transportation, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

I would also keep your plans after the tour flexible. The advertised duration is approximate, so avoid booking a tight connection immediately afterward. The fixed 1:30 pm start is more important than the exact finishing time.

Cancellation and booking details

Confirmation is received at the time of booking, and the mobile ticket format makes the reservation easy to carry on your phone.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before 1:30 pm are not refunded, and changes within that same period are not accepted. The cut-off uses local Tasmanian time.

That policy is fair for a scheduled small-group activity, but it means you should wait until your driving plans are firm. A delayed road trip could cost you the booking if it leaves less than 24 hours before the start.

Should you book Old Kempton Distillery?

Book it if you want a short, well-priced Tasmanian food and drink experience with more substance than a tasting alone. The combination of Dysart House’s 1842 setting, a working distillery, a guide-led production explanation, and four samples gives the visit a clear purpose.

It is especially useful as a stop on the way to Hobart or another destination, provided the 1:30 pm start fits your route. I would choose it for the local ingredients and the chance to compare whisky, gin, and liqueurs in one visit.

Skip it if you want private attention, a long distilling class, or transport from your hotel. For most visitors who enjoy spirits and have their own way to Kempton, the $32 price is a sensible way to spend about 90 minutes.

FAQ

Where does the Old Kempton Distillery tour start?

The tour starts at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania 7030.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 1:30 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The distillery stop itself is listed as one hour.

How many spirits are included?

Four Old Kempton spirit samples are included.

What types of spirits does Old Kempton produce?

The distillery produces single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs.

Are the spirits made with Tasmanian ingredients?

Yes. The spirits are made with 100% Tasmanian ingredients.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. You must make your own way to the meeting point, and the activity ends there.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.