Kempton: Craft Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting & Lunch

Old Kempton’s best trick is pairing a grand old coaching inn with whisky barrels, ghost stories, and a working Tasmanian distillery. You move from Dysart House and its grounds to the bond store, then settle into the Cask Lounge for four spirit tastings and lunch.

I like the generous food component and the chance to choose from whisky, gin, and liqueurs. At $56, the tasting plus a Tasmanian antipasto platter is strong value, especially when the platter is normally priced at $80. One point to check: the advertised duration is two hours, but the detailed running order adds up to two and a half hours.

Key points

• Historic setting: Explore Dysart House, the grounds, and the old coaching inn that now houses the cellar door.
• Behind-the-scenes access: See the bond store and barrels of different shapes and sizes holding maturing whisky.
• Four guided tastings: Choose from Old Kempton single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs, depending on what is available.
• A proper food pairing: Enjoy a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one, not just a few token tasting bites.
• A little local folklore: Ghost stories form part of Dysart House’s past, so keep your eyes open as you tour.
• Useful planning detail: Bring photo identification and closed-toe shoes. You must be 18 or older.

Why Dysart House Makes This More Than a Tasting

Many distillery visits give you a production room, a few barrels, and a quick sample at the counter. Old Kempton offers a more layered experience. You begin at Dysart House, a historic property in Kempton, then move through its grounds and working distillery before ending in the Cask Lounge.

That setting changes the mood. You are not simply comparing spirits in a modern bar. You are seeing how whisky fits into an older Tasmanian building, with the house, bond store, and cellar door all part of the visit.

The ghost stories add a playful touch. They are part of the house’s history rather than a separate haunted attraction, so expect local tales and atmosphere, not a theatrical scare show. Still, the detail gives you something to watch for while walking through the property.

I particularly like this mix of serious drink-making and old-house character. It gives non-experts a reason to pay attention, while people who already know their whisky get a closer look at where the spirit matures.

The 45-Minute Tour of the Distillery and Bond Store

The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes according to the schedule. It covers Dysart House, the grounds, the distillery, and the bond store.

The bond store is the heart of the visit for anyone curious about whisky. You can see barrels in different shapes and sizes, each holding whisky as it matures. That makes the production process easier to understand than a tasting alone. You see the waiting stage, when time in wood becomes part of the final character.

Old Kempton’s whisky is made with 100 percent Tasmanian ingredients. That local focus gives the tour a clear identity. You are not just sampling a spirit with a Tasmanian label. You are learning about a product made from ingredients sourced in Tasmania.

The distillery is fully functioning and has been based at Dysart House since November 2015. Besides single malt whisky, Old Kempton produces gin, liqueurs, and other specials. This matters if your group has mixed tastes. A whisky enthusiast can focus on the single malt, while someone who prefers gin or sweeter spirits may find something more suitable.

The tour is guided in English, and a guide named John has led the experience. Since guide assignments can change, I would not book on the assumption that John will be there, but the available feedback describes him as a strong part of the visit.

Wear closed-toe shoes. That is a firm requirement and sensible advice for a working distillery. Bring a driver’s license too, both as identification and as a reminder that this is an adults-only activity.

What the House and Grounds Add

Dysart House gives the experience its sense of place. The tour is not limited to equipment and storage. You also get a look at the property and the grounds, which helps connect the distillery to Kempton’s past.

The house itself is described as an old manor and grand coaching inn. That architecture provides much of the charm. You can expect rooms and spaces that feel different from a purpose-built tasting room, with the old building serving as part of the story.

The house’s ghost stories may be especially appealing if you enjoy unusual local details. They are a small part of the tour, but they help break up technical talk about barrels and distillation. Keep your eyes open as you walk around, though the experience is still primarily a distillery tour and tasting.

This portion suits people who want a cultural stop as well as a drink. It also works well for a group with different interests, since not everyone needs to be a whisky expert to enjoy an old house and its stories.

Four Tastings in the Cask Lounge

After the tour, you take a seat in the Cask Lounge, located in the old coaching inn that serves as Old Kempton’s cellar door. This is where the visit shifts from seeing how spirits are made to considering how they taste.

The package includes four Old Kempton spirits. You may choose from whisky, gin, and liqueurs, depending on your preferences and what is available on site. The description also highlights four single malt whiskies, so whisky is clearly central, but the broader choice makes the experience more flexible.

That flexibility is useful for mixed groups. One person can compare single malts, while another can sample gin or a liqueur. If you want additional tastings, those can be arranged at the cellar door for an extra cost. They are not part of the $56 package.

A guided tasting is more useful than simply receiving four glasses. You can compare the spirits in sequence and ask about what you are drinking. The exact tasting order and labels can change, so do not expect a fixed flight to be guaranteed. The important point is that the tasting is led, and you get four samples rather than one small taste.

The available experience has earned a 4.9 rating from six reviews, with repeated praise for the atmosphere, service, whisky, and gin. That is a small sample, so I would not treat the rating as a guarantee. Still, the consistency of those comments supports the idea that the staff and setting are central strengths.

The Tasmanian Antipasto Platter Is a Real Part of the Value

The food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this experience. You receive a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one, served with the tasting. It is not merely a handful of crackers placed beside the glasses.

The platter is normally valued at $80, while the full experience costs $56 per person. Prices and package values can change, but on the supplied figures, the food alone makes the booking look generous. You are getting a guided property and distillery tour, four spirit tastings, and lunch in one package.

Food also matters for a practical reason. Tasting four spirits on an empty stomach is not a good plan. The antipasto gives you something substantial to eat during the visit, making the experience more comfortable and giving you flavors to consider alongside the drinks.

The platter is for one person, so do not assume one booking feeds a pair. If you are visiting as a group, each person should book the package if they want their own food and tasting. The available feedback describes the antipasto as excellent, with the food receiving as much praise as the spirits.

The schedule places lunch after the tasting and gives it one hour. That makes the final section feel like a proper stop rather than a rushed snack. You can take your time with the platter and the atmosphere of the Cask Lounge.

How the Two-Hour Timing Works

The stated duration is two hours, with starting times available according to the date. However, the detailed schedule lists:

• 45 minutes for the guided tour
• 45 minutes for the tasting
• 1 hour for lunch

Those sections total two and a half hours. That difference is worth noting before you arrange transport or another activity afterward. I would allow at least the longer amount of time and confirm the current schedule when booking.

You are asked to arrive 15 minutes early and show your ticket to a Cellar Door team member. Since the experience begins at Old Kempton Distillery, plan to arrive at the property rather than expecting transport from another Tasmanian town.

Transportation is not included. You need to make your own way to Kempton and arrange a safe way back after tasting alcohol. The experience is not suitable for anyone under 18, and a driver’s license is listed among the required items.

Wheelchair access is available. If you need specific assistance beyond general wheelchair access, contact the provider before arrival so you can check the current arrangements.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

This is a good pick for adults who want food and a sense of place along with their spirits. You do not need advanced whisky knowledge. The house tour, grounds, ghost stories, and antipasto platter give the visit appeal even if you are new to whisky.

It also suits mixed groups. The option to taste gin and liqueurs means a non-whisky drinker is not left with an experience built around a spirit they dislike. The beautiful old manor and friendly service also give the visit a social side, which helped make it popular with a group of 12.

I would choose this for a relaxed afternoon in or around Kempton, particularly if you value a full outing rather than a short tasting at a counter. The food makes it easier to justify the price, and the working distillery gives the tour more substance.

It may be less suitable if you need a tightly timed two-hour stop. The published sections total longer than two hours, and alcohol tastings are best enjoyed without rushing. It may also disappoint someone looking only for a technical whisky masterclass, since the visit gives equal attention to the house, food, gin, liqueurs, and local stories.

Value at $56 Per Person

At $56, the package offers good value on the figures provided. You get entry to Dysart House and the distillery, a guided tour, four spirit tastings, and a Tasmanian antipasto platter.

The comparison with the platter’s stated normal value is striking, but I would still judge the booking on the full experience rather than treat the food value as a guarantee. The strongest case is the combination: you are paying once for a historic property visit, a look at whisky in storage, a guided tasting, and lunch.

A group booking can make the experience feel even better value, especially if everyone enjoys the food and tasting. The available feedback describes a 12-person group having plenty of laughs and finding the package worthwhile. That suggests the experience can work well as a shared outing, not just a specialist whisky stop.

Additional tastings are available on site, but they cost extra. If you want to keep spending under control, stick with the four included spirits and enjoy the platter.

Practical Tips Before You Go

Arrive 15 minutes early. That gives you time to find the Cellar Door team member, show your ticket, and get ready for the tour without holding up the group.

Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a driver’s license. The activity is for adults aged 18 and over. Since you will taste alcohol, arrange transport that does not require you to drive afterward.

If your group has different drink preferences, decide in advance whether you want whisky, gin, or liqueurs. The tasting can be chosen around your preferences, subject to what is available on site.

Allow more than the headline two hours. The detailed timing adds up to 150 minutes before you include the required early arrival. If you have a booking later in the day, leave a generous buffer.

The experience has free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, with a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which is useful if your Tasmania plans are still changing.

Should You Book Old Kempton Distillery?

I would book this if you want a well-rounded Kempton outing with food, history, and spirits in one stop. The working distillery, barrel-filled bond store, old manor, and Cask Lounge create more variety than a basic tasting.

The $56 price is appealing, especially with four tastings and a full antipasto platter included. Book with realistic timing, though: the detailed program appears longer than the advertised two hours, and transport is your responsibility.

Choose it for a relaxed adult group, a whisky-curious visitor, or anyone who likes old buildings and local stories with their lunch. Skip it only if you need a precise schedule, cannot drink alcohol, or want a highly technical whisky seminar with no food or sightseeing.

FAQ

Where does the experience begin?

It begins at Old Kempton Distillery in Kempton, Tasmania. Arrive 15 minutes early and show your ticket to a Cellar Door team member.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is two hours. The detailed schedule lists 45 minutes for the tour, 45 minutes for the tasting, and one hour for lunch, which totals two and a half hours. Allow extra time and confirm the current schedule.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a tour of Old Kempton Distillery and Dysart House, four Old Kempton spirits, and one Tasmanian antipasto platter.

Can I taste something other than whisky?

Yes. The four spirits can be chosen from whisky, gin, and liqueurs, depending on your preferences and what is available on site. Additional tastings may also be available for an extra cost.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Tasmanian antipasto platter for one is included and is served as part of the experience.

Is transportation included?

No. You need to make your own way to Old Kempton Distillery. Arrange safe transport after the alcohol tasting.

What should I bring, and who can attend?

Bring a driver’s license and wear closed-toe shoes. The activity is not suitable for children under 18. The tour is conducted in English and is wheelchair accessible.