Distillery Tour and Guided Tasting

Old Kempton Distillery gives you two experiences in one: a guided look at Dysart House, built in 1842, and a close introduction to the spirits made inside its old coaching stables. The distillery has operated here since 2015, producing single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs from 100% Tasmanian ingredients.

I like the clear four-spirit tasting, which gives you more than a quick sample at the cellar door. I also like the small group limit of 20, plus the chance to hear the process explained by a guide such as John, whose tour has been praised for making whisky, gin, and liqueur production easy to follow.

The main consideration is timing. The experience is advertised at about 90 minutes, while the listed distillery visit itself is shown as one hour. That is still a sensible stop, but you should not expect a full afternoon workshop or private tasting.

Key points to know before you book

• Historic setting: Dysart House dates from 1842, and the distillery operates from its former coaching stables.
• Four samples included: Your ticket covers tastings of four Old Kempton spirits.
• Tasmanian ingredients: The whisky, gin, and liqueurs are made with 100% Tasmanian ingredients.
• Small group format: The maximum group size is 20 people, keeping the guided visit fairly manageable.
• Easy road-trip stop: The tour begins and ends at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel in Kempton, about a practical stop for a visit connected with Hobart plans.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 1:30 pm start.

Entering Dysart House in Kempton

The experience begins at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania. You meet there at 1:30 pm, and the activity returns to the same point. Since private transportation is not included, you need to arrange your own way to Kempton.

That simple transport setup is worth noting before you commit. This is not a tour that collects you from Hobart or carries you between several distilleries. It is a focused stop at one property, so it works best as part of a self-drive day or a planned visit to the Kempton area.

Dysart House gives the tasting a useful sense of place. You are not walking into a modern tasting room with no connection to the past. The building dates from 1842, and Old Kempton’s distillery now operates from the old coaching stables. That setting links the newer spirit-making business with the property’s earlier role on the road.

I find that setting important because it gives the tour more shape. You start with a historic building, then move into a working production space, then finish with spirits made on site. The experience is not only about drinking four samples. It shows you how a historic Tasmanian property is being used today.

What the guided tour covers

The guided portion introduces the distillery and explains how spirits are made. You learn about the process behind the products and the characteristics that separate one spirit from another.

The information supplied for the tour does not promise a detailed production schedule or a hands-on activity, so you should expect an explanation and guided viewing rather than a class where you make your own gin or whisky. That is a good fit if you want the basics without spending half a day on technical detail.

Old Kempton produces several types of spirits, including single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. Each category gives the guide a different way to explain distilling. Whisky brings the discussion toward grain, spirit production, and the character of a single malt. Gin and liqueurs show how a distillery can use different ingredients and methods to create very different drinks.

The use of 100% Tasmanian ingredients is another useful point to listen for. It gives the products a clear local identity, rather than making the visit feel like a generic tasting that could happen anywhere. The tour is especially suited to you if you want to understand how local ingredients connect to the finished bottle.

The guide’s role matters here. John is specifically praised for explaining the process of making handcrafted whisky, gin, and other liqueurs in an informative way. You may not receive John on every date, but his approach gives you a fair idea of the tone to expect: practical, clear, and centered on how the spirits are produced.

The old coaching stables and the working distillery

The distillery is run from the old coaching stables at Dysart House. That detail makes the site more interesting than a standard retail tasting counter. You get a look at a production space housed in an older building, with the past and present sharing the same address.

The distillery has operated there since 2015. That means the business is modern enough to have a developed range of whisky, gin, and liqueurs, while still being tied to a historic building and local ingredients.

You should keep your expectations measured. The information provided does not promise access to every production room, a look at ageing barrels, or a demonstration of each step. What you are guaranteed is a guided tour of Dysart House and the distillery, along with an explanation of the distilling process and spirit characteristics.

That is enough for a strong introduction. If you already know a great deal about whisky production, you may find the tour fairly introductory. If you are curious but not deeply technical, the format should give you useful context before the tasting begins.

The group cap of 20 is helpful. A group that size is not private, but it is small enough for the guide to keep the visit together and explain the key points without the feel of a large coach stop. The size also matters during the tasting, where a crowded counter can make it harder to hear or ask questions.

Tasting four Old Kempton spirits

The ticket includes four alcoholic beverage tastings. This is the part that gives the $32 price much of its value, since you are not paying for a building visit alone.

The exact four pours are not specified, so you should not book expecting a guaranteed list of bottles. The distillery’s range includes single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs, and the tasting introduces you to four Old Kempton spirits selected by the operator.

That variety should make the session more useful than tasting four versions of one product. You can compare different spirit styles and think about how each one gets its character. The guide explains the qualities of the drinks, so you are not left with a row of glasses and no context.

I like this structure because it lets you taste with a purpose. The tour first explains the work behind the bottle, then gives you a chance to notice the results. You do not need to be a whisky expert. The main benefit is learning what you are tasting and why the spirits differ.

The tasting also makes this a better stop for mixed-interest groups. A serious whisky fan may focus on the single malt, while someone less interested in whisky can pay more attention to the gin or liqueurs. Still, all four samples are alcoholic, so this is not the best choice if you want a non-drinking historical tour.

The tasting is guided rather than simply self-serve. One published experience of the visit singled out the explanations of whisky, gin, and liqueur production, which suggests that the conversation is a central part of the session. I would treat the tasting as a chance to ask direct questions about the products and their characteristics, not just as a quick drink before moving on.

How much time should you allow?

The tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The listed stop at Old Kempton Distillery is shown as one hour, so allow the full 90 minutes rather than planning a tight connection immediately afterward.

The difference may reflect the time needed for the house tour, distillery explanation, and four tastings. It may also vary with the group and the guide. Either way, the practical advice is simple: arrive ready for a relaxed visit and leave some breathing room in your day.

The 1:30 pm start gives you an afternoon activity rather than an early morning appointment. It can work well as a stop on the way to Hobart, or as part of a day spent exploring central Tasmania. One specific account describes the distillery as a worthwhile stop while heading toward Hobart, which matches the tour’s compact format.

You do not need to build an entire day around this activity. At the same time, you should not treat it as a 20-minute tasting. The history, production explanation, and four samples give it enough substance to deserve a proper place in your schedule.

Is $32 good value?

At $32, the price is reasonable for a guided visit with four spirit samples, especially if you value both the historic setting and the explanation of how the products are made. You are paying for more than a drink flight, but less than a long specialist workshop.

The value is strongest for three kinds of visitors. First, you get a clear introduction to Tasmanian spirits without needing prior knowledge. Second, you get a guided look at an operating distillery in an 1842 building. Third, you can compare four products rather than buying several bottles simply to work out what you like.

The value is less convincing if you want a private session, extensive production access, or transportation from your accommodation. None of those is included. You also need to remember that the ticket does not cover private transport, so fuel and driving arrangements are part of your own budget.

For a self-drive visitor, the price makes sense as a compact cultural and food-and-drink stop. For someone who only wants a quick whisky sample, it may be more time and history than necessary. I would choose it for the full combination rather than for the tasting alone.

Who will enjoy Old Kempton most?

I would recommend this experience to you if you enjoy historic buildings, local food and drink, and short guided tours with a clear beginning and end. It is also a good pick if you are curious about Tasmanian whisky but want to compare it with gin and liqueurs.

The tour suits couples, small groups, and independent visitors building a road trip through Tasmania. The maximum of 20 people keeps it from being an oversized group experience, though it is still a shared tour rather than a private appointment.

It also works for people who know little about distilling. The guide’s explanation of the process gives you a starting point, and the four samples help turn abstract terms into something you can taste.

I would be more cautious if you do not drink alcohol, since the included tasting is entirely alcoholic. I would also be cautious if you need door-to-door transport, since the tour begins and ends at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel and leaves transportation to you.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The supplied details do not list specific accessibility features inside the historic property, so you should contact the provider directly if you have mobility needs that require more than the general participation information confirms.

Booking, timing, and cancellation tips

Your mobile ticket makes the booking practical, especially if you are fitting the stop into a larger driving day. The meeting point is clear: Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton. The start time is 1:30 pm, and the activity ends back there.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. A cancellation within 24 hours is not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. I would check your driving plans before booking, since the fixed start time and rural location make a last-minute change less convenient.

The tour has a maximum of 20 people, but the supplied information does not promise that every date will fill or that every departure will be private. Book it as a small-group experience, not as a personal appointment.

Should you book the Old Kempton Distillery tour?

Book this tour if you want a short, well-balanced introduction to Tasmanian spirits in a genuine historic setting. The combination of Dysart House, the old coaching stables, a working distillery, and four tastings gives the visit more substance than a basic cellar-door stop.

The strongest reasons to go are the clear production explanation, the 100% Tasmanian ingredients, and the chance to compare whisky, gin, and liqueurs in one sitting. The main drawbacks are the lack of included transportation, the shared group format, and the fact that the exact four spirits are not specified.

For $32 and about 90 minutes, I think it is a sensible addition to a self-drive Tasmania itinerary, especially on a route connected with Hobart. If you want a long technical whisky seminar or a private tasting, choose something more specialized. If you want history, local spirits, and a manageable afternoon stop, Old Kempton is a good call.

FAQ

Where does the Old Kempton Distillery tour begin?

The tour begins at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania 7030. It also ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 1:30 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. The distillery stop itself is listed as one hour, so allow the longer time when planning your day.

How many spirits are included in the tasting?

Four Old Kempton spirits are included. The distillery produces single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs, but the exact four samples are not specified.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you need to arrange your own transport to and from Kempton.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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