Distillery Tour and Guided Tasting

A historic house hides a working spirit maker. Old Kempton Distillery gives you a 90-minute guided visit to Dysart House, an 1842 building in Kempton, Tasmania, followed by tastings of four house spirits. I like the mix of local history and practical distilling knowledge, and I also like that the tasting includes whisky, gin, and liqueurs rather than a single style. The main thing to consider is transport: private transportation is not included, so you need to reach Green Ponds Hotel in Kempton on your own.

The $32 price is fair for a small-group experience capped at 20 people, especially if you enjoy seeing how spirits are made rather than simply ordering a drink at a bar. The tour is led by a guide such as John, whose clear explanation of whisky, gin, and liqueur production has earned particular praise. Still, this is a short visit, not a full-day distillery outing, so expect a focused introduction rather than an exhaustive study of every spirit.

Key points to know before you go

• Dysart House dates from 1842: The historic building gives the visit a sense of place before the tasting even begins.
• The distillery operates from old coaching stables: You see a working production site in a repurposed part of the property.
• Four Old Kempton spirits are included: The tasting covers products made from 100% Tasmanian ingredients.
• The experience lasts about 90 minutes: The listed distillery stop runs for about one hour, with the guided tasting included in the overall visit.
• The group is limited to 20 people: That keeps the tour more personal than a large commercial tasting.
• You meet at 1:30 pm in Kempton: The tour begins and ends at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street.

Why Old Kempton works as a stop in Tasmania

Old Kempton Distillery is not set in a modern visitor center built only for tourism. Its home is Dysart House, a property dating from 1842, and the distillery operates from the old coaching stables. That combination matters. You are not only learning how spirits are produced. You are also seeing how an old Tasmanian building has been given a working new purpose.

The distillery has operated there since 2015. That places the production in a relatively recent chapter of the property’s long story, and the contrast is part of the appeal. Old stone or historic interiors, if present during your visit, are not the whole point. The useful question is how the setting supports the distillery today, and the tour is designed to show you that connection.

I like this approach because it avoids separating local history from the product. You first get a feel for Dysart House, then learn how the distillery functions within it. The result is more grounded than a tasting with no context.

Kempton is also a practical stop if you are moving through central Tasmania. One tasting review described the visit as a good break on the way to Hobart. That makes sense for an afternoon appointment, though you should plan your route carefully because the tour does not include transport.

Entering 1842 Dysart House

The meeting point is Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel at 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania 7030. The tour starts at 1:30 pm and returns to the same meeting point when it ends. This simple arrangement is helpful if you are building the distillery into a wider driving route.

The guided walk begins with the house itself. Dysart House dates from 1842, so the first part of the experience supplies a historical frame for the distillery. You get a look at a place that predates the modern spirits business by many decades, then see how its old coaching stables now serve as the production base.

The tour is guided rather than self-directed. That is important in a working distillery, where equipment, ingredients, and production terms can be hard to understand without explanation. A guide can tell you what you are looking at and connect the physical space with the spirits you later taste.

John has been singled out for explaining the process of making handcrafted whisky, gin, and other liqueurs. His role appears to be more than simply leading people from room to room. The best part of this type of visit is the link between production and tasting, and the guide’s explanations are meant to help you notice that link.

Do not expect a long architectural tour of the house. The building is the setting and an important part of the story, but the main focus remains the distillery and its spirits.

Inside the old coaching stables

The old coaching stables are the heart of the visit. This is where Old Kempton Distillery runs its operation, producing single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. The tour explains the process used to distill spirits and discusses the characteristics of the different products.

That last part is especially useful for anyone who is still learning the difference between spirit styles. Whisky, gin, and liqueur do not offer the same drinking experience, and a guided tasting can give you a basic framework for comparing them. You are not left with four unrelated samples. Instead, the tour gives you a reason to think about how each drink is made and what makes it distinct.

The use of 100% Tasmanian ingredients adds a clear local angle. The available information does not specify every ingredient or explain how each one changes the final spirit, so you should ask the guide if that detail interests you. The useful point is that the distillery connects its products to Tasmania rather than presenting them as generic bottles with a local label.

I also appreciate the scale of the operation suggested by the group limit. A maximum of 20 people is small enough for a guide to address questions without turning the session into a noisy crowd. It is not a private tour, and you may still be sharing the room with a full group, but it should feel more manageable than a major attraction with dozens of people.

The listed stop is about one hour, while the complete experience is described as approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Allow the full 90 minutes when planning your day. That buffer is sensible for the guided portion and the tasting, and it keeps you from booking another activity too tightly afterward.

Four spirits, one guided tasting

Four Old Kempton spirit samples are included in the ticket. That is the central value of the visit. You are not paying only for access to a historic building or a short talk. You receive a structured tasting of four products made by the distillery.

The selection includes spirits from the distillery’s range of single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. The exact four samples are not specified, so the lineup may depend on what is being presented on the day. If you have a strong interest in one particular style, ask before booking or confirm at the start of the tour.

A guided tasting is most useful when you slow down and pay attention to the differences. Notice how the spirits vary in aroma, texture, and finish. Then connect those impressions to the production explanation. The point is not to prove that you can identify every note. It is to leave with a clearer idea of what you like.

The tasting also makes this activity a good introduction for people who do not know much about Australian spirits. You get a manageable number of samples, not an overwhelming flight. Four is enough to compare, but not so many that the information blurs together.

I would treat the tasting as part of the learning, not simply as a chance to drink. The guide’s explanation of characteristics gives you a better basis for choosing a bottle later, if bottles are available for purchase at the distillery. The supplied details do not confirm a retail shop or bottle prices, so do not plan your budget around buying additional products.

One practical point is obvious but worth saying: this is an alcohol tasting. If you are driving, plan responsibly. The tour does not provide private transportation, and the meeting point and end point are the same, so arranging a safe return is your responsibility.

Is $32 good value?

At $32, the experience offers a solid amount for a short afternoon activity. You receive a guided visit to a historic property, an explanation of distilling, access to the working distillery in the former coaching stables, and four alcoholic tastings.

I see the price as particularly reasonable if you already plan to pass through Kempton. The visit can fill part of an afternoon without demanding a full day or a large admission fee. It also offers something more specific than a general sightseeing stop: you learn how local spirits are made and taste the results in the same place.

The value is less clear if you are making a long detour solely for the tour. Since private transportation is not included and the experience lasts about 90 minutes, you need to weigh fuel, driving time, and the rest of your itinerary. The tour is best as part of a route through the area, not necessarily as the only reason to travel a great distance.

The group size helps protect the value. With no more than 20 people, the guide can explain the products without rushing through a huge crowd. This is still a group tour, so anyone wanting a private, highly customized spirits lesson should adjust expectations.

The rating of 4.9 from 42 published ratings and a 95 percent recommendation rate point to strong satisfaction. The most praised features are the informative presentation, the tasting, and the suitability of the stop for a route toward Hobart. Those are the areas where the $32 works hardest.

Timing, access, and practical planning

The official start time is 1:30 pm. Arrive with enough time to find Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel at 26 Main Street, rather than treating the start time as the moment to begin searching for the property. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, which simplifies your plan.

A mobile ticket is provided, so you can keep the booking on your phone. Confirmation is received at the time of booking. That is useful for a driving itinerary, where you may not want to print paperwork, but you should still make sure your phone is charged before setting out.

The tour accepts service animals, and most people can participate. The available information does not provide detailed mobility notes about the historic house, the stables, steps, or surfaces. If you have specific access needs, contact Old Kempton Distillery before booking so you can confirm the conditions directly.

The experience allows a maximum of 20 people. That number is large enough for a social group but small enough to keep the guide’s talk useful. If you prefer a quiet, private setting, this format may not suit you. If you enjoy asking questions and comparing impressions with a small group, it should be a comfortable middle ground.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 1:30 pm start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes made in that window are not accepted. The cut-off uses local Tasmanian time, so keep that in mind if you are arranging the visit from another time zone.

Who will enjoy this distillery visit?

I would recommend Old Kempton to anyone interested in the connection between place and food or drink. The historic house, former coaching stables, Tasmanian ingredients, and local spirits all belong to one compact story.

It also suits whisky drinkers who want an introduction to single malt production, as well as gin fans and people who prefer sweeter or more approachable liqueurs. Since four different products are included, the tasting has enough range to appeal beyond one narrow spirit preference.

The tour is a good choice for couples, friends, and small groups making an afternoon drive. It may also work for people who do not usually visit distilleries, because the guided format explains the basics instead of assuming specialist knowledge.

I would be more cautious if you do not drink alcohol, dislike tasting rooms, or need a long historical tour. Dysart House is an important setting, but the visit is built around distilling and sampling spirits. Likewise, people with very limited time should remember that the experience takes about 90 minutes and begins at a fixed time.

Should you book Old Kempton Distillery?

Book it if you want a short, well-priced stop that combines Tasmanian history with a working distillery. The strongest reasons are the 1842 Dysart House setting, the former coaching stables, four included tastings, and the clear focus on how whisky, gin, and liqueurs are made.

I would especially choose it when driving between destinations near Kempton or Hobart. The tour gives you a real local product and a useful story to go with it, rather than another quick photo stop. Just arrange your own transport, allow the full 90 minutes, and remember that the tasting lineup is not specified in advance.

Skip it if you want a private session, a long technical masterclass, or an activity without alcohol. For most people interested in Tasmanian spirits, though, $32 buys a friendly introduction with enough history and hands-on context to make the visit worthwhile.

FAQ

Where does the Old Kempton Distillery tour begin?

It begins at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton, Tasmania 7030.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 1:30 pm.

How long does the experience last?

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

What is included in the tasting?

The ticket includes alcoholic tastings of four Old Kempton spirits.

Is transportation included?

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

What happens if I cancel?

You can receive a full refund by cancelling at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted and are not refunded.