Distillery Tour and Guided Tasting

A small stop with plenty of character. Old Kempton Distillery gives you two good reasons to visit: you get inside Dysart House, built in 1842, and you taste four spirits made with 100% Tasmanian ingredients. The tour also explains how whisky, gin, and liqueurs are produced, so the tasting has some useful context behind it.

I like the $32 price, which covers the guided visit and all four samples. I also like the manageable group size of up to 20 people. The main point to consider is transport: private transportation is not included, so you need to reach Kempton and Dysart House on your own. The experience is listed as lasting about 1 hour 30 minutes, although the main distillery visit itself is described as about one hour.

Key points to know before you go

• The setting is an 1842 coaching property: Old Kempton Distillery operates from the old coaching stables of Dysart House, giving the tasting a strong sense of place.
• Four spirits are included: Your tasting covers four Old Kempton products, with the range including single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs.
• The tour begins at 1:30 pm: Meet at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel, 26 Main Street, Kempton.
• The group is capped at 20 people: That keeps the visit more personal than a large commercial distillery stop.
• The price includes the tasting: At $32, you are paying for both the guided tour and four alcoholic samples.
• The experience returns to its starting point: There is no separate end location to arrange around.

Arriving at Dysart House in Kempton

Old Kempton Distillery is located in Kempton, Tasmania, at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel. The meeting point is 26 Main Street, and the scheduled start time is 1:30 pm. You will also finish back at this same meeting point.

That simple arrangement matters if you are building the visit into a day of driving. You do not need to organize a separate pickup after the tasting, but you do need your own way to Kempton. Private transportation is not part of the experience, so check your route before booking.

The property itself gives the tour a useful sense of place. Dysart House dates from 1842, and the distillery operates from its old coaching stables. This is not a modern tasting room designed without reference to its surroundings. The building connects the spirits to an older Tasmanian property and gives you something to look at before the first sample is poured.

The setting also helps make the visit more than a quick drink stop. You are seeing an operating distillery in a historic building, then learning how the products are made. That combination should appeal to you if you like food and drink experiences with a local setting rather than a simple bar tasting.

Inside the old coaching stables

The guided tour takes you through Dysart House and the distillery. The available details do not provide a room-by-room route or a full list of equipment, so you should not expect a highly technical plant tour based on the published information alone. You can expect an introduction to the property, an explanation of the distilling process, and a closer look at the place where Old Kempton produces its spirits.

The old coaching stables are an important part of the appeal. The building dates to 1842, while the distillery has operated there since 2015. That gives you two time periods in one visit: the older agricultural and coaching setting, and the newer Tasmanian spirits operation.

A good guide can make the process easy to follow, especially for people who know little about whisky or gin. The tour is designed to explain how spirits are made and how their characteristics develop. You will get a clearer idea of why one product tastes different from another before you begin the tasting.

John is specifically praised for giving an informative explanation of the process used to make Old Kempton’s handcrafted whisky, gin, and other liqueurs. If John leads your visit, his style appears to suit visitors who want more than a quick introduction. The focus is on practical understanding, not just a list of products.

The group limit is 20 people. That is not a private tour, but it is still a reasonable size for a guided tasting. You should have a better chance of hearing the guide and asking a question than you would in a much larger group. The exact atmosphere will depend on the day and the people in your group.

Learning how Tasmanian spirits are made

The tour covers the distilling process and the characteristics of the spirits. That wording is important. You are not only being handed four glasses and told which bottle they came from. The guided format gives you a framework for comparing them.

The Old Kempton range includes single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. These styles offer clear contrasts:

• Single malt whisky gives you a chance to consider how a grain-based spirit develops its character.
• Gin lets you compare a spirit built around botanical flavors.
• Liqueurs show a sweeter and often more flavored side of distilling.

The experience uses 100% Tasmanian ingredients. That detail gives the tasting a local angle and helps explain why the distillery belongs in a Tasmania itinerary rather than feeling like a generic spirits stop. The supplied information does not identify every ingredient or botanical, so you should avoid expecting a full ingredient-by-ingredient lesson. Still, the Tasmanian sourcing is a clear part of the distillery’s identity.

I like this structure because it works for both newcomers and people who already know their way around whisky. If you are new to spirits, the guide can help you notice differences in style and flavor. If you already enjoy whisky or gin, you can use the visit to compare the range and ask more focused questions.

Keep in mind that this is a group tour. The presentation will be shared rather than tailored completely to your personal interests. That is a fair trade for the $32 cost, especially since four samples are included.

The four-spirit tasting

The tasting is the heart of the experience. Four Old Kempton spirits are included, and the samples are served as part of the guided visit. You do not need to pay separately for the listed tastings.

The tasting should make more sense after the tour. You will have heard about the production methods and the broad characteristics of whisky, gin, and liqueurs, then you can consider how those ideas appear in the glass. That order is useful. It turns the samples into a learning experience instead of four unrelated drinks.

The distillery’s products are described as handcrafted, including whisky, gin, and other liqueurs. You may find the tasting particularly useful if you are deciding which style you prefer. A single malt whisky may interest you most, while another person may prefer gin or a sweeter liqueur.

One past visitor described the stop as a worthwhile place to taste fabulous whisky while traveling toward Hobart. That makes sense as a practical use of the experience. Kempton can work as a short stop on a driving route, provided the 1:30 pm start fits your schedule.

Remember that this is an alcoholic tasting. If you are driving afterward, plan carefully. The provided details do not state the sample sizes or offer a nonalcoholic alternative, so you should ask the operator directly if either point matters to you.

Is $32 good value?

At $32, the price is reasonable for a 1-hour-30-minute experience that includes a guided tour, an historic property, an explanation of distilling, and four alcoholic samples. Even if the core distillery portion lasts about one hour, the package offers more than a tasting flight at a bar.

The value is strongest if you care about the setting and the production story. You are paying for access to Dysart House, a guide-led visit, and a chance to taste the products with some explanation. The historic building adds interest that a stand-alone tasting counter would not provide.

The price may feel less attractive if you only want to buy a drink or sample one particular whisky. Four samples are included, so the experience works best when you want an overview of the Old Kempton range. It is also a better fit for someone who enjoys learning how products are made.

A 4.9 rating from 42 ratings, with 95% recommending the experience, supports the idea that the tour delivers what it promises. The strongest praise centers on the informative presentation, the handcrafted spirits, and the fun of making the stop while traveling to another destination.

That high score should not make you expect a private, custom-built tasting. The group can include up to 20 people, and transportation is not included. For most people, the price remains solid, but your personal value depends on how much you enjoy distillery tours and whether Kempton is already on your route.

Planning the visit around your day

The fixed 1:30 pm start makes timing important. You cannot simply arrive whenever you happen to pass through town. Build enough time into your day to reach 26 Main Street before the tour begins.

The published duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, while the stop itself is listed as one hour. I would allow the longer amount when planning the rest of your day. That gives you room for the guided visit, tasting, questions, and any minor delay without turning the next part of your itinerary into a race.

Because the activity ends where it starts, you can return directly to your vehicle or continue your drive from the same location. That is handy for a road trip. It also means the tour is easy to combine with other plans, as long as you leave enough time after the tasting.

The mobile ticket is useful for a self-guided road trip. You can keep the booking on your phone rather than carrying a printed voucher. Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, which gives you the basic reassurance that the reservation is in place.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes in that final 24-hour period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time, so keep that in mind if you are booking from another time zone.

Who will enjoy Old Kempton most?

I would recommend this tour to you if you enjoy local food and drink, historic buildings, and short guided experiences with a clear structure. It also suits anyone planning a drive near Kempton or traveling toward Hobart who wants a stop with a little more substance than a coffee break.

Whisky fans will find the single malt focus appealing, but the tour is not limited to whisky. Gin and liqueurs are part of the range, and the four-sample format gives you a broader look at the distillery.

It is also a good choice for people who are curious about spirits but do not yet know much about them. The guide explains the production process and the characteristics of the drinks, which can help you taste with more confidence.

Families with children should note that the included tasting consists of alcoholic beverages. The information provided does not state an age policy, so contact Old Kempton Distillery if children are part of your group and you need to confirm the arrangements.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. No special fitness requirement is listed. Since the tour takes place in an old property and former coaching stables, anyone with particular mobility needs should ask the operator for current access details before booking.

Is this the right Tasmania distillery tour for you?

Book it if you want a short, good-value introduction to Old Kempton’s whisky, gin, and liqueurs in an 1842 setting. The four samples, small maximum group size, and guide-led explanation make it more useful than a simple bottle-shop stop.

I would be especially happy to recommend it as part of a driving day toward Hobart, as long as you can reach Kempton for the 1:30 pm start. Skip it if you are looking for private transportation, a private tasting, or a long technical tour focused only on whisky.

For most visitors who enjoy spirits and local history, Old Kempton offers a well-priced stop with a clear sense of place. John’s praised presentation and the strong overall rating suggest that the guide can make the production story both informative and enjoyable, while the tasting gives you a practical way to judge the finished products for yourself.

FAQ

Where does the Old Kempton Distillery tour begin?

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

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 1:30 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The distillery stop itself is listed as about one hour.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $32.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the guided tour and alcoholic tastings of four Old Kempton spirits.

Which spirits can you learn about and taste?

Old Kempton produces single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs. Four Old Kempton spirit samples are included.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Dysart House Green Ponds Hotel.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you need to make your own way to the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum group size of 20 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.