Signature Whisky Tour – Hobart & SE Tasmania

Whisky tastes better with a view. This six-and-a-half-hour Hobart tour pairs tastings at three Tasmanian distilleries with a country drive, Richmond village, cheese samples, and a driver who handles the roads. I especially like the maximum of six participants and the fact that tastings and distillery tours are included in the $247 price.

I also like the thoughtful route, which includes Sullivans Cove, Old Kempton, and Lark when availability allows. Guide Ross earns strong praise for his friendly manner and clear explanations. The main consideration is lunch: you pay for it separately, and three whisky stops can feel like a lot if you prefer a slow, single-distillery visit.

Quick points to know

• Three distilleries in one day: The usual route includes Sullivans Cove, Old Kempton, and Lark, though the exact venues can change with opening hours and availability.
• Small groups matter: With no more than six participants, you get a more personal day and easier conversation with the guide.
• A proper distillery visit: Old Kempton includes a production tour, Bond Store visit, and tasting, not just a quick pour at a counter.
• Richmond adds variety: You get time to see Australia’s oldest bridge, explore the village, and sample cheese at The Wicked Cheese Company.
• No need to drive: A private driver and air-conditioned vehicle let you taste whisky without arranging a designated driver.
• Plan for lunch money: Lunch is not included, so bring a little extra beyond the $247 tour price.

Why this Hobart whisky tour works

Tasmania has built a strong name in whisky, and this tour gives you a useful introduction without asking you to plan a complicated route through the southeast. The distilleries are spread out, so transport is more than a convenience. It is what makes a tasting day practical.

I like that the experience is not limited to sampling whisky. You also learn how it is made, see historic buildings, visit a rural town, and stop for cheese. That mix keeps the day from becoming a string of similar tasting rooms.

The group size is one of the biggest advantages. Six people is small enough for the guide to answer individual questions and adjust the pace of conversation. It also makes the vehicle feel more like a shared outing than a large bus excursion.

The adult-only format is useful for the same reason. Everyone on the tour is there for whisky, and the day can focus on tasting, production, and discussion. Children under 18 cannot join, and the tour is not suitable for pregnant women.

Pickup from Hobart and the road to Cambridge

Pickup is offered from accommodation within 5 kilometres of Hobart CBD, usually around 10am. You should be outside five minutes early, since the driver may collect several people and cannot wait at each stop.

The vehicle is private, air-conditioned, and driven by a tour guide. That makes the day much easier than driving yourself between distilleries, especially when tastings are spread across several locations.

The first stop is usually Sullivans Cove Distillery in Cambridge. Its tasting room is described as beautiful, giving the day a polished start before you head farther into the countryside.

The Sullivans Cove visit is listed as about an hour, with a guided element and whisky tasting. This is a good place to begin because you can get familiar with Tasmanian whisky styles before the more detailed production stop at Old Kempton.

The exact order can change. Weather, operating hours, and availability may determine which distilleries you visit and when. You should treat the published route as a strong guide, not a fixed promise.

Sullivans Cove and the first tasting

Sullivans Cove is one of the named distillery options for the tour, and the Cambridge stop gives you a chance to taste whisky in a dedicated setting. The tasting is included in the price, so you are not paying extra every time a sample is poured.

For someone new to Tasmanian whisky, this first stop is useful as an introduction. You can compare the opening tasting with later pours at Old Kempton and Lark, while the guide explains what you are drinking and how the production process affects the finished spirit.

The practical benefit is simple: you do not need to choose a bottle or understand every whisky term before arriving. You can ask questions as you go, and the small group should make that easier.

One caution is that the distillery visited may change. Sullivans Cove, Belgrove, Overeem, Spring Bay, and Lark are all listed among the possible venues, but the regular itinerary names three stops for the day. Confirming the final route before departure is sensible if one particular distillery is your priority.

Old Kempton: the most complete stop

Old Kempton Distillery is the centerpiece of the day. The visit lasts about two hours and includes a guided distillery tour, a look at the Bond Store, tasting, and time for lunch.

This is the stop that gives the tour its strongest educational value. Instead of treating whisky as a finished product in a glass, you get an explanation of how it is produced. You can see how the working side of a distillery connects with the tasting experience.

The Bond Store adds another layer. It gives you a sense of whisky as something that must be stored and matured, not simply made and served on the same day. The tour information does not promise every technical detail, but you can expect the guide to explain the process in a practical way.

Old Kempton is also a good point in the day to ask questions. If you want to understand stills, maturation, or why whiskies differ, this is likely the best time to speak up. Ross is repeatedly praised for answering questions, putting people at ease, and making the day feel personal.

Lunch takes place around the Old Kempton stop and lasts roughly an hour. It is not included, so you will need to pay for your meal separately. This is worth remembering when comparing the $247 cost with the final amount you will spend.

The lunch break is well placed. Whisky tastings are more enjoyable when you have time to eat and reset, rather than moving straight from one pour to the next. I recommend having breakfast before pickup, as the tour itself does not include a morning meal.

Richmond and The Wicked Cheese Company

After lunch, the route heads to Richmond. This historic village gives you a break from whisky and a chance to see one of the area’s best-known sights, Australia’s oldest bridge.

The Richmond stop is described as a sneak peek rather than a long, fully guided town tour. You should expect a short look at the bridge and village, not several hours of free time for museums and shops.

That shorter visit suits the overall design. The tour is built around distilleries, so Richmond acts as a scenic pause between tastings. You get a change of setting without losing too much time from the whisky-focused part of the day.

The Wicked Cheese Company adds a food pairing element with a cheese sample tasting. This is a smart inclusion because cheese gives your palate something different after several whisky samples. It also helps make the day feel connected to Tasmanian food, not only local spirits.

The route can be affected by weather and operating times. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring sunscreen. The tour runs rain or shine, so you should be ready for outdoor walking even if the forecast looks uncertain.

Lark Distillery at Pontville

The final named distillery stop is Lark Distillery at Pontville. The visit includes a tasting and a walk around a beautiful historic building, giving the day a change of setting once again.

The listed stop is about 45 minutes. Compared with Old Kempton, this is a shorter visit, so it works more as a final tasting and architectural stop than as a full production tour.

Ending at Lark can be a pleasant way to finish. By this point, you have tasted whisky from earlier venues and learned more about production, so you can make better comparisons. You may notice differences in style, finish, or presentation that would have been harder to identify at the beginning of the day.

The itinerary also lists possible visits to Belgrove, Overeem, Spring Bay, and other venues. That flexibility helps the operator respond to opening times, but it means you should not book this tour solely to visit one specific distillery unless the final schedule is confirmed.

What $247 buys you

At $247 per person, this is not a cheap sightseeing shuttle. It is priced as a small-group specialty tour, and the value depends on how much you want the whisky education, transport, and personal guiding.

The price includes:

• Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle
• Pickup and drop-off within 5 kilometres of Hobart CBD
• Visits to three distilleries
• Whisky tastings at the distilleries
• Distillery tours where offered
• A bottle of water

Lunch is extra, and any bottles you decide to purchase are also not part of the tour price. You should budget for those separately.

I think the price makes sense if you would otherwise need to hire a car, plan a route, pay for multiple tastings, and find someone willing to avoid drinking. It is also good value for a group that wants a guide who can explain the process and keep the day moving.

It is less attractive if you only want one tasting flight or already have your own transport. In that case, a single distillery visit may cost less and allow more time at one venue.

The small group makes a real difference to the value. You are not paying for a large coach operation with limited contact. The guide can learn what interests you, answer questions, and adjust the conversation. Several ratings praise Ross for doing exactly that, including taking time to get to know the people on the tour.

The role of the guide

Ross is the guide most often named in the feedback, and his strengths are clear: friendly conversation, strong whisky knowledge, calm organisation, and an ability to make people feel relaxed.

That matters on a tasting tour. Whisky can seem formal or technical, especially if you are not familiar with distilling terms. A guide who explains without showing off makes it easier for you to ask basic questions and compare what you taste.

The comments also point to a well-organised day. That is important because the tour includes several stops, a meal break, town sightseeing, and multiple tastings within 390 minutes. Good timing keeps the experience from feeling rushed.

Your guide may not always be Ross, and the route may change. Still, the small-group design gives the operator a better chance to provide personal attention than a large coach tour would.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to adults who want a broad introduction to Tasmanian whisky in one day. It suits you especially well if you are staying in Hobart, do not want to drive, and prefer a guide-led experience over planning each stop yourself.

It is also a good choice for people who enjoy mixing food, scenery, and history into a tasting day. Richmond and the cheese stop give your palate and attention a break, while Old Kempton provides the most substantial production visit.

You may want another option if you are a serious whisky collector seeking long, technical visits at one or two particular distilleries. The operator chooses the three venues based on availability, so the final route is not entirely fixed.

The day may also feel full for anyone who prefers a very slow pace. You will visit three distilleries, stop for lunch, see Richmond, and return to Hobart around 4:30pm. It is relaxed compared with driving yourself, but it is still a full half-day outing.

Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, and comfortable clothing. Breakfast is recommended, and you should be ready for changing weather since the tour operates rain or shine.

Final decision: is the whisky tour worth it?

Book this tour if you want a convenient, adult-only introduction to Hobart’s whisky country, with tastings, transport, and a guide included in one package. The small group, the Old Kempton production visit, and Ross’s warm guiding style are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Think twice if you need a guaranteed visit to one particular distillery, want lunch included, or prefer to spend a full day at just one venue. For most visitors who want to taste several Tasmanian whiskies without driving, the $247 cost is fair, provided you add lunch to your budget and accept that the route can change.

FAQ

How long does the Signature Whisky Tour last?

The tour lasts 390 minutes, or about six and a half hours. Pickup is usually around 10am, with return to accommodation in Hobart CBD at approximately 4:30pm.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour is limited to six participants. It is designed as a small-group experience rather than a large coach outing.

Which distilleries will the tour visit?

The usual itinerary includes Sullivans Cove in Cambridge, Old Kempton Distillery, and Lark Distillery at Pontville. Other possible venues include Belgrove, Overeem, Spring Bay, and additional distilleries, depending on availability, opening times, and weather.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, so you will need to pay for it separately during the break at Old Kempton.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels, hostels, Airbnb accommodation, or other addresses within 5 kilometres of Hobart CBD. You should be outside your accommodation five minutes before pickup.

Is the tour suitable for children or wheelchair users?

No. The tour is for adults aged 18 and over and is not suitable for children under 18, pregnant women, or wheelchair users.