Kempton: Craft Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting & Lunch

Old walls, new whisky, and a generous lunch. This two-hour experience brings you into Dysart House, a historic Kempton property now home to Old Kempton Distillery. You tour the house grounds, distillery, and bond store before tasting four spirits and sitting down to a Tasmanian antipasto platter.

I especially like the mix of history and food. You are not only sampling whisky at a cellar door, you are seeing barrels maturing behind the scenes and hearing the ghost stories linked to the house. The antipasto platter is another strong point, and the chance to choose from whisky, gin, and liqueurs gives the tasting some welcome flexibility. The main drawback is simple: transportation is not included, and the experience is only for adults aged 18 and over.

Why This Kempton Tasting Deserves Your Time

• Dysart House adds character: Tour a historic coaching inn with grounds, old rooms, and ghost stories woven into its past.
• The bond store feels hands-on: See barrels of different shapes and sizes holding whisky as it matures.
• Four spirits are included: Your guided tasting can feature single malt whisky, gin, liqueurs, or a mix of the three.
• The lunch is substantial: A Tasmanian antipasto platter is provided for one, giving you food alongside the drinks.
• The price covers more than a tasting: At $56 per person, you receive the tour, four pours, and lunch in one visit.
• John has earned praise: One particularly strong visit was led by John, whose guiding and friendly service helped make the experience memorable.

Arriving at Historic Dysart House

Old Kempton Distillery is in Kempton, Tasmania, inside Dysart House. You should arrive 15 minutes early and show your ticket to a Cellar Door team member. Since transportation is not part of the experience, plan your own way to the property before booking.

The setting matters here. Dysart House is not just a modern tasting room with a few decorative barrels. It is a grand old coaching inn that has been home to the fully functioning Old Kempton distillery since November 2015. That gives the visit a useful sense of place. You can connect the building, the production rooms, the cellar door, and the spirits on your plate.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, which makes it easier for more people to take part. You will need closed-toe shoes, and you should bring a driver’s license. The license requirement is a practical reminder that this is an alcohol-focused experience, not a family attraction.

Touring the Grounds, Distillery, and Bond Store

The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes. You begin with Dysart House and its grounds, then move behind the scenes into the distillery and bond store. This part gives the tasting a useful foundation because you see where the spirits are made and stored before you sample them.

The bond store is one of the most appealing stops. You can see barrels in different shapes and sizes, each holding whisky as it matures. The sight of stored whisky is more informative than simply hearing a short explanation at a bar. You get a clearer idea that single malt whisky takes time, space, and careful handling before it reaches the bottle.

Old Kempton uses 100 percent Tasmanian ingredients for its single malt whiskies. That detail gives the tasting a local focus. You are not sampling an anonymous product with a Tasmanian label. The ingredients and production take place within the state, and the historic house provides the backdrop.

The tour also includes the darker side of the property’s story. Ghost tales are part of Dysart House’s history, so you may want to keep your eyes open as you move through the building. The ghost stories will not appeal to everyone, but they add personality and give the tour a little more life than a standard production talk.

I would not expect a large industrial distillery visit here. The appeal is the combination of a working distillery, an old house, and a personal guided walk. If your main goal is to study every stage of whisky production in technical detail, the 45-minute tour may feel fairly compact. For a relaxed introduction, the balance is about right.

A Guided Tasting of Four Old Kempton Spirits

After the tour, you sit down in the Cask Lounge. This tasting space is located in the grand coaching inn that serves as Old Kempton’s cellar door, so the setting continues the house theme rather than switching to a plain bar.

The tasting lasts about 45 minutes. Four Old Kempton spirits are included, and you may be able to choose from whisky, gin, and liqueurs. The information provided describes single malt whisky as the central product, but the included tasting can also draw from the distillery’s gin and liqueur range.

That flexibility is useful if your group has mixed tastes. One person may want to compare whisky expressions, while another may prefer gin or a liqueur. You should confirm your preferred selection with the cellar door team on arrival, since additional tastings are available on-site but are not included in the $56 price.

The tasting is guided rather than simply four glasses placed in front of you. That matters if you are new to whisky. You can take your time, listen to the explanation, and compare the spirits without needing to know the right vocabulary in advance.

The drinks are served with food, which improves the whole experience. Alcohol on an empty stomach can turn a pleasant tasting into a poor decision, so the antipasto platter is not just a bonus. It gives you something substantial to eat while you work through the pours.

Reviews of the experience give special credit to the service. John, one of the guides, was singled out for making the distillery tour excellent, while the wider service was described as friendly and attentive. That personal touch fits the scale of Old Kempton better than a rushed group presentation would.

Tasmanian Antipasto Lunch in the Cask Lounge

The final hour is set aside for lunch. You receive a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one, normally valued at $80 according to the supplied details. That stated value makes the package look especially strong, although you should treat it as the venue’s usual platter value rather than assuming you are receiving an $80 meal in every possible sense.

The platter gives the visit more substance than a quick tasting flight. You can sit down, eat, and enjoy the old building instead of leaving as soon as the last pour is finished. It also makes the experience more suitable for a relaxed afternoon than for anyone in a hurry.

The food has been praised along with the whisky and gin. One visit with a group of 12 was described as having excellent platters, plenty of laughs, and strong value for money. Another account praised the food and friendly staff after finding both the house and distillery interesting.

I like this format because it leaves room for conversation. You are not simply moving from one tasting station to another. The lunch hour gives you time to slow down, compare impressions, and enjoy the atmosphere of the old manor.

Still, the lunch is a platter for one, not a full multi-course restaurant meal. If you arrive expecting a long fine-dining service, you may find the format more casual than expected. Think of it as a generous antipasto lunch paired with a guided tasting, which is exactly where it works best.

Is $56 Good Value?

At $56 per person, this experience offers a strong amount of content for two hours. The price includes the 45-minute guided tour, a 45-minute tasting of four spirits, and a one-hour Tasmanian antipasto lunch. You are also paying for access to a historic property, the grounds, distillery, bond store, and Cask Lounge.

The best value comes from the combination. A short tasting alone can feel expensive if you are paying only for four small pours. Here, the tour provides context and the platter gives you a proper reason to stay. The old house and behind-the-scenes barrel storage add something that a basic cellar door visit does not.

The $80 stated value of the antipasto platter makes the $56 package particularly attractive, though prices and portions can change over time. The most sensible way to judge it is to consider what you want from the day. If you enjoy spirits, local food, historic buildings, and a guided visit, the price is reasonable. If you only want to buy a bottle quickly, this tour is more than you need.

For a group, the social side also adds value. A 12-person visit was especially well received for its atmosphere and laughs, so the experience can work well for a small celebration or an adult group outing. The adults-only rule keeps the focus clear, but it also means families with younger children need another plan.

Who Will Enjoy Old Kempton Most?

I would recommend this experience to you if you like your tastings with a story attached. The house, the ghost tales, the barrels, and the local ingredients all give the whisky a clear setting.

It is also a good choice for:

• Whisky drinkers who want to taste Tasmanian single malt
• Gin and liqueur fans who want some choice in the four pours
• Couples seeking a relaxed food and drink experience
• Adult groups looking for a sociable afternoon
• Visitors who enjoy historic buildings as much as the products made inside them
• Anyone who wants lunch included rather than arranging a separate meal

You may want to skip it if you dislike alcohol tastings, have no transport to Kempton, or prefer a highly technical distillery lesson. The tour is informative, but its focus is shared enjoyment rather than an intensive production course.

The two-hour length is another advantage. It is long enough to feel worthwhile but short enough to fit around other Tasmania plans. You should still allow extra time for driving, settling in, and any bottle shopping or additional tasting you may choose on-site.

Practical Details Before You Book

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. You need to be at Old Kempton Distillery 15 minutes before the start time, and availability depends on the selected date and starting time.

Closed-toe shoes are required. Bring a driver’s license, and remember that transportation is not included. Since the experience includes four alcoholic drinks, plan carefully if you will be driving afterward.

Children under 18 cannot take part. The experience is wheelchair accessible, which is useful for visitors who need step-free access, though you may still want to confirm any personal access requirements directly with the provider.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Tasmania plans are still changing.

Should You Book the Old Kempton Tour?

Book it if you want more than a whisky flight. The strongest parts are the historic Dysart House setting, the bond store with its maturing barrels, the flexible four-spirit tasting, and the included antipasto lunch. The friendly service, including the praise directed toward guide John, adds to the appeal.

The main caution is practical rather than experiential. You must arrange transportation, and the tasting makes responsible driving important. At $56, though, the package gives you a guided tour, four spirits, and food in two hours, making it a sensible pick for adults who want a relaxed taste of Tasmania’s distilling scene.

FAQ

Where is Old Kempton Distillery located?

Old Kempton Distillery is located at Dysart House in Kempton, Tasmania, Australia.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts two hours. The guided tour takes about 45 minutes, the spirit tasting takes about 45 minutes, and lunch takes about one hour.

What is included in the price?

The $56 price includes a tour of Old Kempton Distillery and Dysart House, a tasting of four Old Kempton spirits, and a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one.

Can I choose gin or liqueurs instead of whisky?

The included tasting offers a choice from whisky, gin, and liqueurs. You can discuss your preferences with the cellar door team.

Are additional tastings available?

Additional tastings may be available on-site, depending on your preferences. They are not included in the tour price.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Each participant receives a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one.

Is transportation provided?

No. Transportation to and from Old Kempton Distillery is not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. Children under 18 are not permitted to take part.

What should I bring?

Bring a driver’s license and wear closed-toe shoes.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.