Private Tassie Distillery Tour – Tastings, Lunch and Morning Tea

Raise a glass to Tasmania’s craft spirit scene. This private six-hour tour from Hobart links three very different distilleries with generous tastings, local cheese, lunch, and access that ordinary visitors usually do not get. I like the personal contact with distillers, especially at Hobart Whisky, and I like that the day includes more than whisky, with gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs, and a chance to blend your own spirit. The main drawback is the price: at $860.69 per person, this is a serious splurge unless your group values private guiding and rare access.

The day also has a useful rhythm. You start with morning tea and award-winning Tasmanian cheese, move through tastings and production visits, then stop for lunch in a rustic distillery loft. I would book this for a small group with a real interest in spirits, not for someone who simply wants a quick tasting flight and a cheap afternoon out.

What makes this Hobart distillery day special

• Three very different distilleries: Visit Spring Bay Distillery, Hobart Whisky, and Killara Distillery in one carefully planned day.
• Private access at Hobart Whisky: The old Egg Factory is not open to the public, making this the most unusual stop.
• New make spirit from the still: Taste whisky before barrel ageing changes its colour and flavour.
• Make your own blend: Create a personalised whisky blend rather than only sampling finished bottles.
• Food is part of the experience: Morning tea includes local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates, while lunch is catered in a distillery loft.
• A wide drinks menu: Tastings can include gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs, depending on the venue.

A six-hour route through Tasmania’s spirit country

This is not a large coach outing with a guide rushing you through a gift shop. It is a private activity, so only your group takes part. Pickup is offered, and the start time is 10:00 am, giving you a sensible morning departure from Hobart.

The private format matters here. Distilling is a small-scale business, and the best parts of the day are the conversations with the owners and makers. You can ask why a particular grain, botanical, barrel, or method was chosen without worrying that a large group is waiting behind you.

The experience is also designed as a full food and drink day. Alcoholic tastings are included at all three venues, along with brunch-style cheese, biscuits, chocolates, and an individual lunch serving. That makes the price easier to understand, though it remains high. You are paying for a private vehicle and guide, several hosted visits, food, access to a closed distillery, and a full tasting program, not just the liquid in the glass.

Spring Bay Distillery: start with the people behind the bottles

Your first stop is Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, a short distance from Hobart. The visit lasts about one hour and includes admission, tastings, and a welcome from owners Susanne and Cam.

That personal introduction is important. A small distillery can feel quite different when the people who run it explain how the business began and what they are trying to produce. Rather than treating the venue as a retail counter, the tour gives you a look at the place where the spirits are made and the owners’ story behind it.

This is also where the range of drinks begins to make sense. Tasmania is often linked with whisky, but the day may include gin, vodka, rum, and liqueurs as well. You get to compare different styles instead of spending six hours on one category.

The first stop is short, which helps the overall schedule. You can ask questions and taste several products without using up the whole morning. If you are buying bottles, remember that purchases are not included in the tour price, so set aside extra money if something catches your attention.

New make spirit and the unusual Hobart Whisky visit

The longest stop is Hobart Whisky, with about two hours set aside for the visit. This is the most distinctive part of the day because the distillery is not open to the public.

You meet the distillers in person and hear about the repurposed old Egg Factory. The setting gives the visit a working, behind-the-scenes feel rather than a polished tasting-room presentation. The distillers named for this experience are John, Ben, and Trevor, and the tour is designed around direct conversation with the people making the whisky.

The star tasting is new make spirit. This is whisky fresh from the still, before it has spent years changing in a barrel. It will not taste like the dark, mature whisky you may already know. That difference is the point. You get a rare look at the early stage of a spirit’s life and a clearer idea of what ageing contributes.

The two-hour visit should give you time to take this slowly. Whisky tasting is not a race, and new make spirit can be unfamiliar. Take small sips, listen to the explanation, and compare it with the finished samples served during the visit.

You also get to blend your own whisky. This is a hands-on feature that gives the tour more purpose than a standard tasting. You are not simply told how blending works. You create a personal mix and leave with a better feel for how small changes can affect a whisky’s character.

There is one practical point to keep in mind. The exact spirits and tasting sequence can depend on what each distillery has available on the day. The tour description promises a broad tasting experience, but it does not provide a fixed bottle list. If you have a strong preference for one style, ask before booking.

Killara Distillery and Tasmania’s newer craft spirits

The final distillery is Killara, one of the newer names on the Tasmanian scene. The visit lasts about one hour and includes time with owner Kristy Lark and her distilling team.

Kristy comes from local distilling heritage, which adds another useful angle to the day. At Spring Bay, you hear the owners’ story. At Hobart Whisky, you see a private working site and taste new make spirit. At Killara, you meet a newer operation connected to Tasmania’s wider craft distilling family.

You are greeted with a lavender gin or another local pour. That gives the stop a different mood from the whisky-heavy middle of the day. If gin is your preferred drink, this may be your favourite venue. If whisky is your main interest, it still helps you understand how Tasmanian distilleries are experimenting across several styles.

The one-hour timing keeps the visit focused. You will have enough room for conversation and tasting, but not an extended production tour. That is a fair trade on a day that already includes three venues and lunch.

Morning tea, lunch, and the value of food

Food is not an afterthought here. Morning tea includes award-winning local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates. That matters because spirits taste different when you have something to eat, and the cheese gives the first part of the day a distinctly Tasmanian sense of place.

Lunch is catered and served in individual portions. It takes place in a rustic distillery loft, surrounded by the working atmosphere of the craft community. The setting sounds more informal than a restaurant, which suits the character of the tour.

You should still tell the operator about dietary needs before the day if possible, although the supplied details do not explain what alternatives are available. Do not assume every dietary request can be handled on the spot.

The food also helps explain the cost. A private distillery visit with lunch and an extensive tasting list is not directly comparable to paying for one cellar-door flight. Still, $860.69 per person is far above an ordinary half-day tasting. I would look for the available group discount and calculate the total cost for your party before booking.

How the private format changes the experience

A private tour gives you control over the conversation. You can spend more time on whisky production, ask about gin botanicals, or focus on the business side of running a Tasmanian distillery. You are not locked into the interests of a large mixed group.

It also makes the day more suitable for a special occasion. A couple, family group, or circle of friends can share the experience without strangers joining the vehicle or tastings. The operator describes the activity as private, with only your group participating.

The tradeoff is cost. Group discounts are offered, but the listed rate is per person, so the total can climb quickly. I would not choose this simply because it includes lunch. I would choose it because the group wants private access, direct contact with distillers, and a full day built around spirits.

The tour provider, Bruny Island Safaris, also has strong links within Tasmania’s distilling industry. The host has served whisky, gin, vodka, and liqueurs at Hobart events, taken part in tasting panels, and built personal contacts with many distillery owners and managers. That background helps explain why a venue not open to the public can be included.

Who should book this tour?

This experience suits you if you enjoy asking how things are made, not just drinking the finished product. It is especially good for whisky fans who want to taste new make spirit and experiment with blending.

It also works for mixed groups. One person can focus on whisky, another on gin, and someone else on vodka, rum, or liqueurs. The food, private vehicle, and varied stops make it easier to please people with different tastes.

I would also recommend it for a celebration or a carefully planned day in Hobart. The schedule is long enough to feel substantial, but the advertised duration of about six hours is not an all-day marathon.

You may want something else if you are travelling on a tight budget, dislike alcohol tastings, or prefer to choose your own venues. You should also think twice if you want a fixed, highly detailed production tour at every stop. Only the Hobart Whisky visit is allocated two hours, while Spring Bay and Killara each receive about one hour.

Practical details before you book

Pickup is offered, and the meeting time is 10:00 am. Confirmation is provided when you book, and a mobile ticket is available, which is useful when you are moving between venues.

The tour is near public transportation, but pickup remains the more convenient choice when alcohol is included throughout the day. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is described as suitable for most people.

Bottle purchases are not included. If you expect to buy a favourite gin or whisky, add that cost to your budget. Tastings, brunch items, and catered lunch are included, but retail bottles are your responsibility.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. That deadline is worth noting because the price is substantial.

Should you book this private Tasmania distillery tour?

Book it if you want a hosted, private day with real access to Tasmanian distillers. The strongest reasons are Hobart Whisky’s closed-to-the-public visit, the new make tasting, the personal whisky blend, and the chance to meet owners such as Susanne, Cam, and Kristy Lark.

I would skip it if your main goal is simply to taste a few local spirits at the lowest possible price. At $860.69 per person, this is a premium experience. For the right group, though, the private setting, food, specialist host, and three-stop route make it a memorable way to understand Tasmania’s distilling culture rather than just sample it.

FAQ

Where does the private distillery tour start?

The tour starts from Hobart, with a scheduled start time of 10:00 am. Pickup is offered.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

Which distilleries are included?

The route includes Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, Hobart Whisky, and Killara Distillery.

Is Hobart Whisky open to the public?

No. Hobart Whisky is not open to the public, making this visit a behind-the-scenes experience with the distillers.

What food is included?

Morning tea includes local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates. Lunch is catered and served in individual portions.

Which drinks are included in the tastings?

Alcoholic tastings can include gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs at the venues.

Can I buy bottles during the tour?

Yes, you can purchase bottles from the distilleries, but bottle purchases are not included in the tour price.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour. Group discounts are offered.