Kempton: Craft Distillery Tour with Whisky Tasting & Lunch

Old Kempton Distillery puts the whisky in its proper setting: a grand old coaching inn with ghost stories, timber barrels, and a cellar door called the Cask Lounge. You tour Dysart House and the bond store, then sit down for four Tasmanian spirit tastings and an antipasto platter.

I like the mix of history and working distillery access, rather than a tasting with a quick sales pitch. I also like the food component, which turns this into a relaxed lunch outing instead of four small sips and a goodbye. The main thing to check is the timing: the activity is advertised as two hours, but the listed tour, tasting, and lunch blocks add up to about two and a half hours.

Key points

• Historic setting: Tour Dysart House, its grounds, and the former coaching inn that houses the Old Kempton cellar door.
• Behind-the-scenes access: See the bond store and barrels of different shapes and sizes holding maturing whisky.
• Four tastings: Sample Old Kempton whisky, gin, liqueurs, or a combination, depending on the tasting arrangement you choose.
• Tasmanian lunch included: One antipasto platter accompanies the tasting and is normally valued at $80.
• Adult-focused outing: This experience is for people aged 18 and over, with no transport provided.
• Useful preparation: Arrive 15 minutes early, bring photo identification, and wear closed-toe shoes.

A Tasmanian distillery in a former coaching inn

Old Kempton Distillery operates from Dysart House in Kempton, about more than just a cellar door. The property combines an old house, grounds, a bond store, and a functioning distillery, so you get several layers of the business in one visit.

Dysart House has been home to the working Old Kempton Distillery since November 2015. The company makes single malt whisky from 100 percent Tasmanian ingredients, along with gin, liqueurs, and occasional special releases.

That local focus matters. You are not simply tasting a whisky with a Tasmanian label attached to it. The spirit is made on site, and the tour lets you see where the whisky spends its long wait before it reaches a glass.

The setting gives the experience its character. Old buildings can make a short tour feel more substantial, and Dysart House has plenty of atmosphere. Ghost stories are part of the house’s past, so keep an eye open as you move through the rooms and grounds. Treat the spooky touches as part of the storytelling, not as a promise of a haunted-house show.

Starting at Dysart House and the distillery

You should arrive at Old Kempton Distillery 15 minutes before the scheduled start and show your ticket to a cellar door team member. There is no transportation included, so you need to arrange your own way to Kempton.

The visit begins with a guided tour lasting about 45 minutes according to the schedule. This is the part for getting your bearings and understanding how the house, distillery, bond store, and cellar door fit together.

You can expect the guide to explain the history of Dysart House and the role it has played in the property’s current life. One guide named John has led the experience, and the tour is conducted in English.

The historic setting is not just decoration. It gives you a clearer sense of how Old Kempton presents its spirits. Instead of a modern tasting room designed only for sales, you move through a place with several working and historic uses.

The tour also includes the grounds. Details about the size or design of the grounds are not provided, so do not book this expecting a garden tour. The main attraction is the combination of the house, distillery, and storage areas.

Inside the bond store

The bond store is the most useful stop for understanding whisky production. You can see barrels in different shapes and sizes, each holding whisky at a different point in its maturation.

This is where the waiting becomes real. Whisky production is not only about distilling spirit and pouring it into a bottle. The liquid must mature, and the barrels become part of the story. Seeing them lined up gives you a better sense of the time and storage involved.

The tour does not promise a full technical masterclass, so your experience will depend partly on the guide and the questions you ask. If you want to learn more about how the whisky changes in the barrel, ask directly. A working distillery is a good place to ask practical questions about maturation, spirit styles, and the difference between whisky, gin, and liqueurs.

Wear closed-toe shoes. That is a stated requirement and sensible advice for a behind-the-scenes distillery visit. You should also bring a driver’s license, which may be needed for age verification.

Four spirits in the Cask Lounge

After the tour, you take a seat in the Cask Lounge, located in the grand coaching inn that serves as Old Kempton’s cellar door. This changes the pace. The first part is about buildings, barrels, and production. The second part is about sitting down and tasting.

The standard description centers on four Old Kempton single malt whiskies. The included tasting information also says you can choose from whisky, gin, and liqueurs. In practice, that means you should clarify your preference with the cellar door team if you do not want four whisky samples.

The tasting is guided rather than self-led. That makes a difference if you are new to whisky or want more than a row of glasses with no explanation. You can take your time with each pour, compare the spirits, and ask about the different styles.

A tasting of four spirits is enough to show contrast without becoming an endurance test. Still, these are alcoholic drinks, and the experience is designed for adults. Children under 18 are not permitted.

The tour is not a cocktail class, and there is no promise of a large flight of every product the distillery makes. If you are especially interested in gin or liqueurs, ask what options are available on the day. Additional tastings may be available on site, but they are not included in the $56 price.

The antipasto platter makes this more than a tasting

The included food is a Tasmanian antipasto platter for one. It is served as part of the experience and is normally valued at $80, according to the activity information.

That figure makes the $56 price look strong, but keep your expectations sensible. The information does not specify the exact meats, cheeses, breads, or serving size. Think of it as a substantial tasting accompaniment and light lunch, not a full restaurant meal with several courses.

The food is important because it gives you something to eat during an alcohol-focused outing. It also slows the experience down. You are not expected to rush through the whisky and leave immediately. You sit in the Cask Lounge, eat, and spend time with the setting.

The lunch portion is listed as one hour. That is generous for a platter, and it may be especially welcome if you are visiting with a group. A party of 12 has enjoyed the atmosphere and service on this experience, so the format can work for a larger celebration or a relaxed group stop.

If you have dietary needs, the supplied information does not state what substitutions are available. Contact the distillery before booking rather than assuming the platter can be changed.

How the timing works

The overall duration is listed as two hours, with starting times available by checking the booking calendar. The detailed schedule gives 45 minutes for the guided tour, 45 minutes for the tasting, and one hour for lunch.

Those blocks total two hours and 30 minutes. That is the one practical inconsistency worth noting. It could reflect flexible timing or rounded sections, but you should not plan a tight connection immediately afterward.

For planning purposes, allow at least two hours and preferably extra time. If the tour is part of a full day around Tasmania, leave room for the possibility that the visit follows the longer breakdown.

The order is straightforward:

• Begin at Old Kempton Distillery and Dysart House.
• Take the guided tour, including the grounds and bond store.
• Taste four spirits in the Cask Lounge.
• Finish with the Tasmanian antipasto platter.

The experience stays in one main location, which is convenient. You do not lose time boarding a bus or changing venues. On the other hand, transportation is not included, so this is best for people already driving through Kempton or arranging their own ride.

What the $56 price gets you

At $56 per person, the package includes the distillery and Dysart House tour, four Old Kempton spirits, and one antipasto platter. The stated normal value of the platter alone is $80, though that is a listed value rather than a guarantee of what you would pay for the same food separately.

I see this as good value if you want a complete outing. You are paying for a guided look at a working distillery, the historic property, four samples, and lunch. Buying only a whisky tasting might suit you better if you are short on time, but this package offers more context and a proper place to sit.

The value is strongest for people who appreciate both food and spirits. If you are only interested in production details, the lunch may feel like extra time. If you do not drink alcohol, this is not the right activity, since the central feature is the tasting.

The package also lets you choose among whisky, gin, and liqueurs, subject to what the distillery offers on site. That flexibility is useful for mixed groups, especially when not everyone wants four whisky samples.

Who will enjoy Old Kempton most

I would recommend this outing to adults who enjoy historic buildings, local spirits, and an unhurried lunch. It works particularly well for couples, small groups, and people planning a special day around Tasmania’s food and drink producers.

You will get the most from it if you are curious about how whisky matures, enjoy asking questions, and like a tasting with some background. The old house and ghost stories add personality without turning the visit into a theatrical attraction.

It is also a sensible choice for a group. The combination of a guided tour, a seated tasting, and shared atmosphere gives the visit a social rhythm. The positive group experience with 12 people suggests the format can handle a larger party, though the information does not state the maximum group size.

I would skip it if you need a very short stop, dislike spirits, or want transportation from another Tasmanian town. I would also look elsewhere if your main goal is a large meal, since the antipasto platter is described as lunch for one rather than a full dining experience.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, which removes one common concern. Still, the activity includes historic buildings, grounds, and a behind-the-scenes area, so you may want to confirm any specific access requirements in advance.

Tips for making the visit better

Arrive early. Fifteen minutes gives you time to find the cellar door team and avoid starting the tour in a rush.

Bring your driver’s license. The experience is for adults over 18, and identification is specifically listed among the things to bring.

Wear closed-toe shoes. This is required, not just a suggestion.

If you prefer gin or liqueurs, ask about the tasting mix before the pours begin. The activity is promoted around single malt whisky, but the included tasting also allows for whisky, gin, and liqueurs.

Do not schedule a tight appointment afterward. The published duration says two hours, while the detailed sections add up to two and a half hours.

If you are driving, plan responsibly. Four tastings plus other available drinks can add up, and no transport is included.

Final call: book it for the setting and the full package

I would book Old Kempton Distillery if you want a historic property, a working distillery, four Tasmanian spirits, and lunch in one stop. The $56 price is attractive for the amount included, especially if the antipasto platter is important to you.

The strongest reasons to go are the access to the bond store, the old coaching-inn setting, and the chance to compare spirits with a guide rather than tasting alone. The main cautions are the lack of transport, the adults-only rule, and the unclear two-hour versus two-and-a-half-hour timing.

Choose it as a relaxed food-and-drink outing, not as a quick whisky sample. If that sounds like your kind of afternoon in Tasmania, Old Kempton offers a well-rounded visit with plenty of character.

FAQ

Where does the Old Kempton Distillery tour take place?

The experience takes place at Old Kempton Distillery and Dysart House in Kempton, Tasmania. It includes the distillery, grounds, bond store, and the Cask Lounge cellar door.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is two hours. The detailed schedule lists 45 minutes for the tour, 45 minutes for the tasting, and one hour for lunch, which adds up to two and a half hours. Check the exact timing when booking and allow extra time.

What spirits are included?

You receive a tasting of four Old Kempton spirits. The experience focuses on single malt whisky, and the included tasting information also lists gin and liqueurs as possible choices.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Tasmanian antipasto platter for one is included.

Is transportation provided?

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

Can children join the tour?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18.

What should I bring?

Bring your driver’s license and wear closed-toe shoes. You should also arrive 15 minutes early and show your ticket to a cellar door team member.