Private Tassie Distillery Tour – Tastings, Lunch and Morning Tea

The best part of this Hobart tour is access. Hobart Whisky is not open to the public, yet this private visit takes you inside its old Egg Factory site to meet the people making the whisky. You also taste new make spirit straight from the still, before time and oak turn it into whisky.

I like the personal introductions at all three stops, especially meeting Susanne and Cam at Spring Bay and Kristy Lark at Killara. I also like that the day includes local cheese and a proper catered lunch, not just a string of tastings on an empty stomach.

The main drawback is the price: $860.69 per person is a serious spend for six hours. This makes the tour best for a small group that cares deeply about Tasmanian spirits and values private access, rather than for casual drinkers looking for a cheap afternoon outing.

Key points to know before you book

• Private access to Hobart Whisky: Visit a distillery that is not open to the general public and meet its distillers inside the repurposed Egg Factory.
• Three very different distillery visits: See Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, Hobart Whisky, and Killara Distillery in one day.
• Make your own whisky blend: Create a personal blend and leave with a better sense of how whisky develops and tastes.
• A full tasting range: Gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs are included at the distilleries.
• Food is part of the experience: Morning tea brings award-winning local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates, followed by catered individual lunch servings.
• A private, guide-led day: Your group travels together, with pickup offered and a 10:00 am start.

Three Tasmanian distilleries in six carefully paced hours

This is not a tour that simply drops you at a tasting room, pours a few samples, and sends you on your way. The day is built around meeting the makers and seeing how Tasmania’s spirits are produced.

You visit three distilleries near Hobart, each with its own character. Spring Bay gives you an owner-led introduction and a look at the working side of the business. Hobart Whisky supplies the rare behind-the-scenes access. Killara brings a newer operation and the story of Kristy Lark, whose family connection to Tasmanian distilling adds another layer to the visit.

The private format matters. You are not being folded into a large bus group, and only your party takes part in the activity. That gives the guide more room to answer questions and lets the distillers speak directly with you.

The tour starts at 10:00 am and lasts about six hours. Pickup is offered, which is useful when the day includes several tastings. You do not have to plan a driving route between venues or decide who will stay sober behind the wheel.

Spring Bay Distillery: meet the owners in Cambridge

Your first stop is Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, not far from Hobart. Owners Susanne and Cam welcome you and explain how their distillery works before the tastings begin.

That owner-led welcome is important. You are not only hearing a polished brand story. You have a chance to ask about the business, the products, and the work behind each bottle. The visit also includes distilling, so this stop offers more than a bar tasting.

The timing is about one hour. That is long enough to get an introduction without letting the first stop swallow the whole day. You can expect spirits and a practical look at the people behind them, though the supplied details do not specify which individual products are poured here.

Morning tea is part of the day, with award-winning local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates. This is a smart touch. Spirits are easier to appreciate when you have food in you, and local cheese gives the tasting a sense of place without turning the stop into a formal meal.

You should still keep your expectations realistic. This is a working distillery visit, not a long technical class in every stage of production. If you want detailed information about equipment, grain, barrels, or exact recipes, ask questions while you have Susanne and Cam with you.

Hobart Whisky: the day’s rarest access

The two-hour visit to Hobart Whisky is the centerpiece for many people. This distillery is not open to the public, so the private appointment gives you access that a normal Hobart visitor cannot arrange by simply walking in.

The distillery operates in a repurposed old Egg Factory. That setting gives the stop a strong sense of place. It is not a generic tasting room designed to look old. You are seeing a working site with its own past, adapted for whisky production.

You meet one or more of the distillers, John, Ben, or Trevor. They talk you through the building and the whisky-making process. Their direct involvement is one of the main reasons to choose this tour over a standard commercial tasting.

The tasting includes new make spirit, the clear spirit that has just come from the still and has not yet become whisky through maturation. This is a valuable comparison. Finished whisky can seem like a mysterious end product, but new make lets you taste an earlier stage and understand how much the barrel and time will change it.

You also get to blend your own whisky. This is the most hands-on part of the day. Rather than only tasting someone else’s final product, you make choices and create a personal blend. It gives you a better sense of how different whisky components can shape the final drink.

The two-hour schedule gives this stop room to breathe. You can listen, taste, ask questions, and work through the blending activity without being rushed from one bench to another. If you are mainly interested in whisky, this is the section that justifies much of the tour’s high price.

There is one practical point to keep in mind. New make spirit is not the same as finished whisky. It can be stronger and less rounded, and some people may prefer the matured pours. The value here is in understanding the process, not in expecting every sample to taste like a familiar bottle from a bar shelf.

Killara Distillery: a newer name with a local family link

Killara Distillery is the final distillery stop, with about one hour set aside for the visit. It is one of the newer names in Tasmania’s distilling scene, and owner Kristy Lark comes from local distilling heritage.

You meet Kristy and members of her distiller team. That direct contact helps balance the day. After the older repurposed industrial setting at Hobart Whisky, Killara shows you a newer operation and a different stage in the growth of Tasmania’s craft spirits sector.

You are greeted with a lavender gin or another drink, then continue with tastings. The included range across the day covers gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs. The exact order and selection can vary by venue, but you should expect a broad look at Tasmanian spirits rather than a whisky-only itinerary.

Lavender gin is a fitting introduction here because it shows how local character can enter a spirit through botanicals and flavor choices. If gin is your main interest, Killara may be the stop you remember most. If you prefer whisky, the earlier Hobart Whisky visit gives you the deeper technical experience.

An hour is enough for an introduction and tasting, but it will not provide the same extended time as Hobart Whisky. That is not necessarily a flaw. The schedule gives you variety and prevents the day from becoming three versions of the same visit.

What you eat between the tastings

Food is not an afterthought on this experience. Morning tea includes local cheeses, biscuits, and chocolates, while lunch is catered in individual servings.

Lunch is served in a rustic distillery loft. The setting matters because it keeps the meal tied to the craft focus of the day. You are not being sent to an unrelated restaurant between stops. Instead, you pause in a distillery atmosphere, with the smells and surroundings of production still part of the experience.

The supplied details do not list the lunch menu, so you should not book expecting a particular dish. What you can count on is an included catered meal with individual portions, plus the cheese-based morning tea and sweet bites.

This food helps make the six-hour schedule workable. A day of spirits without a meal would be tiring, and tasting on an empty stomach is poor practice. You still need to pace yourself. Included beverages do not mean you must sample everything or finish every pour.

The guide and the value of private company

The guide is an important part of this tour because the distillery visits depend on introductions and conversation. Lee is associated with the operation and has experience discussing Tasmanian distilleries, whisky, gin, vodka, and liqueurs. He is also known for handling a wide range of questions, including the less sensible ones that come up after a few tastings.

The guide’s connections with distillery owners and managers add value. You are not simply arriving at three unrelated venues. The day has a joined-up feel, with the guide helping you understand how each distillery fits into Tasmania’s wider spirits scene.

Private travel suits couples, families of adult drinkers, and groups of friends who want to ask questions without holding up strangers. Group discounts may improve the cost for a larger private party, though the listed price is still high enough that you should check the final group total carefully.

The private format also lets you set the tone. A serious whisky fan can spend more time on new make spirit and blending. A group with mixed interests can give more attention to gin, vodka, rum, or liqueurs.

Is $860.69 per person good value?

At $860.69 per person, this is not a bargain tour. The cost needs to be judged against what is included: private guiding, pickup offered, access to three distilleries, tastings across several spirit types, morning tea, lunch, and a hands-on whisky blending session.

The strongest value comes from the Hobart Whisky visit. Since that distillery is not open to the public, the private appointment provides access that may not be available through ordinary sightseeing. Meeting the makers at all three locations also gives the experience more substance than a standard tasting flight.

The price is easier to justify if you are splitting the cost across a private group and plan to make full use of the guide. It is harder to justify if you mainly want to drink whisky or buy bottles. Bottle purchases are not included, so set aside extra money if you expect to take spirits home.

I would compare this with the cost of arranging several private tastings and a driver independently. The tour’s value lies in the connections, food, transport convenience, and behind-the-scenes entry. If those details do not matter to you, a regular tasting room visit will cost less.

Who should book this distillery day?

I would recommend it most strongly to people who care about how spirits are made, not just how they taste. Whisky fans will appreciate new make spirit and the personal blending exercise. Gin drinkers get a proper look at Killara and a chance to try lavender gin. Anyone interested in Tasmania’s growing distilling industry gets access to the people shaping it.

It also suits a special occasion or a small group that wants a private day. The catered lunch and morning tea make it feel more like a complete outing than a collection of appointments.

I would be more cautious if you are a light drinker, have little interest in production, or are focused on keeping costs low. Six hours and a premium price are a lot to spend if you only want one or two samples.

For the best experience, arrive ready to ask questions. Ask what changes between new make and matured whisky, why particular botanicals are used in gin, and how each distillery approaches its products. The access is valuable, but you get more from it when you take part in the conversation.

Practical details for your day

The tour begins at 10:00 am and lasts about six hours. Pickup is offered, and the activity is private, with only your group participating.

Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. Most people can participate, though the supplied details do not give a full account of walking distances or venue access, so contact the provider if your group has specific mobility needs.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not accepted for a refund.

Remember that bottle purchases are extra. With tastings across gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs, it is easy to find something you want to bring home, so plan for that separate cost.

Should you book this Hobart distillery tour?

Book it if you want private access, direct contact with distillers, and a full food-and-tasting day rather than a quick tasting-room stop. The closed-to-the-public Hobart Whisky visit and the chance to blend your own whisky are the strongest reasons to go.

Skip it if the $860.69 price feels uncomfortable or if you mainly want a casual drink. For a small group of serious spirits fans, though, this is a well-focused way to meet Tasmanian makers, taste across several categories, and see the craft behind the bottle.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Which distilleries do you visit?

You visit 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, which makes this private visit a behind-the-scenes experience.

Can I blend my own whisky?

Yes. The tour includes the chance to create your own whisky blend at Hobart Whisky.

What drinks are included?

Included tastings cover gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs at the venues.

Is food included?

Yes. The experience includes morning tea with cheese, biscuits, and chocolates, plus catered individual lunch servings.

Are bottle purchases included?

No. Bottles bought from the distilleries are an additional cost.