Private Tassie Distillery Tour – Tastings, Lunch and Morning Tea

The rare treat here is access to Hobart Whisky, a distillery not open to the public. You meet the people making the spirit, taste whisky straight from the barrel, and see how an old egg factory has been put to work.

I like the personal contact with owners such as Susanne, Cam and Kristy Lark. I also like the chance to blend your own whisky, rather than simply line up at a bar and accept a standard flight. The main drawback is the price: at $860.69 per person, this is a serious splurge, even with food, tastings and private guiding included.

Key points at a glance

• Private access to three distilleries: Visit Spring Bay Distillery, Hobart Whisky and Killara Distillery with your own group.
• A rare Hobart Whisky visit: Meet distillers at a production site that is not open to the public.
• Taste spirit at several stages: Try gin, whisky, vodka, rum, liqueurs and new-make spirit fresh from the still.
• Make a personal whisky blend: Create your own combination and take home a story as distinctive as the blend itself.
• Food is part of the day: Start with Tasmanian cheeses, biscuits and chocolates, then sit down to catered lunch.
• A six-hour outing from Hobart: Pickup is offered, and the private format lets the day feel more relaxed than a large coach tour.

Three Tasmanian distilleries in one private day

This is not a standard tasting-room crawl. It is a guided look at how Tasmanian spirits are made, with time to speak directly with the people behind the bottles.

The day begins at 10:00 am and lasts about six hours. You visit three distilleries, taste a broad range of products, and have both morning food and lunch included. That makes the experience feel more like a food-and-craft outing than a simple drinking session.

I especially like the range. You are not limited to whisky. Tastings may include gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs and whisky, with new-make spirit offering a useful glimpse of whisky before years in a cask change its character.

The private setup matters. Only your group takes part, so you can ask questions without competing with a busload of people. It also gives the guide room to adjust the pace, although the supplied details do not promise a fully custom itinerary or a particular vehicle.

Spring Bay Distillery starts the morning

Your first stop is Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, a short distance from Hobart. Owners Susanne and Cam welcome you and explain their story before the tasting and distilling session.

That personal introduction is one of the best reasons to choose this tour. You get the people behind the spirit, not just a printed tasting card. If you enjoy hearing how a small producer found its style and built its business, this stop should set the right tone.

Morning tea includes award-winning local cheeses, biscuits and chocolates. The food gives you something to eat before the tasting continues, and it also puts the spirits in a Tasmanian food context rather than treating them as isolated samples.

The stop lasts about an hour. That is enough time for an introduction and tasting, but not enough for a slow, technical workshop. You should think of Spring Bay as a warm opening chapter, not the main production tour of the day.

Hobart Whisky offers the rare access

The two-hour visit to Hobart Whisky is the centrepiece. The distillery is not open to the public, so this private appointment gives you access that an ordinary stop in Hobart cannot provide.

The site occupies a repurposed old egg factory. That detail adds character, but the real value is meeting the distillers in person. John, Ben or Trevor may guide the visit, explaining the building, the production process and the decisions that shape the whisky.

I would pay close attention here to the difference between new-make spirit and matured whisky. New make is the clear spirit fresh from the still, before time in wood changes its colour, aroma and taste. It can seem sharp or raw, but it helps you understand what the cask is doing later.

This is also where the day moves beyond tasting. You get to blend your own whisky, building a personal combination rather than merely sampling a finished product. It is a hands-on moment, though you should not assume the tour includes a bottle purchase. Bottles are not included in the price.

The two-hour length gives Hobart Whisky more room than the other stops. You can expect the most detailed behind-the-scenes discussion here, along with tasting from several stages or styles where available. Exact samples can vary, so the tour should be approached as a guided distillery visit rather than a fixed menu of bottles.

Killara Distillery brings a modern local touch

Killara is one of the newer distilleries on the route. Owner Kristy Lark comes from a local distilling family, and you meet her and members of her distiller team during the visit.

You are greeted with a lavender gin or another featured pour. That first taste gives you a direct introduction to Killara’s style, while the conversation with Kristy adds a family and local connection to the newer business.

The stop lasts about an hour. Like Spring Bay, it is focused and manageable. You get another chance to ask questions, taste the range and compare a newer operation with the other two distilleries.

For me, the contrast is useful. Spring Bay, Hobart Whisky and Killara are not presented as identical producers. Their people, buildings, products and points of view differ, and the guide helps you connect those differences across the day.

Food keeps the tasting day comfortable

Food is not an afterthought here. Morning tea includes cheese, biscuits and chocolates, while lunch is catered in individual serves. The day also includes lunch in a rustic distillery loft, a setting that suits the craft-focused feel of the outing.

That matters because six hours of tasting needs structure. Eating between visits gives you a proper pause and makes the experience more comfortable than a series of samples on an empty stomach.

The details do not specify the exact lunch menu, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish or dietary arrangement unless you confirm it in advance. The information does confirm catered lunch and individual portions, which is useful if you prefer not to share platters.

The cheese selection is particularly fitting. Tasmanian producers are part of the same local food story as the distilleries, and pairing regional cheese with spirits gives the morning more sense of place.

A guide who connects the stops

The quality of a day like this depends heavily on the guide. Lee has led this style of outing and is described as comfortable with a wide range of questions and subjects. His background includes serving whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs at Hobart events, taking part in tasting panels, and maintaining contacts with many Tasmanian distillery owners and managers.

That matters because the guide is not simply driving between venues. The guide links the visits, explains what you are tasting, and helps you speak with the owners and distillers in a useful way.

You may not have Lee on your particular departure, so treat his involvement as an example of the guide standard associated with the experience, not a guarantee. Still, the close working relationships with the distillery teams are a strong part of the format.

I would use the private setting to ask direct questions. Ask how new-make spirit differs from the bottled whisky, why a producer chooses a certain cask, and how gin, vodka, rum and liqueurs fit into the business. You have the time and access to make the conversation more than a sales pitch.

What the $860.69 price really buys

At $860.69 per person, this is expensive. You are not paying only for alcohol. The price covers a private six-hour experience, access to three distilleries, guiding, tastings, morning food and catered lunch.

The hardest part is that the value changes with group size. For a couple, the per-person cost can feel steep. For a small group that wants a private day and has a serious interest in spirits, the price may make more sense, especially when pickup and meals are included.

A regular tasting-room visit would cost much less, but it would not provide the same access to Hobart Whisky or the same contact with the distillers. You are paying for access, coordination and a day built around your group.

Bottle purchases are extra. That is important for budgeting, since the tasting can easily encourage you to buy something to take home. I would set a separate bottle budget before leaving, especially if you want to remember your favourite producer.

Group discounts are offered, but the supplied information does not state the discount amount. Ask for the group price before booking if several people are travelling together.

Who will enjoy this most

This tour suits you if you already enjoy whisky, gin or other spirits and want to understand how they are made. It also works for a food-minded visitor who likes pairing local products with drinks and meeting small producers.

The private format is a good match for friends, couples travelling with another couple, or families with adults who can take part in tastings. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

I would be more cautious if you want a sightseeing day focused on Hobart’s major landmarks. The supplied program is built around distilleries, food and conversation, not museums, historic buildings or wide scenic stops.

It may also be a poor fit if you dislike alcohol, prefer a very short tasting, or want every sample and menu item fixed in advance. The tour includes a wide range of drinks, and the exact pours can vary by venue.

Timing, pickup and practical details

The day starts at 10:00 am and takes about six hours. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm the pickup area and exact arrangements before booking rather than assuming every Hobart address is covered.

The venues are spread around the Hobart area, with Spring Bay in Cambridge. Private transport saves you from arranging a designated driver and keeps the day workable when several tastings are involved.

Mobile tickets are available, and booking confirmation is sent at the time of booking. The tour operates as a private activity, so only your group participates.

Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. I would check the timing carefully before committing, especially if your Hobart plans depend on weather or ferry connections elsewhere.

The main strengths and limitations

The strongest part is access. Hobart Whisky is not open to the public, and the private visit gives you a chance to meet John, Ben or Trevor at the working distillery.

The second strength is the people. Susanne and Cam at Spring Bay, Kristy Lark and her team at Killara, and the guide’s links across Tasmania’s distilling community make the day personal.

The third is variety. You can taste several spirit categories, compare three producers, try new make, and blend whisky yourself. That is far more engaging than drinking the same style at three bars.

The limitation is cost. At this rate, you should care about production, not just want a few free samples. The day offers value through access and personal guiding, but it is not a bargain tasting tour.

The other limitation is that the schedule is full. Three distilleries, morning food and lunch fit comfortably into six hours, but you should not expect long free periods at each stop. The experience is about a well-organised circuit, not lingering all afternoon at one producer.

Should you book this Hobart distillery tour?

Book it if you want a private, producer-led day and you are willing to pay for access that is hard to arrange independently. The chance to visit Hobart Whisky, taste new-make spirit and make your own blend gives the day a clear point of difference.

I would choose it for a small group of serious food and drink enthusiasts, especially if private transport and direct contact with distillers matter to you. I would skip it if the price is uncomfortable or if your main goal is general sightseeing around Hobart.

Before paying, confirm pickup details, the likely guide, lunch requirements and what samples will be available on your date. If those details suit you, this is a focused way to understand Tasmania’s spirits scene through the people who make it.

FAQ

How long is the private Tasmanian distillery tour?

The experience lasts approximately six hours and starts at 10:00 am.

Which distilleries does the tour visit?

The tour visits Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, Hobart Whisky and Killara Distillery.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered. Confirm the exact pickup arrangements when booking.

What food is included?

Morning food includes cheese, biscuits and chocolates. Catered lunch with individual serves is also included.

Which drinks are included in the tastings?

The included tastings cover gin, whisky, vodka, rum and liqueurs. The experience also includes new-make spirit fresh from the still.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Are bottle purchases included?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not eligible for a refund.