Cheese, whisky, and three distilleries in one day. I like how this is a private, fully guided outing that gives you real time with the people behind the pours, and I love the hands-on blend-your-own whisky moment that turns tasting into something you can make. You’ll pair it with morning tea, award-winning local cheeses, a distillery loft lunch, and plenty of spirit tastings across the day.

One thing to think about is the price: at $860.69 per person, this is a splurge. If you don’t drink much, or you’re already planning to buy bottles, the value swings fast either way.

Key things to know before you book

• Private access to three Tasmanian distilleries with a guide who stays with your group the whole day
• Behind-the-scenes Hobart Whisky experience that isn’t open to the public
• Hands-on blending where you create your own whisky style and personal spirit story
• Meals are part of the day, from morning tea cheese and chocolates to a catered loft lunch
• Alcohol tastings at every venue, including gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs

Morning tea in Hobart: setting the pace before serious tasting

Your day starts at 10:00 am from Hobart, with pickup offered if you want it. That matters because a distillery tour can turn stressful fast if you’re trying to coordinate rides while other people are already pouring. With pickup and a private group setup, you get to focus on the craft and the conversation.

Before you hit the distillery floors, you’ll have morning tea with brunch items like cheese, biscuits, and chocolates. I like pre-tasting food because it gives you a better baseline for flavor. Spirits taste sharper when your stomach is empty, and softer when you’ve had a little something to eat. The cheese angle is smart too: local cheeses help you notice how sweetness, smoke, grain, botanicals, and spice actually sit on the palate.

Also, this is not a quick stop-and-sprint kind of outing. It’s built like a tasting day with breaks. That makes it easier to enjoy the details instead of racing through them.

Spring Bay Distillery near Hobart: meet Susanne and Cam, then taste new make

Spring Bay Distillery is your first stop, based in Cambridge not far from Hobart. This is where the tour leans hardest into the idea that distilling is both process and personality. You’re not just walking through equipment; you’re getting the story behind it.

A highlight here is meeting the owners, Susanne and Cam. I like this approach because it turns the tour from a lecture into a real conversation. When owners are part of the day, you tend to hear what they think matters most: what they’re proud of, what they’re still improving, and what they want you to notice in the glass.

From there, you’ll do spirit tastings and hear about how the production works. One of the most memorable parts of this kind of tour is getting a look at new make spirit right after it comes from the still. That early-stage tasting is where you can start to understand what whisky becomes later. It’s also a good way to appreciate why the same base ingredients can still end up very different once aging, blending, and patience come into play.

The trade-off? Spring Bay can be a lot more sensory than a standard cellar tour. If you’re sensitive to strong aromas, plan to take your time and pause between tastings.

Hobart Whisky (Devil’s Distillery): the old Egg Factory and time with the distillers

Hobart Whisky is the standout stop if you want behind-the-scenes access. It’s not open to the public, which means your group gets a more controlled, guided look at how things run day to day.

Expect a longer visit here, around two hours, and expect personal interaction with the people making the whisky. Your hosts could be John, Ben, or Trevor, and you’ll talk with the distillers in person. I really like that this isn’t framed as a showroom. It’s framed as work-in-progress craft.

The setting is also part of the story: the operation uses a repurposed old Egg Factory. When you’re in a space like that, you can often feel the practicality of craft—workrooms, production workflows, and the kind of daily rhythm that doesn’t need to be staged. The guide will talk you through what you’re seeing, which is the difference between watching a process and understanding why the process matters.

If whisky is your main interest, this is the stop to pay extra attention to. You’ll catch a glimpse before the spirit fully transforms through maturation, and you’ll get language that helps you taste with intent rather than just sampling.

One consideration: whisky fans sometimes end up with information overload. You’ll get plenty to think about, so it helps to pick one or two flavor areas you want to focus on (smoke, sweetness, grain, spice, or woody notes) instead of trying to track everything at once.

Killara Distillery: a newer player with an owner you can actually talk to

Killara Distillery is the third stop and one of the newest names on the scene. What I like about visiting newer distilleries is that you often see experimentation more clearly. The team is still figuring out what they want to perfect, and you can taste that in the lineup.

You’ll meet owner Kristy Lark, who comes from local distilling heritage. Meeting the owner matters here because it changes the tone of the tour. You’ll hear how the distillery developed, what Kristy cares about, and why her approach makes sense for the flavors they’re aiming for.

You’ll also be welcomed with a lavender gin, or another option as part of the tasting flow. That little detail is a good sign of how this tour treats tastings as a progression, not random samples. Lavender brings floral lift, and it can help you understand how botanicals are handled and how they balance against alcohol bite.

This stop is shorter (about one hour), which can be a good thing. You get enough time for a real conversation and tastings, without dragging the day into extra hours.

If you’re a gin person, you may find yourself wishing there was more time here. But the tour structure keeps the overall day balanced so you don’t turn into a sleepy, overwhelmed spirit critic.

Blending your own whisky: where tasting becomes personal

One of the most memorable features of this tour is the chance to become a creator yourself. You’ll blend your own whisky, crafting a personalized spirit story that’s unique to you. This is different from standard tastings where you’re mostly a receiver.

Instead, you learn how components change the final impression. Even if you don’t consider yourself a whisky expert, blending forces your brain to notice differences: sweetness versus dryness, fruit versus grain character, lighter aromatics versus deeper tones. I love experiences like this because you leave with a sharper understanding of your own preferences.

You’ll be guided through the process, so it’s not like you’re just handed a menu and told to figure it out alone. And because this tour includes tastings across multiple spirits, you get extra context for what you like and why.

Practical tip: you’ll likely taste more alcohol than you expect. Drink water between tastings and go slow during the blend. The goal is clarity, not speed.

Lunch in the distillery loft: a real break, not just food on the run

Lunch is catered and served individually in a rustic distillery loft setting. This matters more than it sounds. Tasting-heavy tours can get monotonous if lunch is rushed or if you’re stuck eating away from the mood of the day.

Having lunch in a distillery space keeps the timing smooth. You can reset your senses, talk with your guide, and digest what you’ve tasted so far without losing the day’s flow.

It’s also the moment where you can think about whether you’re chasing a particular flavor style. After your first tastings at Spring Bay, and then the behind-the-scenes whisky experience, lunch helps you decide what you want to pay attention to at Killara.

If you’re traveling as a group, this is also where you can share notes like: which pour stood out, what aromatics surprised you, and what you’d buy if you were shopping for gifts.

What’s included in the tastings, and what you pay for yourself

This tour is built around alcohol tastings at all venues. You’ll have gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs included. That range is a big part of the value, because it gives you a cross-section of how Tasmania’s distillers approach different ingredient sets.

You’re also included with the day’s food: brunch-style cheese, biscuits, and chocolates at morning tea, plus a catered lunch. This means you’re not juggling extra costs mid-tour just to stay comfortable.

The only clear out-of-pocket item is bottle purchases from the distilleries. If you’re the type who likes to take something home, plan for that. But if you’re mostly there for the experience, you can treat bottle buying as optional.

Price and value at $860.69 per person

At $860.69 per person, this is not a budget-friendly day out. Still, the value is easier to see when you look at what’s bundled:

• Private guided access across three distilleries
• Alcohol tastings at every venue, including whisky-focused access that isn’t open to the public
• A structured experience that includes morning tea and a catered lunch
• A hands-on blending session where you make your own whisky style

So you’re paying for access and time with the right people, not just the cost of drinks. The biggest question is whether you’re going for the craft and conversation as much as the liquid. If you like meeting distillers and learning how product decisions show up in the glass, the price starts to feel more reasonable.

If you’re mainly looking for a casual tasting and don’t care about guided context, you might feel the cost more. For me, the deciding factor would be how much you’ll enjoy being with a guide all day and how excited you are about the blend-your-own element.

Logistics in Hobart: pickup, private group, and keeping the day easy

This is a private tour/activity, which means only your group participates. That changes the vibe: you’re not waiting for strangers, and your guide can adjust pacing to your questions.

Pickup is offered, and the tour start time is 10:00 am, so it’s straightforward to build the rest of your day around it. You also get a mobile ticket, and you’ll receive confirmation at booking.

A nice detail is that it’s near public transportation. If you’re not using pickup, you’re not stuck with an all-or-nothing situation.

And in terms of general participation, most travelers can take part, and service animals are allowed.

What to plan personally: you’ll be tasting alcohol throughout the day, so plan for slow pacing and arrange transport if you’re not on the tour pickup.

Who this private Tasmanian distillery tour is best for

This tour is a strong match for:

• Whisky lovers who want to see production context and taste different stages of spirit
• People who enjoy gin, vodka, rum, and liqueurs too, since the tastings cover multiple styles
• Couples and small groups who want a private, guided day with no waiting around
• Gift-givers who like experiences over just bottles

It’s also a great choice if you appreciate guides who can handle real questions and keep the tone relaxed. In the feedback I read, the guide Lee came up as a real asset—comfortable with tough questions and able to connect distilling topics to broader ideas about Tasmania and craft.

It’s not ideal if you want a short, low-alcohol outing or if you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t drink. Since alcohol tastings are included at each venue, you’ll want everyone on the same page.

Should you book this tour?

Yes, if you want more than tasting flights and more than a checklist of distilleries. This is a day with structure: morning tea, three stops with distinct personalities, a catered lunch, and the kind of hands-on blending that makes the experience stick.

Before you book, weigh two things: your budget and your interest in guided craft. At $860.69 per person, it makes sense for people who will actually use the access and learn from it. If you’re that person, you’ll likely come away with better tasting instincts and a story you created yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Private Tassie Distillery Tour?

The tour runs for about 6 hours.

Where does the tour start, and what time does it begin?

It departs from Hobart with a 10:00 am start time. Pickup is offered.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

Which distilleries are visited?

You’ll visit Spring Bay Distillery, Hobart Whisky (Devil’s Distillery), and Killara Distillery.

What food and drink are included?

Morning tea includes brunch items such as cheese, biscuits, and chocolates. Lunch is catered. Alcoholic beverages are included at all venues (gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs).

Is blending your own whisky included?

Yes. The tour includes a session where you blend your own whisky and create a personalized spirit story.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.