Tasmania’s distilleries feel personal when you’re in the room. This private Hobart day packs three acclaimed distilleries into a guided circuit, starting with a tasty morning tea and ending with you making your own whisky blend. You’ll also sample new make spirits fresh from the still, plus a quick look at whisky before it settles into its future.

What I like most is the access. You’re not just tasting from a counter; you’ll meet distillers and owners like Susanne and Cam at Spring Bay, and you’ll get that behind-the-scenes feel at Hobart Whisky’s repurposed Egg Factory. The second big win is the pace: morning tea and lunch keep you fed while the day runs on tastings across gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs. One drawback to weigh is the price: at $860.69 per person, it’s best when you’re going to actually use the private guide time and tasting inclusions rather than shopping for a cheaper, public-group option.

Key highlights

• Three distilleries in one guided day, including Spring Bay Distillery, Hobart Whisky, and Killara Distillery
• Morning tea + award-winning cheese, with brunch-style bites like biscuits and chocolates
• Behind-the-scenes at Hobart Whisky, a stop not open to the public
• Fresh new make tastings, plus a glimpse of whisky early in its transformation
• Hands-on blending, where you create a personalized whisky blend during the experience
• Lunch in a rustic distillery loft, so you can reset between tastings

A private Hobart distillery circuit that makes sense

This is built for people who want more than a quick sip-and-snap tour. You start at 10:00am and the day runs about six hours, which is long enough for real conversation but not so long that you’re deliriously comparing flavors at the 3-hour mark. Best of all, you’ve got the advantage of a private group setup, so your guide can tailor the pace to your questions instead of rushing around a larger crowd.

Pickup is offered, and the tour is designed to be easy to join without turning your day into a puzzle. If you’re staying in Hobart and you’d rather spend your energy on spirits than logistics, this format helps.

Group discounts are mentioned, so if you’re traveling with friends or a small party, it’s worth checking how the price changes when you book as a group. That can be the difference between this feeling like a splurge and feeling like a genuinely solid deal.

Spring Bay Distillery: Cambridge’s “where it all happens” stop

Your first visit is to Spring Bay Distillery in Cambridge, which is close enough to Hobart to make the schedule practical. This is a one-hour stop, and you’re there for two things: the story and the tasting.

The distillery experience starts with that feeling of being welcomed. The tour focuses on the owners, including Susanne and Cam, sharing how their place became part of Tasmania’s distilling scene. That personal framing matters because you’re not learning facts in a vacuum—you’re learning why they chose what they chose.

Then comes the good part: tastings and spirit education. You’ll sample spirits including new make straight from the still, which is one of the most interesting ways to understand distilling. New make is all about the base spirit before the long, changing influence of time. It’s a fast education in what’s already there naturally, before aging adds a whole second layer.

This stop also includes a fleeting glimpse of whisky before it begins its transformation. You don’t just get told that aging changes everything—you get a quick look that helps you understand the process in plain terms. It’s the kind of “wait, now I get it” moment that makes the rest of the day easier to follow.

Practical note: because the day starts with morning tea and then rolls into tastings, you’ll want to pace yourself from the first pour. The day includes alcohol at all venues, so don’t treat this like a sample buffet where your body is the trash can.

Hobart Whisky at the Egg Factory: meet the distillers, not a brochure

Hobart Whisky is the sort of stop you remember because it feels exclusive—and it’s explicitly described as not open to the public. That matters because the experience is set up as a behind-the-scenes meet-your-makers moment.

You’ll spend about two hours here. The location is a repurposed old Egg Factory, and that industrial, repurposed setting gives the visit a different mood than a brand-new distillery building. It feels like you’re stepping into the working guts of the operation, not just visiting a showroom.

Most importantly, you’re meeting the distillers in person—John, Ben, or Trevor—and talking directly with the team guiding the process. This is one of those experiences where the details you’d never get from a standard tasting room conversation suddenly feel obvious. People ask better questions when they’re talking to the people who actually make the decisions.

This is also where the day’s theme clicks: tasting isn’t the goal by itself. It’s a way to understand the choices behind the spirit—how raw product becomes something recognizable. With the guide carrying the thread, you’re getting context for what you taste, rather than just a list of what’s in the glass.

Killara Distillery: a newer player with real heritage

Next up is Killara Distillery, one of the newer distilleries on the Tasmania scene, with a visit time of about one hour. A newer distillery can sometimes mean a more experimental vibe, but the key here is that the owners bring deep local roots.

You meet Kristy Lark, whose background is described as local distiller heritage, and you’ll chat with Kristy and the distiller team. That’s a big part of why this stop works: it’s not just about tasting something new; it’s about hearing the rationale for how they built their approach.

You’ll be greeted with Lavender Gin or another spirit option, depending on what the day’s program provides at the time of your booking. Either way, you get a hosted welcome rather than a passive tasting line, which keeps the stop feeling human.

From a practical standpoint, Killara is a good mid-to-late day stop: it refreshes your palate while keeping you in rhythm with the guide’s story about Tasmania’s distilling culture. By this point, you’ll be better at noticing differences across styles, especially across gin and whisky frameworks.

Lunch in a rustic distillery loft: keep the day fun, not fuzzy

Between tastings, you’re given lunch in a beautifully rustic distillery loft. That phrase matters. It suggests a setting that’s meant for spending time, not just eating and moving on.

Lunch is catered, with individual serves. You also get the sense that the schedule has breathing room. Distillery days can easily turn into a long blur if you skip food, so I appreciate that this one includes lunch as a reset point rather than hoping you’ll graze your way through.

You’ll be surrounded by the aromas and atmosphere that support Tasmania’s craft spirit community. That sensory backdrop isn’t just background scenery. It helps you connect the tasting experience to the working reality of a distillery environment—warm, busy, and focused on production.

And yes, the day includes alcohol at all venues, so eating matters. If you want to taste properly rather than just cope with the next pour, take your lunch seriously.

Hands-on whisky blending: your personal “spirit story” moment

One of the most memorable parts of this experience is the hands-on blending section. The tour doesn’t keep you as a spectator. You’ll get to blend your own whisky, crafting a personalized spirit profile as part of the guided program.

Even if you’re not a whisky expert, blending is a shortcut to understanding what makes one spirit taste different from another. It turns learning into something you can feel in your own hands and palate. You’ll also get a better sense of how distillers think in terms of balance.

Important practical reality: the experience description notes that bottle purchases from the distillery are not included. So if you fall in love with your blend and want to take it home, you may need to pay for bottles separately at the venue.

That’s actually a good deal-structure for most people. You get the creation experience included, and the purchase is optional rather than forced.

What’s actually included in tastings (and why it’s good value)

This tour includes alcoholic beverages at all venues: gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs. That’s a wide range, and it’s one reason this day can feel worth it compared with shorter tasting-only visits.

You also get brunch-style food at the morning start—cheese, biscuits, and chocolates. Then lunch is served during the middle of the day. With food on board plus a private guide, you’re not just sampling; you’re learning and listening while you taste.

Here’s how I think about value for a day like this:

• You’re paying for time with a guide, not just access to a tasting bar.
• You’re paying for admission to venues that include special experiences, like the behind-the-scenes Hobart Whisky stop.
• You’re getting multiple spirit categories across multiple distilleries, so you don’t end up spending most of your time repeating the same few flavors.

At $860.69 per person, it’s not a casual purchase. But for people who want a guided tasting day with included alcohol, food, and private access, the inclusions are doing real work here.

Price and logistics: who this fits best

This is the kind of tour I’d point to for:

• Whisky, gin, and mixed spirit fans who want real context and a guided explanation
• People traveling with friends who want a fun day that’s still structured
• Groups looking for value through inclusions rather than discounting the experience

It’s also worth considering if you’re the type who likes asking questions, not just tasting. Private tours work best when the guide isn’t stuck repeating the same script for everyone.

One caution: because alcohol is included at all venues, this is not the best choice if you need to stay completely alcohol-free. Even if you choose lighter pours, the schedule is built around tastings. If you’re prone to getting tipsy quickly, pace yourself early and plan to take advantage of pickup.

Should you book this private Tassie distillery tour?

If you want a distillery day that feels more like meeting craft people than collecting stamps, I’d book it. The standout strengths are the behind-the-scenes access at Hobart Whisky, the mix of three distilleries in one day, and the included meals that keep the tasting experience comfortable.

I’d think twice if you’re trying to keep costs low or you prefer very short tastings with minimal alcohol. Also, if you’re indifferent to spirits beyond one category, you might not feel the full benefit of the day’s range.

For the right kind of traveler, this is a highly satisfying Tasmanian taste day: hosted, structured, and focused on what makes the distilling scene work—people, process, and that simple thrill of tasting something in its early life.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the private Tassie Distillery Tour from Hobart?

The tour runs for about 6 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:00am.

Which distilleries are visited?

The tour includes Spring Bay Distillery, Hobart Whisky, and Killara Distillery.

Is the Hobart Whisky stop open to the public?

No. Hobart Whisky is described as not open to the public for this experience, making it a behind-the-scenes visit.

What food and tastings are included?

The experience includes morning tea with cheese, biscuits and chocolates, plus lunch. Tastings include alcoholic beverages at all venues: gin, whisky, vodka, rum, and liqueurs.

Are alcoholic drinks included for all venues?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages are included at all venues.

Can I blend my own whisky on this tour?

Yes. The experience includes a hands-on whisky blending component, where you blend your own whisky as part of the guided program.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, the amount paid is not refunded.

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