Old Kempton Distillery
Old Kempton Distillery
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Old Kempton Distillery is located in Dysart House, Kempton, in an 1840’s colonial inn. It is an easy 40 minute drive from Hobart and approximately 2 hours from Launceston. The cellar door has two large dining rooms, available to sit and relax while you enjoy some home cooked treats from the kitchen. It also boasts a beautiful room known only as The Cask Lounge, filled with comfortable chairs, heaters, a bar, books and plants - you are invited to enjoy your tastings and relax for as long as you would like. Tours are available at 11am and 1.30pm, prior booking is needed. Our Cafe is open from 10am until 4pm with house made pies, scones, generous Tasmanian antipasto platters and many other treats. We are family and dog friendly, with a welcoming courtyard and kids menu available. We are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
178 reviews
Excellent
145
Very good
19
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
4
EvaCEO
Hobart, Australia3 contributions
Aug 2020
Had hoped to find a little treasure and support a local business but on this occasion it was not this venue. The staff definitely need some basic training in hospitality catering.
*Was given a blind tasting and then had a 45 minute wait for any further service and only then when we went to find them.
*no alcohol list in the menu only soft drink and coffee - not even a gin&tonic on offer(we were in a distillery?)
* had to pay when ordered, and then pay again for something additional that was ordered, and would have had to pay again if we had dessert and then again for coffee however the staff did not return after our meal was completed so we weren't offered dessert, coffee or invited to look through the shop
*meal had to be eaten in an armchair sitting at a coffee table - uncomfortable and felt I should put it on my lap. The meal was basic but nice.
*the only visible toilet was unisex that also contained a baby change and an armchair with the lock difficult to close - was clean but the thought crossed my mind if a mother needed to feed a child where would guests be able to go. I also didn't find it appealing to have the toilet cleaner and other cleaning products on display next to the mirror on a beautiful fireplace mantel
Overall, clearly good at making gin and scotch but not so in providing catering. Sadly we won't be going back or recommending and will look for that treasure venue in another direction.
*Was given a blind tasting and then had a 45 minute wait for any further service and only then when we went to find them.
*no alcohol list in the menu only soft drink and coffee - not even a gin&tonic on offer(we were in a distillery?)
* had to pay when ordered, and then pay again for something additional that was ordered, and would have had to pay again if we had dessert and then again for coffee however the staff did not return after our meal was completed so we weren't offered dessert, coffee or invited to look through the shop
*meal had to be eaten in an armchair sitting at a coffee table - uncomfortable and felt I should put it on my lap. The meal was basic but nice.
*the only visible toilet was unisex that also contained a baby change and an armchair with the lock difficult to close - was clean but the thought crossed my mind if a mother needed to feed a child where would guests be able to go. I also didn't find it appealing to have the toilet cleaner and other cleaning products on display next to the mirror on a beautiful fireplace mantel
Overall, clearly good at making gin and scotch but not so in providing catering. Sadly we won't be going back or recommending and will look for that treasure venue in another direction.
Written 29 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning,
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us. We do appreciate any and all feedback that we receive.
As you can imagine the COVID laws put on the hospitality industry have caused many businesses to have to change the way they serve customers, how many people can be in each room, where customers can eat and drink (seated only) and many other small things.
We are a small craft distillery and focused on making premium spirits, we consider ourselves very blessed to be located in the beautiful Dysart House and we have a dedicated dining space (with tables) and another room set aside with antique chesterfield chairs for whisky tastings. Due to COVID and how small the rooms of a historic house are we have had to greatly limit how many people can be in each room, unfortunately this means when we get many in for a Sunday lunch that customers are sometimes seated in the tasting room rather than the dining room. We do have seating outside however the weather was absolutely dismal on the day which took away that option. We do sincerely apologise for this and we will always attempt to change the situation if we possibly can on the day upon customer request.
Due to the very small size of our business we have always served all customers in our Cellar door, as most small cafes do. Unfortunately COVID has changed that and we have had to implement an entire new payment system in order to accommodate that, we do apologise about having to pay when each item is ordered and we contacted our payment system (Square restaurant) in order to find another way around this - which we have! - so honestly, thank you for bringing this up. We also note you may not have seen the alcoholic drinks menu located on the back of your food menu - we love a good cocktail and also serve Tasmanian Cider and Tasmanian beer. Sadly our beautiful leather-bound menus have had to be put away until the COVID cleaning restrictions are eased as laminated menus can be easily sanitized after each customer.
As part of our registered COVID safety plan we must have all cleaning products clearly labeled, clearly on display and clearly available for all customers to use if they would like to be extra vigilant before using anything. We are aware this is unsightly but unfortunately something we cannot change without breaking the COVID safety plan. We will have the lock looked at immediately to ensure it is easy to use for all customers. The bathroom size, and amount of toilets is heritage listed and unfortunately cannot be changed, we are sorry if it caused any inconvenience to use.
We are a small team, made up of local staff and take great pride in our role in the hospitality industry of Tasmania, we are truly sorry that you did not have the experience you wish with us and would love to have you back again for a free tour & tasting so we can show you just how dedicated we are. Please feel free to contact myself directly, erin@oldkemptondistillery.com.au, and I will book you in on whatever date you are available.
We hope you have a wonderful week and we hope to see you again soon, thank you for supporting Tasmanian small business.
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager.
Written 6 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
littleterradisti2023
Adelaide, Australia1 contribution
Feb 2023
Old Kempton Distillery located in the lovely little rural town of Kempton 45 mins from Hobart
The cellar door is a lovely old building displaying all the charm of yesteryear which enhances the style and charm of their well crafted whisky and gin.
I recently completed the distilling course here and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to start up a distilling business or just interested in the craft.
The course was very informative and the staff were very friendly and helpful
The course is backed up with an ongoing Q&A support
Thanks OKD for the education and inspiration
The cellar door is a lovely old building displaying all the charm of yesteryear which enhances the style and charm of their well crafted whisky and gin.
I recently completed the distilling course here and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to start up a distilling business or just interested in the craft.
The course was very informative and the staff were very friendly and helpful
The course is backed up with an ongoing Q&A support
Thanks OKD for the education and inspiration
Written 21 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good afternoon,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We love getting to spend such an enjoyable experience with such wonderful people and this school was no different!
We all wish you all the best on your distilling journey and hope that you keep in touch!
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 26 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beau
1 contribution
Aug 2020
The Old Kempton Distillery is always amazing. The Whisky is top shelf and the people are top shelf also. They are always there to help and always so welcoming.
My kids love going there every time we do our Whisky Journeys. They can play out in the courtyard and make shapes with the timber blocks.
A special mention to Erin. Looked after us so well and was happy to show us some extra special casks.
It is possibly the best Distillery in Tassie for people and for Whisky.
Very "Tasmaltian"
My kids love going there every time we do our Whisky Journeys. They can play out in the courtyard and make shapes with the timber blocks.
A special mention to Erin. Looked after us so well and was happy to show us some extra special casks.
It is possibly the best Distillery in Tassie for people and for Whisky.
Very "Tasmaltian"
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us,
We truly appreciate how dedicated and lovely our customers are and it is always a pleasure to have yourself and your family visit.
We hope to see you again soon!
Erin.
Written 6 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Donna R
Hobart, Australia24 contributions
Nov 2021
We had such a great time doing our Whiskey Tour and Tasting and would highly recommend it to all. Our host/guide was such fun and very entertaining yet very informative too.
A wonderful building, lovely courtyard and great products.
A wonderful building, lovely courtyard and great products.
Written 23 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning Donna,
I hope you are well. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your time with us and cannot wait to have you back again.
If you have any feedback to help turn that 4 star into a 5 star please don't hesitate to get in touch with us directly. Our customers are the most important part of our business.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
erin@oldkemptondistillery.com.au
Written 25 November 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jmack1111
Perth, Australia1 contribution
Feb 2023
Old Kempton Distillery is from the ground up an amazing institution with a culture of knowledge-sharing and growth.
Every person who is a part of Old Kempton Distillery is a wealth of knowledge and is more than happy to answer questions and impart wisdom about the industry. If you are looking for some personal or professional development around distilling, or are in and around Hobart, I highly recommend a visit to this distillery that is set on heritage grounds that are an amazing sight.
Thank you to everyone at Old Kempton Distillery.
Every person who is a part of Old Kempton Distillery is a wealth of knowledge and is more than happy to answer questions and impart wisdom about the industry. If you are looking for some personal or professional development around distilling, or are in and around Hobart, I highly recommend a visit to this distillery that is set on heritage grounds that are an amazing sight.
Thank you to everyone at Old Kempton Distillery.
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Afternoon Justin,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. It was so good to meet you and share our distillery experience with you. We think you have a huge and bright future ahead of you and we cannot wait to follow your journey!
Please always feel welcome to visit us or give us a call if you need anything.
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 26 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GulliverGarryTheGoat
Highgate, Australia2 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Though this place was great. Was interested to to see why they only had 4.5 star rating on trip advisor.
Reading the 3 or 4 negative reviews was quite amusing. Some people are never pleased, and giving one star for having to pay for you tastings is such a crappy move. Would love to see how they run there lives and if they just work for free.
If you are driving past, definable stop in. Tasting is great and the toasted sandwiches was a tasty addition. 100% as advertised and definitely 5 stars.
Reading the 3 or 4 negative reviews was quite amusing. Some people are never pleased, and giving one star for having to pay for you tastings is such a crappy move. Would love to see how they run there lives and if they just work for free.
If you are driving past, definable stop in. Tasting is great and the toasted sandwiches was a tasty addition. 100% as advertised and definitely 5 stars.
Written 2 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning!
Thank you so much for taking a moment to leave us such a great review. We really appreciate having feedback as it is very important to us that we provide an amazing experience for each customer. We also think it's really important to know when we need to improve and what we can work on.
We are glad to hear you found everything to your liking and we hope you can visit us again soon,
PS... love the name!
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 5 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J T
Port Arthur, Australia882 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
You will find everything interesting despite the constrained service level necessitated by COVID. Very nice well informed staff. Excellent cocktails. Good intentions but life is difficult for the staff when they have a large tour party, some potential customers, and a few diners on a rainy Sunday. We will try again in Summer.
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning,
Thank you for taking the time to visit and review us. As you can imagine the constraints put on a small business during COVID have had an affect on the level of service we can offer (for instance we cannot do bar tastings, people must be seated, we can only have limited amounts of people per room). This would also have been put under extra strain due to the horrible weather we experienced.
We do hope you can come back soon, when some conditions are lifted, so that we can show you how proud we are of our location, our products and our distillery.
Live music begins again on the 4th of October and we are hoping to lovely weather!
Have a fantastic week,
Erin.
Written 6 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tebecis J
Sydney, Australia3 contributions
Mar 2022
The Old Kempton Distillery School really is the best course to learn the basics of distilling. It was a brilliant blend of theoretical, practical and a chance to meet key people across the whole industry - from malting barley to drinking in a bar. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone wanting to either get involved in the industry or just develop a deeper appreciation for the whisky in their glass!
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good afternoon Janis,
We would like to say a sincere thank you for being such a wonderful, thoughtful, insightful and easy going student. It was an absolute pleasure to have you as part of our latest course and we hope that the experience will set you up for many years to come. We can't wait to see what you produce in the future.
If you need anything at all please don't hesitate to get in touch with us, we are always happy to keep advising our students and building the friendships started during the course.
Have a wonderful week,
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 14 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NST
1 contribution
July 2022
I participated in the distillery school in July 2022 and can wholeheartedly recommend the experience. It is a rare opportunity to meet and learn from the best in the industry. Old Kempton Distillery is a terrific venue for the school, we were well looked after from bus pick ups, fabulous food to of course everything you need to know about embarking on a career in distilling. Thank you.
Written 22 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning Nele,
Thank you for taking the time to review our Distillery School. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your experience and learnt so much from our course. It will be an absolute pleasure to see where your journey takes you in the future.
Please feel free to reach out at anytime if you need anything, we will talk to you soon,
Have a wonderful week,
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 24 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan L
Bunbury, Australia8,540 contributions
Apr 2022
Visited to sample and purchase some gin but, on arrival, headed to the restaurant. All Covid regulations enforced. I enjoyed a delicious Devonshire Tea, scones and condiments outstanding and coffee tasty. My wife enjoyed her toasted sandwich and cappuccino. Onward to the tastings, I liked the gins but only purchased assorted miniatures as luggage was becoming borderline. We both enjoyed a look through the various rooms open to the public. Remarkable architecture and great to see the building preserved for an alternate use. Great service and pristine interior.
Written 23 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Morning Dan,
We are very blessed to be located in the stunning Dysart House and to be able to share its history with our customers.
We are very glad to hear you enjoyed your food and tastings. If you ever need us to post your purchases home on your behalf we are very happy to do so!
We hope you can visit us again soon, enjoy the rest of your trip,
Kind Regards,
Erin Cole
Cellar Door Manager
Written 25 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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