Best Distilleries in Greater Hobart, Tasmania
Credit: Tourism Tasmania & Nick Osborne
You'll be coming back for every drop at these Hobart distilleries. There's nothing worse than paying for what you believe to be some of Tasmania's finest gin or whisky and facing instant regret. Don't get me wrong, most of Tasmanian gin, whisky, wine and any other alcoholic beverage is going to be good, a lot are great, but only a select few will have you itching for your next tasting.
I could write up a list of the best distilleries in Hobart and mention most of the great ones, but instead, I've narrowed it down. I only want to give you the best. At least 1 of each of the top 5 distilleries I've listed below would make it to a local's top recommendations.
Oh, and if you're travelling to other parts of Tasmania, I'll be writing up some blogs for different regions too. Come back and check in on those, I'll link them here once complete! Alternatively, comment at the bottom of the blog with where you're going and I'll get back with a recommendation.
Let's have a look at what Hobart's best.
Website: https://larkdistillery.com/
Location: 14 Davey Street, Hobart
Photo Creedit: Tourism Tasmania & Nick Osborne, Adam Gibson & Sam Shelley
If you've heard of any Tasmanian whisky distillery, it'll likely be Lark Distillery. They took home the award for Australia's No.1 Luxury Single-Malt Whisky in 2023, have won countless international awards and for three consecutive years, have been given the award for Australia's Best Blended Malt.
So, the awards say "It's worth a taste."
I also, say "It's worth a taste."
Now you say, "Where can I have a taste". Good question.
Lark has multiple venues to experience their award-winning whisky, blend your own whisky, or make some gin.
First is The Still. Here, you can experience whisky tastings, and blend some of your own ($499 per person at the point of writing this in Apr 2024 - not the cheapest of experiences).
Second is The Distillery where you can receive a tour of the distillery. The usual. Every distillery is different, so still worth dropping by to check things out!
The third is Gin(Bar). This location is used specifically for workshops and classes on making Gin. Book in advance to avoid disappointment!
Website: https://callingtonmilldistillery.com/
Location: 6 Mill Ln, Oatlands TAS 7120
Photo Credit: Alastair Bett & Dearna Bond
When I said "best distilleries in greater Hobart", I really did mean 'greater' Hobart. Stay with me though.
Callington Mill Distillery, located in Oatlands, has a beautifully crafted collection of whisky and gin. They specialise in single-malt whiskey, with a diverse range to try. I don't mind a good-looking bottle (half the fun is showing it off in your cabinet at home) and Callington do these well.
If you're not after whisky, like most other Tasmanian whisky distilleries, Callington also has gin on offer. Their poltergeist gin is delicious. I don't need to say anything else. Just try it.
As I said above, this is a decent drive North of Hobart, approximately an hour each way in total. Keep that in mind, and possibly pair it with a visit to Ross (further down the highway) to try their famous Scallop Pie. Come back to Hobart through Colebrook (a lovely stretch of country road) and find yourself in the town of Richmond. There's a lot to explore here.
Random fun fact: there's a windmill at Callington 'Mill' Distillery. Great for photos.
Website: https://sullivanscove.com/
Location: 1/10 Lamb Pl, Cambridge TAS 7170
Top-class whisky. I could leave it there.
But I won't.
These guys don't mess around. In 2019, Sullivans Cove French Oak Single Cask whisky was awarded the "World's Best Single Cask Single Malt Whisky". They won this same award for another whisky the year before. Top-class no longer does it.
World-class whisky. That's more like it.
You'll find Brandy here as well, which again, has won "World's Best" in certain categories. Sullivans Cove really does have the best Hobart can offer.
Their cellar Door is currently closed for renovations but is due to re-open in May 2024! They're located in Cambridge, which is near Hobart Airport. Could be a great way to finish your time in Tasmania, or if you're a local, maybe you never knew they existed.
Website: https://springbaydistillery.com.au/
Location: 6 Hoods Rd, Spring Beach TAS 7190
I've snuck this little gin distillery in here because one, it's not on everybody's recommended list of distilleries, and secondly, it should be.
Much like Callington, visiting this distillery takes planning, as it's also around an hour's drive from Hobart. Either make it a half-day trip or visit as you travel your way around Tasmania.
Given how small Spring Bay is, locally owned and operated, you'll have more time with the staff to talk about gins, hear about the process of making it, recommendations on what to try, etc... Now, you don't have to talk to the staff if you don't want to. But if that is you, perhaps a larger cellar door is more up your alley?
Honestly, this one is a lot of fun. An unearthed gem for sure.
Website: https://www.oldkemptondistillery.com.au/
Location: 26 Main St, Kempton TAS 7030
Photo Credit: Emilie Ristevski & Tourism Australia
Grab the distillery tour. Hands down, best use of your money here at Old Kempton. You'll be rewarded with a delicious lunch and a whiskey tasting to convince you to take all and every bottle back home with you after the holiday.
If you don't have time for the tour, then a tasting flight combined with lunch should satisfy you. There are a few flights to choose from, but they primarily offer whisky, gin or both. You get a selection of 4 in total.
Another aspect I like about Old Kempton is the ability to take home a private cask to age your own choice of beverage. The downside, is you don't take it home straight away, only once it's gone through its maturation process. Perhaps you should plan to book in your second trip to Tasmania around the same time?
Spring Bay Distillery, 'The Rheban' Burban Cask
One made by the small Spring Bay Distillery. The bottle was named after the 1500-acre sheep farm station south of the distillery in Tasmania. Rheban has views overlooking Marias Island and a beach with the same name. I won't even attempt to talk about the nose, palate and finish - I'm no expert on tasting whisky. All I can say is it tastes good.
At the time of writing, there were 13 bottles left. Perhaps some of you will be the lucky ones to try this liquid gold.
7k Distillery, Raspberry Gin
Oh boy, when I had a try of 7k Distilleries' raspberry gin, I wasn't sure I'd ever tasted another one quite like it. You're not really looking at tasting botanicals here, it's all in for the raspberry. Best had as a G&T.
Deadman's Point Spirits, Sloe Gin
I was introduced to Sloe Gin recently, at Gin-uary Hobart Festival in 2024 to be precise. During the event, I managed to taste the majority of sloe gins with two friends who also attended the event.
It didn't take long to agree on a winner.
Deadman's Point has outdone themselves here.
Would I go to the cellar door? Perhaps. Given they do sloe gin so well, it may be worth trying the rest of their collection. Otherwise, grab a bottle where you can and savour every sip.
Plan B - Virtual Tasting
A virtual Tasting? Had me intrigued too when I first heard about it. Plan B Distillery was once a next-door neighbour of a friend of mine, and during COVID, decided to offer virtual tastings by sending out a pack of gins and mixers which are then experienced together in a Zoom call on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Even after a visit to Tasmania comes to an end, its a gift that keeps on giving with unique experiences like this.
There's one spot, and one spot only, the Salamanca Whisky Bar.
Never have I had a bad experience, and every experience is unique. Their menu offers a wide range of whiskies to try individually, or instead, choose from a range of flights.
You can choose a flight based on region or distillery. I've mostly tended to choose based on the region but once chose a specific distillery for something different. With each flight, you'll receive a water dropper, liqueur, water and small chocolate. Nothing special, but appreciated nonetheless.
There is a selection of cakes on offer that haven't left me disappointed yet. Cocktails are worth trying as well.
Lastly, the staff really are of another calibre. Their knowledge is top-class and their willingness to talk through the selection suggests they intend to be helpful, not just to work an evening shift. I've only ever gone in the evenings. Some Google reviews point towards rude staff, I personally haven't had this experience.
Of course, you do have other whisky-tasting options in and around Hobart, but this is my recommendation.
Out in the town of Richmond, you can find Drink Tasmania Tasting House. Outside of Hobart, this is the place to go and try all of your favourites. Perhaps you can't make it to all of the distilleries, or you want to try everything from everywhere all at once, then this is your spot.
Lastly, I wanted to highlight one of the gin tastings experience events that runs annually here in Hobart, Gin-uary. It's exactly what you'd expect it to be, gin tasting, and as much tasting as you'd like. Is it worth going to? If you love gin, I'd say yes. If you don't love gin, then you'll find your money better spent on a flight at Salamanca Whisky Bar, Drink Tasmania Tasting House, or maybe a world-class bottle of whisky from Sullivan's Cove.
Enjoy the best here in Greater Hobart. Any of the listed 5 distilleries will leave you wanting to come back for more. Whether you’re touring the state, or a local wanting to try something new, you can’t go past these top 5 distilleries in Hobart to get a taste of Tasmania.
If you have your own favourite, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear what would make your top list.
Which distillery is the best in all of Hobart?
You could choose based on personal taste, but in this instance, I’ll give it to the one that has won the most awards - usually an unbiased verdict. Therefore the best distillery in Hobart has to go to Sullivans Cove.
If I were to go to one distillery, which would be best?
Two answers. If you just want to try a range of drinks, then one of the two tasting places suggested above would be best. Either Salamanca Whisky Bar or Drink Tasmania Tasting House.
If you’d like to experience a distillery, take a tour and do a tasting there, then my go-to would be Old Kempton.
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