Tasmania is a stunning island state known for its cool climate, unique wildlife, rich history and, of course, incredible whisky.
In fact, it is home to more than 90 distilleries producing around 3.2 million litres of spirits each year. Thanks to Tasmania’s clean air, clear water and ideal grain-growing conditions, as well as the passionate distillers who have set up shop in every corner, the spirits here are some of the best in the world.
There’s no better place to go behind-the-scenes and discover the wonderful world of whisky. From distillery tours to tailored tastings, check out the best whisky and gin experiences in Tasmania.
Ocean-powered distillation at Waubs Harbour
Once an old oyster hatchery, Waubs Harbour is now a family-owned distillery producing award-winning single malt whisky.
The name Waubs Harbour comes from the former name of the fishing town of Bicheno, where the distillery is located. It is also the name of Aboriginal woman Wauba Debar, who rescued two men from a sinking boat offshore and was known as the ‘heroine of the sea’. When she died in the early 1800s, Wauba had the only known gravestone erected to a Tasmanian Aboriginal person during the 19th century. The distillery’s owners draw on their own Aboriginal heritage in every part of their business.
When visiting the distillery, you can go behind-the-scenes and learn all about the whisky-making process on a guided tour. Starting in the production building, you’ll discover how the equipment is cooled by the ocean during distillation, step inside the salt-laden barrel rooms, and finish up with a guided tasting overlooking the ocean.
Or, jump straight to the end for a tasting of Waubs Harbour’s flagship and limited release drops. Make sure to try the Founder’s Reserve, a big and bold cask strength whisky matured in ex-Tawny Port casks for a rich and oily taste. As a small-batch distiller, Waubs Harbour produces around 600-700 bottles per batch, making each purchase unique.
Single malt, single cask whisky at Alchymia
In 2013, Alchymia Distillery owners Matt and Sarah left their corporate jobs to persue their passion for single malt whisky.
The name Alchymia is inspired by 17th century alchemists, who tried to turn base metals into gold using heat and water. Like these scientific sorcerers, Sarah and Matt add heat and water to barley and yeast to create their own liquid gold – whisky.
On a stunning property in the Table Cape region, you will find the distillery inside a beautiful 150-year-old converted shed.
Everything here is small batch, meaning the team only produce 100 litres of new spirit for whisky each month. The whole process is done by hand, from sorting the barley and removing foreign seeds to fermenting, distilling and bottling.
Alchymia Distillery only produce single malt single cask whisky – no blending. There are now more than 90 casks filled with 25 different types of whisky, many ready and on pour.
They handcraft other spirits, including gin, vodka and liqueurs, using fine ingredients and botanicals, many of which are grown on site.
At the tasting room, you can join a behind-the-scenes tour with co-owner and head distiller Matt, make your own cask of whisky or bottle of gin, enjoy a guided tasting overlooking the Bass Strait, or relax in the beautiful garden with a cocktail.
Callington Mill Distillery is a history lover’s dream
The Callington windmill was built by entrepreneur John Vincent in 1837. At the same time, he established a mill to produce flour for the local Oatlands community and (despite being illegal at the time), decided to create a distillery on the side. To contribute to the growing town, John patroned several pubs and hotels, supplying them with his illegal alcohol.
Today, history buffs and spirit lovers alike can visit the heritage mill precinct, which has been transformed into an interactive tourist experience using video and audio presentations to share the unique stories of the people who lived and worked in the area.
Once you’ve seen the grounds, make sure to head to the cellar door for a guided tour of the distillery, where you’ll trace the process from milling to barrelling. You can also sign up for the Serendipity Experience, where you will taste five premium cask strength raw whiskies, before creating your own unique single malt whisky and personalising the label.
For a more relaxed experience, sit back and sample four single malt whiskies on a tasting. The Amphora Whisky is aged in a selection of Sherry, Tokay and Brandy casks, before being transferred into three handmade clay Amphora and left undisturbed for two years. What results is a smooth, grounded drink drawing on techniques of the past.
Callington Mill Distillery also produces a small range of gins, distilled with twelve botanicals.
Family first at McHenry Distillery
The southernmost distillery and brewery in the world, McHenry Distillery can be found in the Tasman Peninsula near the Port Arthur Historic Site. The five pristine natural springs flowing through the property are used as the foundation of the distilling process, creating a wash (or fermented, beer-like liquid) in the brewery that serves as the raw material for the first distillation.
At the family-owned business, every batch of whisky and gin is handcrafted, and supported by the ocean-cooled climate for conditions similar to Scotland.
When visiting, you can enjoy a guided whisky and gin tasting, elevated by a cheese board full of locally sourced ingredients. Make sure to try the 10-year-old American Oak Whisky, with a buttery and smooth feel and tasting notes of banana bread, caramel and vanilla, as well as the whisky liquor which is best enjoyed over ice. Dogs and families are welcome to come along for the day, and experience the beautiful surroundings.
At night, the team set up professional telescopes for an evening of stargazing, with the chance to spot constellations, planets, and maybe even the Aurora Australis. If you’re hoping to stay a little longer, there are two luxury accommodation options on the property. Both cabins are self-contained, with incredible views towards the Hartz Mountains and cosy fireplaces to warm up in the colder months. You can even choose to bake your own croissants in the morning, and enjoy them with butter and raspberry jam.
Become a whisky master at Killara Distillery
Kristy Lark, second-generation distiller and daughter of the legendary Bill Lark (known as the grandfather of Australian whisky), owns and operates Killara Distillery. in Richmond with the aim of producing incredible whisky and gin.
At the cellar door, you can embark on a guided tasting to sample a variety of whiskies, apothecary gins and seasonal spirits. The Apothecary Gin is produced using 10 botanicals individually distilled in small copper pots and then blended together for a delicious dry style drop. Those after a smokier flavour can also try the Barrel Aged Apothecary Gin, which sits in single malt whisky barrels for six months before bottling. Killara also produces whiskies, vodkas and liqueurs, so there’s something to suit every palette.
For a unique cellar door experience, sign up to be a distiller for the day and immerse yourself in the world of spirits. This seven-hour experience takes you behind-the-scenes as you work with the team throughout the process from garden to bottle.
If you’re interested in learning more about the art of distillation, or even thinking of opening your own distillery, the two-day Distillery School is a masterclass in brewing and distilling. Using ATO-approved alcohol measuring equipment, you will gain hands-on distilling practice and learn everything from recipe development to achieving distillery compliance.
Tasmanian Whisky Week brings it all together
With so many incredible distilleries and cellar doors on offer in Tasmania, it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily, Tasmanian Whisky Week is the perfect place to sample them all.
The Meet the Maker event is like speed dating for spirit lovers, where visitors will move from table to table to sample drops from award-winning makers, ask burning questions, and sit down for a three-course dinner. Other popular offerings include distillery tours, blind tastings, whisky cruises and the Tas v Scotland tasting night.
The highlight of the event, however, is the Tasmanian Spirit Showcase, where over 40 local distillers meet under one roof to offer tastings of more than 150 spirits, including limited-release, special edition and festival-exclusive drops. Make sure to also check out the cocktail bars, food plaza and live music dotted all around the venue. Each ticket comes with tasting tokens, a whisky glass, and a commemorative lanyard.
Can’t get enough of these whisky and gin experiences in Tasmania? Check out the best historic buildings in the state open to the public.
Rex flies to Hobart, Devonport, Burnie and King Island. Book your flights here and check out the route map below for more details.
