Old Kempton Distillery has achieved a significant milestone in Tasmania’s tourism industry, earning recognition as one of just 57 businesses across Australia to receive the coveted Best of RedBalloon award.
This prestigious accolade highlights the distillery’s exceptional whisky tours and tastings at the historic Dysart House in Kempton as among the nation’s most popular and highly rated experiences.
Award Excellence and Criteria
The Best of RedBalloon Guaranteed category represents the pinnacle of experience-based tourism in Australia, with stringent criteria ensuring only the finest experiences receive this recognition. To achieve this status, experiences must be personally reviewed by RedBalloon team members, maintain a minimum average 4.8-star rating supported by 30 or more reviews, and meet strict validation standards across five key criteria.
RedBalloon, Australia’s leading experience marketplace since 2001 with over 14,000 experiences listed, backs these award-winning experiences with their guarantee: “if it doesn’t meet your expectations, we’ll make it right”. This unwavering confidence in the selected experiences underscores the exceptional quality that Old Kempton Distillery consistently delivers to its guests.
A Heritage Experience at Dysart House
Old Kempton Distillery’s award-winning experience takes place within the magnificent walls of Dysart House, a grand 1840s colonial coaching inn steeped in Tasmanian history. Built in 1842 by master stonemason Andrew Bell for ex-convict embezzler-turned-innkeeper William Ellis, this sandstone masterpiece served as a coaching stop on the main road between Hobart and Launceston.
The distillery’s tours offer guests a unique blend of Tasmanian heritage, whisky craftsmanship, and warm hospitality. Each guided experience includes a fascinating journey through the historic property, behind-the-scenes access to the working distillery, and a customised tasting of four Old Kempton spirits, including their renowned single malt whiskies, handcrafted gins, and Tasmanian liqueurs.
Tasmania’s Whisky Renaissance
This recognition comes at a particularly significant time for Tasmania’s whisky industry, which has emerged as a global powerhouse in craft distilling. Since Bill Lark pioneered modern Tasmanian whisky production in 1992, the island has grown to house over 70 distilleries, earning numerous international accolades.
The industry’s success was further highlighted at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards, where Tasmanian distilleries claimed 11 out of 21 Australian category awards, including recognition for Old Kempton Distillery’s Small Batch Single Malt. This achievement reinforces Tasmania’s position as home to some of the world’s finest whisky producers, with the state producing exceptional drams despite representing only 0.01% of global whisky production.