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A two-day, hands-on distillation course in Richmond, Tasmania led by Kristy Lark (with Bill and Lyn Lark). Small groups and ATO-focused practice make this an ideal jumpstart for aspiring distillers.
A two-day, hands-on distillation course in Richmond, Tasmania led by Kristy Lark (with Bill and Lyn Lark). Small groups and ATO-focused practice make this an ideal jumpstart for aspiring distillers.
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Operated by Killara Distillery · Richmond, Tasmania
The Original Distillery School in Richmond, Tasmania, offers an intensive two-day immersion for anyone serious about starting a craft distillery or sharpening their distilling skills. Located in Richmond, Tasmania, Australia, the course is taught by Kristy Lark with Bill and Lyn Lark dropping in to mentor, bringing a combined eighty-plus years of experience. Small cohorts — capped at six students with a two-person minimum — mean every attendee gets bench time at copper stills, practical barrel work and one-on-one feedback. Across two days participants move from mash to bottle: brewing fundamentals, grain and sugar selection, yeast management, copper still operation, cuts and proofing, and hands-on barrel selection and management. The school supplies ATO-approved alcohol measuring equipment so students practice compliance procedures alongside flavor work. Whether your focus is whisky, gin or white spirits, instructors tailor the curriculum to cover recipe development, scaling recipes and the regulatory steps to secure licenses and set up compliant operations. What makes this program stand out in Tasmania’s growing spirits scene is the combination of practical repetition and regulatory coaching. Tasmania’s cool-climate barley and clean mountain water are often cited in local distillers’ recipes, and the course shows how to use regional ingredients to craft distinct spirits. Richmond’s historic village — a short drive from Hobart and known for its Georgian bridge and stone buildings — provides a quiet, focused base for learning and sampling local food between sessions. Key features you’ll encounter are copper pot and column stills, mash tuns, oak barrels at different toast levels, sensory calibration sessions and paperwork walk-throughs for ATO licensing. The school’s small size makes it a professional, workshop-like environment rather than a tourist demonstration; expect hands-on lab-style exercises and group critique of recipes and distillates. Practical notes: classes are intimate and limited, so book early; the school adapts to student goals, which makes advanced topics accessible to beginners and useful to experienced operators looking to refine techniques or business setup. By course end you should feel confident to pursue licensing and plan a pilot production run, armed with recipes, measurement practices and operational checklists. If you’ve been dreaming of launching a microdistillery or want to expand your home-distilling knowledge within a legal, industry-aware framework, The Original Distillery School in Richmond is a rare, apprenticeship-grade experience in one of Australia’s most active craft spirits regions. Courses run periodically throughout the year; because sessions are tailored and numbers tiny, expect pre-course questionnaires to shape your learning objectives. Accommodation in Richmond ranges from B&Bs to cottages nearby; bring a notebook, sturdy footwear and curiosity. The program balances craft and compliance, giving graduates a practical action plan—from recipe scaling to equipment lists—to start producing consistently and legally at small commercial scale soon.
easy.
2 days.
Basic mobility and the ability to stand for multi-hour workshop sessions; no special fitness required.
No. The course is tailored to student goals and welcomes beginners as well as experienced operators seeking to refine technique.
The school teaches legal, compliant production and ATO procedures. In Australia, distilling alcohol at home without the proper licenses is illegal; the course helps you prepare for licensing rather than endorse unlicensed distilling.
Participants need to be adults (18+) because the course involves handling alcohol and regulated equipment.
Hands-on distilling practice, instruction on brewing and recipe development, barrel selection and management, and use of ATO-approved measuring equipment; regulatory steps and licensing guidance are also covered.
Accommodation is not included. Richmond has nearby B&Bs and cottages; check course listings for any meal notes and bring snacks if needed.
Yes — standard classes cap at six students with a two-person minimum; contact the school to discuss options for larger or private group bookings.
Richmond is a historic Georgian-era village east of Hobart, known for early 19th-century stone buildings and the Richmond Bridge area that dates to the colonial period.
Instructors emphasize responsible sourcing of grain and water, barrel reuse and waste management; small-scale distillers are encouraged to track energy and water use to reduce environmental impact.
Killara Distillery is a craft distillery in Richmond, Tasmania that offers hands-on tours, tastings, and educational courses. The venue presents a Distillery Tour and Tasting with exclusive seasonal tastings tailored for visitors, an Exclusive Whisky Experience with behind-the-scenes access, and a Tasting Experience that runs for twenty minutes and highlights whiskies, gins and seasonal spirits. The business also runs a Distiller for a Day program where participants craft a spirit to take home. Its two-day Original Distillery School is a hands-on course covering brewing, barrel selection, recipe development and licensing; places are limited to ensure focused instruction. Tours and experiences are led by on-site staff and include explanations of production processes, flavour profiles and craft techniques. Booking information, session times and availability are managed by Killara Distillery; visitors should consult the distillery for current schedules and requirements. Located in Richmond, the distillery integrates local Tasmanian character into its programs and uses seasonal releases as part of its tasting lineup. Killara Distillery focuses on practical learning, curated tasting sessions and a variety of entry points for enthusiasts and aspiring distillers. Offerings include short-format tastings, exclusive whisky sessions, immersive day-long programs and an extended distillery school designed to equip participants with practical skills and confidence in craft spirit production. Visitors can sample bold whiskies, herbal gins and seasonal spirits across multiple tasting formats, and can choose short guided tastings or more exclusive private sessions when available. The distillery also supports guests seeking practical guidance for small-scale production planning. Staff provide clear instruction on processes ideal for hobbyists and emerging distillery operators where applicable locally.
Book with Killara Distillery