The Hunter Valley may be known for its wine, and the many cellar doors where you can drink a fruit-driven shiraz or a crisp Semillon, but the region is steadily garnering a reputation for its craft spirits.

Hunter producers have been part of the gin renaissance of recent years, but there’s a new distillery – with plenty of history in the region – bringing whiskey to people keen to taste their way around the Hunter Valley.

Tower Whiskey Distillery opened in December 2023 to plenty of excitement – so much so that after just a month of opening, the distillery decided to open every day of the week due to high demand.

It’s a welcome addition to the Hunter’s distilling scene – in fact, Tower Whiskey Distillery is the region’s first dedicated whiskey tasting distillery.

Thinking of stopping by for a tasting of Tower’s single malt, single cask whiskey? Here’s what you can expect.

Whiskey tasting at Tower Whiskey Distillery

Walking into Tower Whiskey Distillery, it feels like you’ve stepped into a grand country home. It’s luxurious, yet comfortable – a pretty ideal spot for tasting whiskey, if you ask us.

Book ahead for a tasting and you’ll guarantee yourself a table plus a $5 saving on the tasting fee. Small groups can take a seat in the distillery’s main room or outside under the pergola, and there’s two closed-off rooms available for bigger groups.

Whether you’re a whiskey aficionado or an amateur, Tower’s friendly staff will guide you while you taste the distillery’s first release whiskeys, ensuring you learn something new along the way.

“It’s all about an educational experience encompassing the malting, brewing, distilling, cask maturation, and tasting components of whiskey,” Tower Whiskey Distillery owner Michael Hope said.

The 30-45 minute hosted tasting includes background on how the whiskey is made, along with the lowdown on the different characteristics of each whiskey.

You’ll taste each whiskey in a special whiskey tasting glass that’s shaped specifically to help direct the aromas from the whiskey to your nose. Smelling is tasting, as they say. 

There’s even a pencil and paper for you to write down all the notes you smell and taste, but don’t worry – there’s no quiz at the end.

If you’re used to paying $10 for wine tastings, $40 for a whiskey tasting might seem steep. But, when you consider the cost of whiskey, a premium spirit, it all adds up.

“The whiskeys are hand-crafted, high-end products that sell for $195 per bottle. A tasting includes half a nip of four whiskeys in special whiskey tasting glasses. Not only are there two full nips of whiskey included, but also the labour of the host,” Michael said.

Once your tasting is done, you’re able to purchase your favourite whiskey by the glass at the bar (neat, over ice, or with a mixer) and soak up the beauty of the distillery for a little while longer. Or, take your very own bottle home with a $10 discount voucher included in the tasting fee.

Stay tuned for guided tours that go behind the scenes of distillery and the making of Tower’s whiskeys. In the meantime, a tasting at Tower Whiskey Distillery is calling.