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Some 80 per cent of the whisky produced in Australia comes from Tasmanian distilleries. Lark Distillery was the first company since 1839 to be granted a distillery licence in Tasmania and over the past 15 years Bill Lark, owner of Lark Distillery, has come to be regarded as the father of Australian whisky in the modern era. His expertise is in high demand as a consultant to the expanding Australian single malt whisky industry.

Lark has achieved significant international success – in February at an international whisky event Lark’s Cask Strength malt was voted the second most popular whisky. It was narrowly beaten by an 18-year-old Highland Park, an astonishing achievement as the Highland Park 18 has recently won Whisky Magazine’s ‘World’s Best Whisky’ award.

In March 2008 Lark launched a series of distillery tours. There are one, two and four day tours. On the four day event the visitors become whisky distillers, joining Lark’s distillers in crafting the spirit all the way through the whisky making process. Visitors travel to the Tasmanian Central Highlands and dig their own blocks of peat. Indeed, every element in the patiently measured tradition of single malt whisky production is seen and experienced – the peat, smoking the malted barley, fermenting and distilling, filling your own oak barrel.

The four day tour includes an option to take home a 20-litre barrel of the whisky that the tour group has helped produce. Bill Lark believes this to be unique in the world of whisky distillery tours.

Introductory tour prices: One day $189, Two day $340, Four day tour $1600 (excludes accommodation). Tour costs include transport, lunches and morning and afternoon teas.

www.larkdistillery.com.au