This year in Tasmania we celebrate 30 years of distilling. In 1992 Bill and Lyn Lark were granted the first license to distil since 1839, becoming the first Australian distillery to produce single malt spirit in 154 years. Bill was inducted into the Whisky Hall of Fame, the seventh person outside of Scotland or Ireland to be inducted, and the first distiller in the southern hemisphere to be recognised.
The gala dinner is held at the magnificent and historic Hobart Town Hall. Designed by Henry Hunter the Town Hall was constructed using sandstone quarried from the River Derwent at Bridgewater and Knocklofty. It opened in 1866 with a ball that went from dusk to dawn!
To celebrate this event, distillers from around the state, will come together to dine with consumers and tell their story of distilling to diners at the table. Distillers will be dotted around the room along with distilling pioneers – Lyn Lark, the Godfather of Australian Whisky Bill Lark, Casey Overeem from Overeem Whisky and Patrick Maguire who began Sullivan’s Cove.
Join with distillers from Spring Bay Distillery, Belgrove, Callington Mill Distillery, Derwent Distillery, Hunter Island Whisky, Iron House, King Island Distillery, Lawrenny, McHenry, Old Kempton Distillery, Pattex, Spirit Thief, Lark, Hellfire Bluff, Transportation Whiskey, Launceston Distillery, Battery Point Distillery and Killara.
Peter Bignell from Belgrove Distillery has created an amazing ice sculpture to honour this event where oysters will nestle into the specially made sculpture.
Behind the bar will be a bottle of Tasmania’s finest whisky/spirits/liqueurs from distilleries around the state. Pouring these for you will be John Jarvis from Hobart Whisky, Ally Bhana from Sullivan’s Cove and Mark Teague from @whiskyismyjam.
A Tasmanian produce driven two course meal from acclaimed Tasmanian chef Scott Heffernan from Flint Kitchen. (Ex Smolt and Frank) Focused on the freshest locally sourced produce that is in season and cooked using fire.
Beer courtesy of McHenry Distillery and cider from Willie Smiths.
Members of the Hobart Chamber Orchestra will be performing through out the evening. Established in 1987 the Hobart Chamber Orchestra has established itself as a high quality ensemble with a reputation for initiative, innovation, building enduring collaborations, and fostering young talent.
Included in your ticket price is:
Canapes
Main meal and dessert
All beer and cider
All spirits, whisky and liqueurs
Entertainment by the Hobart Chamber Orchestra
An experience that won’t be repeated, dining with the distillers for the 30th anniversary and the pioneers of the Tasmanian distilling industry.
Dress code: This is a formal event, think floor-length gowns, three piece suits or a cocktail dress, a tux is optional.