Derby Tasmania: First look inside new gin distillery Lot 40

A Tasmanian couple are finally ready to unveil their new “sun-drenched” gin distillery and brewery, able to seat 100 and featuring a landscaped beer garden, function room and cafe.

Lot 40 brewery and gin distillery at 55 Main St, Derby, the former Tin Mine Centre, full-time in mid-February, 2023. Picture: Supplied

A Tasmanian couple are finally ready to unveil their new “sun-drenched” gin distillery and brewery, able to seat 100 and featuring a landscaped beer garden, function room and cafe in a project that’s been years in the making.

Tim Kemsley and Kate Brown purchased Derby’s defunct Tin Mine Centre at 55 Main St way back in 2016–17, with the mountain biking mad Mr Kemsley, an engineer by trade, wanting to “do something fun for last part of his working life,” Ms Brown said.

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The pair have spent years refurbishing the centre, which will open from Thursday – Saturday, noon–9pm, to give locals a sneak preview before their new gin distillery and brewery, Lot 40, officially opens in mid-February.

Lot 40 brewery and gin distillery at 55 Main St, Derby, the former Tin Mine Centre, full-time in mid-February, 2023. Picture: Supplied

Ms Brown said Lot 40 will initially serve three in-house gins under new label Blue Trail Gin and four beers. There are citrus, spiced and Kunzea gins, while the beers will consist of lager, porter and IPA, with a fourth beer’s recipe being finalised by Mr Kemsley.

Lot 40 brewery and gin distillery at 55 Main St, Derby, the former Tin Mine Centre, full-time in mid-February, 2023. Picture: Supplied

Lot 40, which can seat up to 100 patrons, features an open-plan bar area which opens onto a deck overlooking Ringarooma River, a multipurpose function space, a landscaped beer garden, and an on-site cafe.

Ms Brown said the pair are on the lookout for an operator of the cafe. They would have “multiple revenue streams” providing food for the bar, to the public, and also catering to big groups, she said.

Ms Brown said Lot 40 had already secured a number of large functions, with parties from the upcoming Enduro World Series and The Devil’s Cardigan mountain biking events locked in.

Lot 40 Derby head distiller and owner Tim Kemsley, who is opening the brewery and gin distillery with wife Kate Brown, depicted with dog Jo. Picture: Supplied

Bicycle manufacturer KTM Bikes Australia is bringing a “big group,” while there has even been a group booking from New Zealand, Ms Brown said.

There has been a buzz around the town for the opening of their new “sun-drenched” boozer, Ms Brown said.

Lot 40 brewery and gin distillery at 55 Main St, Derby, the former Tin Mine Centre, full-time in mid-February, 2023. Picture: Supplied

“We are happy that people are coming back to Derby (since the end of Covid border closures), we are very excited with where the town’s going,” she said.

Thursday’s Australia Day party will feature live music and a lamb on the spit, Ms Brown said.

After Saturday, the venue will close for another two to three weeks to enable the installation of its beer taps and lines.

Originally published as Derby Tasmania: First look inside new gin distillery Lot 40