There is no shortage of blissful pockets on Waiheke Island, but Waiheke Distilling Co is up there with the best of them.
Founded by Liz Scott and Glen Cadwallader, it’s the island's sole dedicated vodka and gin distillery. You can buy its boutique spirits in select retailers around the country, or get the full experience by visiting its garden bar – at the same Waiheke Island site where the spirits are crafted, distilled and bottled.
It’s perched on the island’s lesser-visited eastern end (10 minutes’ drive from Man O’ War Vineyards) in Cowes Bay, and has a rustic homestead feel. “The fact that we are a ‘destination’, set in the more wild, undiscovered end of the island, is part of the attraction,” Scott tells Broadsheet. “As we are a young, boutique, family-owned distillery, we can offer a very personalised experience of our place.”
Never miss a moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.
SUBSCRIBE NOWSpirit of Waiheke is the distillery’s signature gin (and its most popular). It channels the island’s coastal freshness with a subtle infusion of New Zealand giant kelp and citrus. The other favourite is the Red Ruby Gin, infused with New Zealand cherries.
You can try these – along with the company’s London Dry Gin and botanical vodkas – as part of a tasting paddle or mixed into cocktails, including high-end G&Ts and summery alcoholic slushies. Settle into a beanbag or a table on the lush lawn overlooking Tīkapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf) and order from a food menu that keeps it simple with cheese and charcuterie platters, heirloom tomatoes, and oysters.
When establishing their distillery in 2018, Scott says the pair wanted to create something “unique and artisan that reflected our combined passions”. Cadwallader has a family background in distilling and hospitality, and Scott has long been passionate about botanicals – particularly natives. “It’s a true family business, with input from three generations,” says Scott.
It was three years before the team was ready to open the venue to the public; in that time, they planted a bee-friendly, spray-free botanical garden that’s not only designed as a tranquil setting for an afternoon wander, but also allows the spirits to be showcased in the environment that inspired them. Garden-to-bottle botanicals such as lemongrass, coriander seed and kawakawa are foraged from this patch, and what’s not available on-site is sourced mainly from small New Zealand producers.
Waiheke Distilling Co has a strong commitment to sustainability, using biodegradable labels on their reusable bottles, and aiming to be low waste where possible. “When we harvest citrus, we use every element: we pare and dry the peel to use in the spirits, and the juice is used in our cocktails,” says Scott.
You can book tasting experiences and tours of the copper-clad distillery for deeper insights into the distilling process.
The company recently launched packs of ready-to-drink gin and tonics, using its Spirit of Waiheke gin. You can even buy a can on the ferry ride over to the island.