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Heritage
Cowes Bay has drawn day-trippers since the 1800s — steamers, summer regattas, and the island's first post office in 1865.
From garden to glass.
An award-winning distillery and garden bar set on a ridge above Cowes Bay, where a spray-free, bee-friendly garden is the heart and soul of every spirit we make — distilled with respect for the land, the gulf, and the season.
Our story.
Hover or tap to readAbove Cowes Bay, Eastern Waiheke
A family distillery on the ridge.
Heritage
Cowes Bay since 1865.
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Gin Garden
Former pasture, painstakingly developed since 2019 into a spray-free, bee-friendly potpourri of wild flavour — the heart of every spirit.
Gin Garden
A spray-free garden, est. 2019.
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The Woolshed
Once used for shearing and pressing wool, reopened December 2024 as a cosy space for guided tastings and private functions.
The Woolshed
Reopened December 2024.
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Whakairo
A Nico Otero carving from a macrocarpa log — its natural shape reading the coastal lines of Waiheke and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.
Whakairo
Carved from a macrocarpa log.
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Awards
Double Gold at the 2024 NZ Spirit Awards, gold and Best in Show by Country at the London Spirits Competition, and five USA medals.
Garden to glass
Crafted with respect for the land.
The botanicals
The heart of every blend.
Grown in the garden, gathered on the property, foraged from the gulf below or sourced from artisan suppliers. Hover to release each one.
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Juniper
Garden + importedThe primary aromatic in gin — bright and resinous. We grow specimen juniper in the garden; the bulk arrives from Europe.
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Coriander
Garden-grownGrown on the property, seasonally collected. Subtly spicy with a nutty, citrusy lift once distilled.
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Angelica
ImportedThe quiet anchor of the blend — earthy, dry and faintly musky, drawing the brighter botanicals into balance.
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Cardamom
Hand-groundIntensely aromatic, naturally sweet and spicy. Seedpods are hand-ground to release the fragrance.
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Pink Peppercorn
Hand-sortedA sweet, aromatic berry. Handled with care to preserve impact in our London Dry style.
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Macadamia
Island-grownSubtle in flavour, rich and creamy in mouthfeel — adds delicate texture across the range.
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Orris Root
AgedFrom the iris, dried and aged for years. A soft, violet-like fixative that lends the spirit its long, gentle finish.
We craft in small batches, by hand.
Distilled above Cowes Bay and recognised at home and abroad — NZ Fernmark licensed, with recent gold medals across New Zealand, London, and the USA.
The Island Spirit Club.
A bottle a month from the distillery.
A monthly delivery of a select 500ml craft spirit, paired with mixers. Be first to taste, get exclusive invites, and enjoy Garden Bar perks.