12 Tides Pure Vodka Takes Gold at the NZ Spirit Awards 2026

Launched in March 2026, 12 Tides was built on a simple idea: start with a distilled base, cut it with the purest water possible, then get out of its way. That water is coastal island rain, collected straight from the sky and filtered on the distillery's own property, before the spirit passes through twelve plates in the copper column still, each step a further refinement. It's an unhurried process, and it shows — the result is an exceptionally clean, silky spirit with a finish that lingers like sea spray on the breeze.

The Gold Medal adds fresh shine to Waiheke Distilling Co.'s trophy cabinet, which already includes a Best in Show by Country win at the London Spirits Competition 2023 and a Double Gold at the NZ Spirit Awards 2024 for the company’s barrel aged Unchartered gin— proof the distillery's precision and recognition travels well beyond its island shores.