Wellington’s Finest Distilleries

Attention all fans of spirits. Southward may be a small batch distillery but they are a big player when it comes to promoting the enjoyment, appreciation and creation of all things hard liquor. Call in for an enthusiastic and educational tasting with the experts who produce their gins, vodka and young whisky (watch this space), take a tour of the distillery to see everything in action, and even take the opportunity to blend your own gin to enjoy at home.

Giving Southward a run for their money in terms of an authentic Kiwi spirit experience, the folks at Wildkiwi are taking peat from the South Island’s rugged West Coast to smoke over Canterbury grains before ageing the final product in red wine oak barrels. Good things take time, of course, and Wildkiwi are ahead of the game while their whisky develops: Head in for a tour, then get a feel for what you might be sampling in a few years thanks to their range of over 100 whiskies from around the world.

Family-run and family-owned, a visit to Enceladus in picturesque Brewtown below the Remutaka Hills is a close-quarters opportunity to learn about gin production and how quality is maintained at every step of the delicate process. Also dabbling in whisky production, Enceladus are inviting folks to register interest in having a whole cask of their own produced in the years to come. So bring some friends and go in together on a taste of the future.

Head over the Remutakas from Upper Hutt and you’ll shortly arrive in gin lover’s paradise. Aurora produce a range of craft gins as well as whisky and other liqueurs. What makes a trip here really worth your while is the chance to try your hand at making your own gin and learning from the experts, with over 30 botanicals to choose from. Come with a name in mind for your gin as they also offer labelling for your special bottle to bring home.