Hastings Distillers was formed in 2019 by Kate Galloway and David Ramonteu, an inspiring couple with a background in winemaking and an artistic philosophy of production. Their award winning spirits are inspired as much by artists such as Tolstoy, Steiner and Tuwhare as by their scientific backgrounds in winemaking. The pair created the wine brands Alluviale and DaDa in a prior lifetime, before travelling through Europe and decided to marry distillation with therapeutic herbs. The result is a range of spirits using foraged, organic and biodynamic botanicals, pure organic spirit and water. Learn more about their story, taste the products and take some home from a visit. 

Biogro Certified 

Hastings Distillers commitment to organics is shown in their Biogro certification, ensuring all aspects of their production (botanicals, alcohol, water, packaging) has been checked, audited and certified by New Zealand’s largest certification agency. 

Packaging

The transparent seal on their bottles is made from environmentally friendly, compostable cellulose. The bottles themselves and label paper are made by long established European manufacturers under EU environmental regulations.

Tasting note: A bitter-sweet infusion of New Zealand grown Seville oranges, selected roots and flowers. Batch in fused and cut to strength with Kaweka spring water. Vibrant notes of fresh orange, tangerine and red apple combine with the bitterness of liquorice, wormwood and gentian. Natural colour from orange peel and hibiscus flowers.

Serving note: Serve long with sparkling water for a refreshing bitter-sweet drink. Perfect for Negroni, Americano and any cocktail requiring a bittersweet orange liqueur.

All Hastings Distillers products are certified organic with BioGro New Zealand. 

Product Description: Angostura® orange bitters is made from the peels of sun-ripened Caribbean oranges grown in lush, green orchards located in Trinidad. These oranges are hand-picked by select citrus growers and harvested only within the rainy season to ensure ultimate freshness and taste. Clear and with an unparalleled depth of flavour, Angostura® orange bitters is an exotic and versatile bitters that works incredibly well with vodka, gin and whisky, and adds real depth of flavour to rum cocktails. Its complexity and layers of flavours also makes it a culinary must-have ingredient. World renowned chefs have found that it works particularly well in savoury sauces, it complements seafood dishes, and marries well with chocolate. Key Features: Similar iconic packaging as mother brand, Angostura® aromatic bitters Superior quality and flavour when compared with any other orange bitters Angostura® orange bitters is made from its own special secret recipe and does not contain any of the ingredients in Angostura® aromatic bitters A direct and convenient substitute for orange zest in all food and drink recipes The original 1930's classic Gin martini calls for orange bitters Best when used with clear spirits such as Gin, Vodka and White Rum but not limited to this Essential in savoury sauces such as barbeque and remoulades Excellent in savoury dishes, seafood in particular (shrimp and shellfish) Use in soups and gravies Natural accompaniment to chocolate Best matched with desserts such as fudge, jams/jellies and ice cream Tasting Notes: Angostura® orange bitters is not bitter when added to food and drink. Its rich and bold flavours derived from an array of unique and local herbs and spices give its dry and intense orange zest flavour.Source - www.angosturabitters.com

Distilled extracts of oranges and curacao fruit, delicately blended to preserve the orange flavour.  Drier and higher in alcohol strength than the curacao liqueurs.

Lillet is a French Aperitif made from a blend of wine, liqueurs, fruits and herbs.;Lillet Blanc has a golden colour with candied orange, honey, pine resin, lime and fresh mint aromas. Full and rich on the palate with a lovely, long aftertaste. Always serve well chilled in a Bordeaux wine glass... zest with a slice of orange or lime. Perfect with snacks and desserts!Lillet blanc is the key ingredient in James Bond's Martini derivative, the Vesper, a drink created in deference to the beautiful double agent in Ian Fleming's Casino Royale and reffered to as Kina Lillet.source: thedrinkshop.com

Amaro Montenegro is a renowned Italian liqueur obtained by the careful infusion in pure alcohol of a large number of herbs originating from all over the world. It was first produced in 1885 in Bologna following extensive devoted experiments performed by a famous Italian spirits manufacturer Stanislao Cobianchi. The name of this liqueur intended to pay homage to the second queen of Italy, Princess Helen of Montenegro, on occasion of her marriage to Victor Emmanuel III, the Italian sovereign at that time.In over 100 years of history, Amaro Montenegro has seen its success constantly increase over the years and it has become, not only the most renowned, top-selling brand of Amaro in Italy, but also one of the most famous symbol of Italian liqueur tradition and culture. Source: montenegro.it

From the lemons of sorrento, an exquisite bitter-sweet liqueur was born.  The Polio family have cultivated the oval variety of lemon, succulent citrus of great value.

A taste from the Islands. The flavors of lime juice, almond and ginger. Try Falernum in a Barbados Rum Punch or a Trade Winds.

The incredible story of Benedictine began in 1510 in the Abbey of Fécamp, in Normandy, France, when the Benedictine monk, Dom Bernardo Vincelli, created a secret elixir that was to become famous for years to come; Benedictine is a subtle blend of twenty-seven plants and spices. Enjoy on ice with a twist of lemon zest or in countless cocktails.source: benedictinedom.com

Frangelico is a traditional hazelnut liqueur - enjoyed neat, over ice, with coffee or in a wide variety of stylish cocktails.

Violet flowers are expertly infused in an alcohol-water solution, creating a floral and sweet liqueur with great intensity of flavour. Great for cocktails.

Disaronno Originale unbeknownst to most is not actually amaretto which is why it has been removed from it’s label. It is amaretto flavored, with a characteristic bittersweet almond taste. Disaronno claims its “originale” amaretto’s “secret formula” is unchanged from the year 1525, and claims the Luini tale as its own particular history. Its production remains in Saronno, but the product is sold worldwide. The company describes its amaretto as an infusion of “apricot kernel oil” with “absolute alcohol, burnt sugar, and the pure essence of seventeen selected herbs and fruits”; the product does not contain any almonds or other nuts.

From its origins with the French Foreign Legion to the legions of modern mixologists still using it today, Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif Wine has been a staple on the cocktail landscape since its introduction in 1846. Created by Parisian chemist / wine merchant Joseph Dubonnet as a means to make quinine more palatable for the soldiers battling malaria in North Africa, Dubonnet's mix of fortified wine, a proprietary blend of herbs, spices and peels, and the medicinal quinine is a recipe that has earned it legendary status in the world of sophisticated drinks.source: doyoudubonnet.com

Aperol is the perfect aperitif. Bright orange in colour it has aunique bitter-sweet taste deriving from a secret recipe thathas remained unchanged since its creation. Aninfusion of precious primary components, many herbs and roots in aperfectly balanced combination. 

Aperol's strength is its low alcohol content, only 11%.

Traditionally made using the dried peel of the small Curacao orange, named after the island of Curacao in the Caribbean, Curacao liqueurs can be clear, blue or orange. The colours are purely decorative, but the bitter orange flavours are very similar. The Curacao fruits are sliced and macerated in fine neutral spirit to extract the flavours. Once the blend has been enhanced with sugar and brandy, it is then left to marry for several weeks to develop its full flavour. Rarely consumed neat, De Kuyper Orange Curacao is a vital ingredient for various eye-catching cocktails.source: in-the-spirit-shop.co.uk

Mr Black is a bittersweet blend of top-grade Arabica coffees and Australian wheat vodka. Their roasters source specialty beans from the best growing regions to create a complex liqueur that is bold, balanced and unapologetically coffee.