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.

‘London Dry’

Historically, the term London Dry relates to the production methods. This dictates that the Gin must be made from pure 96% ABV neutral spirit of agricultural origin, all botanical flavour must be imparted through distillation and nothing can be added after, the Gin must be dry. While their Gins adhere to the law governing this term, they are a modern, unconventional interpretation of the classical style.

Tasting note: A complex and perfumed Gin containing 38 botanicals. Batch distilled in our 150L Arnold Holstein still and cut to strength with Kaweka spring water. Top notes of lime leaf, white currant, cedar, mango and floral hints. Exotic spice brings warmth and persistence to the palate.

Serving note: Perfect for an exotic Gin and Tonic or on ice as a sipping Gin. Used in cocktails, Albertine adds an ethereal dimension.

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

"Aromas of prunes, apricots and dry flowers with a hint of sweetness coexist well giving it round and longer lasting presence on the palate. Since 1995, our vineyard is organic. We use no pesticides or any other chemical products. This in combination with manual harvest allows us to bring additional aromas and tastes uniquely related to our region."; -; Marie-Fran?oise & Jean-Luc Pasquet

A reassuringly rich Demerara blend from the 1930's containing 7 dark rums, each patiently aged in Guyana for at least 3 years. Skipper Rum is distilled from sugar cane and molasses and patiently oak-aged in warehouses on the banks of the Demerara in Guyana before being exported. This is really rather expensive but by crikey it makes a difference. Packed full of caramel, treacle, vanilla and toffee flavours. Source:;https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skipper-Rum/

Made using wild English grown sloe berries, steeped for several months with Haymans gin before being blended with natural sugar, Haymans Sloe Gin is a rich red liqueur with a smooth, bitter sweet fruit flavour.Source - www.hancocks.co.nz

An excellent blend of rums aged for up to 8 years in white oak casks that previously held scotch whisky and bourbon. Dried fruit and spice on the nose leads to a plate of further dried fruits and vanilla.

Carefully distilled spirits are combined with an extract of cacao beans

The Helmsman white is usually aged for over a year It is aged in stainless steel tanks and plain oak casks, which leads to a light blonde colour and sweet flavour.

Cointreau, El Jimador & Margarita Glass Kit

Tasting Note: The perfect gift for the Margarita lover in your life. Pack includes Cointreau 350mls and el Jimador 375ml with two contemporary crystal Margarita glasses. Just add lime juice!

Twelfth Hour Distillery was born from our desire to fuse fresh, tantalizing, exotic botanicals from around the globe with premium New Zealand gin. Small batch distillation ensures handcrafted premium quality every time. 

After 22 iterations uniting global botanicals with the powerful makrut (kaffir lime) Twelfth Hour Dry Gin has a clean, crisp aroma on the nose.  An initial hit of makrut on the tongue leads into a long dry finish that sees the revitalizing taste linger on the palette.  A punchy gin prefect for summer but made to enjoy all year round.  Team with your favourite tonic then immerse a bruised makrut leaf to enhance the lead botanical or garnish with a ribbon of cucumber for a refreshing twist.

"Its citrus essences bloom out and suggest Mediterranean spring's magnificence." Who writes this stuff? But try it with cola, orange juice, lemonade, lime, milk, coffee, vodka, rum....and you might be waxing poetic yourself.

Planas is an extraordinary blend of pot still, column and batch kettle rums. Aged for up to 6 years, it is elegant, rich and surprisingly intense for a white rum. The complex charcoal filtration process carried out prior to bottling gives this rum its crystal clear appearance and smooth finish.

Plana is best enjoyed neat, on the rocks. It can also be an excellent main ingredient for delicate cocktails like Hemingway Daiquiri

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

ABSOLUT VODKA was first launched in New York in 1979. It soon became the talk of the town, the US and eventually of the world. But the recipe behind the pure and natural taste of ABSOLUT is actually older than 30years. So is the 18th-century medicine flask found in an antique store in Stockholm that gave inspiration to the iconic ABSOLUT VODKA bottle.

Wakame arrived in New Zealand coastal waters on the hills of ships and thrived on our pristine rocky coastline. We of course now know it as a delicious culinary ingredient with many positive health benefits. Imagination is stoked to be able to gather wild wakame for this gin from the coast of Wellington and Wairarapa.

The initial aroma is juniper forward, fresh and sweet. When tasted you get the refreshingness of the citrus before fading to reveal the juniper in the background. A noticeable sweetness appears giving way to a sweet salt finish. A classic dry gin with a contemporary twist, transporting you to New Zealand's fresh and invigorating coastal waters. 

Each label tells the story of the ingredients, the place or the people behind what's in the bottle.  

Meticulously blended in over 50 year old potstills and an extended maturation period in French oak, this blended brandy is the result of extreme dedication to the art of brandy making and has, over the years, come to be known simply as Premium. Klipdrift Premium drinkers have a true appreciation for the art of brandy making, craftsmanship and the spirit of South African hospitality and generosity. Colour: Amber gold Aroma: An alluring blend of cedar, apple, tobacco, spice and walnuts. Tasting: Klipdrift premium's smooth full-bodied taste is attributed to the use of the finest grapes, meticulous blending, unhurried maturation in French oak and true skill. 

Serving Suggestions: While we recommend enjoying Klipdrift Premium neat or with soda water, tonic, lemonade, and tizers have proved to be popular mixers. 

Source - klipdrift.co.za