Crafters of ‘Untamed Spirits’ open doors

New Zealand’s newest distillery, producer of New Zealand’s only West Coast botanical gin, has opened its doors in the historic West Coast town of Reefton. 

Housed in one of Reefton’s original buildings which has been carefully restored to accommodate a working distillery, tasting bar and retail store, the distillery produces a range of small batch premium quality spirits with a distinct West Coast flavour.

The hills surrounding the distillery are rich in botanicals, the flora and fauna of the untamed wilderness of the New Zealand West Coast “like nothing else in the world”. “Dense green rainforests make for ideal foraging environments, rich with botanical gold”.

New Zealand’s only West Coast botanical gin
Reefton Distilling Co. is a modern distillery at the forefront of spirit production in New Zealand, their spirits include a range of gins, seasonal fruit liqueurs and will also include vodka and whiskies.
The first batches of their Little Biddy West Coast Botanical Gin have been produced by their own West Coast distiller, Nick Secker.  

Created in honour of Reefton Legend Little Biddy, Reefton Distilling Co.’s Little Biddy Gin range is New Zealand’s only West Coast Botanical Gin.
Bridget Goodwin, also known as “Little Biddy” or “Biddy of the Buller”, defined the word ‘rebel’ – she was a pipe-smoking, gin-toting, 4-foot-tall goldminer.

Reefton Distilling Co. also produces two ultra-premium gins – Little Biddy Black Label Dry Gin and Little Biddy Gold Label West Coast Botanical Dry Gin, each characterised by a backbone of distilled local grain spirit, wild water, and hand harvested native botanicals.

New website
The company launched its new website www.reeftondistillingco.com to coincide with the physical launch of their working distillery, tasting bar and retail store. The website will allow customers to learn more about the distillery, purchase products and book experiences ahead of their visit.

A new visitor experience
Creating a modern tradition in an age-old industry Reefton Distilling Co. have drawn on local characters of old to build their brands and these early pioneers’ stories form a part of each of their visitor experiences.

On select days each month visitors can book a hosted tour to accompany local identities, Nigel and Steffan McKay Reefton Distilling Co.’s ambassadors, water prospectors and historians, joining them on Biddy’s backyard tour offering a fascinating glimpse into the life of the woman who embodied the term ‘gutsy West Coaster’. 

Visitors can also book a distillery tour to learn more about the Reefton Distilling Co. journey and how they craft their products, before enjoying a complimentary tasting.  

Photo: Reefton Distilling Co.’s distiller Nick Secker with one of the first bottles of Little Biddy West Coast Botanical Dry Gin.