Spirits · Napier, Hawke's Bay
National Distillery Co.
Bartender-built New Zealand gin distilled in a historic Art Deco building in Napier.
- Founded by
- Blair Nicholl, Ricardo Reis
- Based in
- Napier, Hawke's Bay
Their story
The National Distilling Company is the work of Blair Nicholl and Ricardo Reis, two hospitality veterans who set up shop in Ahuriri, the old maritime quarter of Napier on New Zealand's Hawke's Bay coast. The distillery works out of the Art Deco National Tobacco Company building, one of the city's landmarks.
The founders approached their core gin the way a bartender would, aiming for intensity, structure and a spirit that holds up in a mixed drink. That gin has picked up medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the SIP Awards.
How it's made
The base is a clean neutral spirit made from whey, a by-product of New Zealand's grass-fed dairy industry. Juniper leads, backed by coriander, Hawke's Bay lemon peel, angelica, cardamom, cassia and orris root, and the distillery uses a heavier botanical load than most commercial gins. The dry gin is bottled at 44% ABV.
Why we carry them
A whey-based gin from Hawke's Bay is something we do not see often, and the extra strength makes it a strong pick for martinis and gin and tonics.
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