Waiheke Distilling Co.

Set on the breathtaking ridge above Pikau Bay, overlooking panoramic views of Hauraki Gulf, and the silhouette of Coromandel in the distance—Waiheke Distilling Co. is Waiheke’s hidden gin gem. Located over at Cowe’s Bay at the remote Eastern side of Waiheke Island, it’s the less explored part of the island but when you get there, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t ventured out this way. 

Spot the windswept pōhutukawa tree at Cowe’s Bay—it’s been there since the early 1900s and the inspiration behind the brand and award-winning gin at Waiheke Distilling Co. Wife and husband team, Liz Scott and Glen Cadwallader, moved to Waiheke Island to start their gin venture, launching their signature gin, Spirit of Waiheke, in 2021.

Glen, the lead distiller, is originally from an engineering background. Having grown up with interests in distilling (which his Dad did for a hobby back then)—and along with his wife Liz who has extensive botanical knowledge (plus expertise around the commercial side of things)—they had found their calling, creating Waiheke Distilling Co. Since then, they’ve received a number of national awards and international recognition in London and the United States. 

Based where Waiheke’s first hotel was built back in the 1890s, Waiheke Distilling Co. has arguably the best views on the island. Walk through the restaurant and out to the outdoor Garden Bar—and you'll have to stop to take a moment, soaking in the endless blue of the ocean and blue skies.

Conditions were truly the epitome of island summer—blue sky to sea, lush greens from the native trees surrounding bee-friendly garden where botanicals are grown, and neighbouring islands Rotorua and Pakatoa over the water. Golden sandy bays and boats twinkle in the distance. You can’t help but feel instantly relaxed and on ‘island time’ here. 

Even on stormy days, with rolling thunder clouds and the drama of crashing waves, the view would be hard to beat, and you can admire it in the cosy surrounds of their ‘woolshed.’ Located next door is ‘The Woolshed’—an extension of their distillery experience, for private guided tastings and events with the same stunning views.

Having opened at the end of 2024, the space nods to its roots—a space once used for shearing sheep and pressing wool—with tables and the tasting bar around the original wool-press. The back wall is lined with historic black and white photographs of the former hotel and bustling port, as well as the pōhutukwa tree past and present. 

The Garden Bar offers tastings of both Waiheke Distilling Co.’s bespoke gin and vodka collections which come in individual tasting paddles, along with the addition of garnishes and various mixers to add during your tasting session.

Locally grown and prepared garnishes are thoughtful additions that highlight the botanicals in each gin and the vodka infusion. All their craft spirits are distilled with macadamia (instead of whey) for a luxuriously creamy finish (plus it’s vegan too). 

Their signature gin and contemporary take on a London Dry-style gin, ‘Spirit of Waiheke,’ is a nod to the coast, with the addition of dried New Zealand giant kelp among 10 other botanicals (all their botanicals are foraged, harvested from their own on-site garden or sourced from small New Zealand producers). The giant kelp gives it such a unique savoury and salinity quality, reminiscent of the salty sea-breeze when walking along the beach.

We tasted their island take on London Dry—‘Waiheke Dry’—next, the bartender’s go-to pick for gin-based cocktails. Perfumed with pink peppercorn and Seville orange, it was the perfect drop for a mini martini during our tasting (with the necessary olive finish). Last but not least, their Red Ruby gin took me by surprise, its cherry-red hue and incredible cherry flavour just from pressed New Zealand South Island cherries—capturing the essence of biting into sweet, ripe cherries at their peak, with a hint of citrus and spice. I’ve never had anything quite like it—it tasted like Aotearoa summers going cherry picking and I could imagine this as a summer spritz or neat in the winter.

Their selection is truly a labour of love—small batches, labelled and bottled by hand, right there in their humble distillery next door. We got to try their latest collaboration with Tāmaki Makaurau’s Bar Albert, a classic London-style designed for mixologists with silky citrus and liquorice flavours, as well as a limited edition Unchartered Gin tasting—taking gin to another level with barrel-aging in hand-selected wine barrels from Waiheke vineyards (and winning double gold at the 2024 NZ Spirits Awards).

They also have a bespoke vodka collection featuring infusions with locally foraged, grown and sourced horopito, kawakawa and hibiscus (along with native pōhutukawa honey). Presented in tall Italian glass bottles, each bottle comes adorned with detailed illustrations from Kew Gardens botanical illustrator and Waiheke local, Sue Wickison. The bottles are sustainably refilled at bars and make a beautiful repurposed vase with the botanical decals in olive green, bright orange and plum red colours. You can purchase their range directly at the distillery (or try your luck at select stockists nationwide)—from 50ml minis, right up to 700ml sizes, as well as gin gift sets, or their recently released artisan RTD packs (featuring the juicy cherry Red Ruby Gin with a refreshing blood orange soda, which is also available at the ferry).

Along with guided tastings, their Garden Bar beverage menu showcases both gin and vodka in so many ways—from Lychee Martini, Cherry Negroni to Kawakawa Margarita to name a few. Whether you’re after a classic G&T, or cocktail (of the frozen variety), or a refreshing spritz list—this is a beverage menu made for long lunches on the island. There are also beer and wine selections and non-alcoholic options too, for those who want to change it up. If you’re after their signature cocktail, fan favourites of the summer include their Pink Lady (featuring the signature Spirit of Waiheke gin with a refreshing pink grapefruit soda) and an aquafaba foam-topped Ruby Sour—both in beautiful jewelled colours and served in goblet-sized cocktail glasses.

For lunch, order their Contadina—Neapolitan-style pizza, with a flavoursome plant-based alternative. Topped with fried zucchini slices, baby potatoes, pops of red onion and fragrant basil leaves on a beetroot purée base, plus dollops of Waiheke’s very own award-winning High Culture cashew cheese, it will change your perception of vegan flavours in the best way (plus, their chef is vegan, so knows a thing or two about exceptional plant-based combinations). Kaimoana lovers, their salt and pepper calamari is one of the best starters to snack on, and don’t forget to try their pizza fritta range too—the latest trendy Napoli street food, and the perfect snack with a summer spritz in hand.

Author’s note: We recommend exploring this part of the island with the Waiheke Eastern Explorer Bus. The great thing about this bus is that you can visit other wineries out this way before and after your adventure to the distillery, to suit your schedule. Book it as part of a Sip, Stay & Sail package with voco Auckland City Centre by IHG, and make it a Waiheke weekend. Complete with lunch and private tasting at the distillery, return ferry with Fullers360 to Bar Albert for gin on sunset, plus two nights at the luxurious voco Auckland. 

Words by: Vicki Young | Image credit: Supplied (Pizza image author's own)