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Welcome to
Cardrona Distillery

Creating the finest spirits with pure alpine water sourced from the heart of Mount Cardrona, from New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and locally foraged seasonal ingredients to produce an unparalleled signature taste.

From grain to glass

Every aspect of Cardrona’s products is of the highest quality, from the pure Cardrona Valley Alpine water, the rich malted barley and the foraged ingredients to the handpicked oak casks from Spain, America and Central Otago.

The Distillery

Our story

Cardrona Distillery is nestled in the beautiful Cardrona Valley, in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

Brand Story

Tours

Take a tour of the Cardrona Distillery and learn about the entire spirit making process, from grain to glass.

Taking approximately 75 minutes you will discover the secrets to Cardrona’s artisan spirits, starting with our water source, malted barley and water. You will see where the malt is milled, mashed, fermented and distilled and matured before tasting the wares with a tutored spirit tasting of Cardrona spirits.

"The Distillery tour is well worth a visit and the tasting is sure to impress. Highly recommend."

Tours

Cocktails

Classic cocktails with a Cardrona twist. Simple to make at home to enjoy an elegant tipple with friends.

Rose Rabbit Bellini

Ingredients

15ml Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

15ml Rose Rabbit Elderflower Liqueur

15ml Passionfruit Puree

Top with Prosecco

Method

Glass: Flute

Method: Add the Rose Rabbit liqueurs and passionfruit puree to a glass, stir and top with Prosecco

Garnish with orange

Elderflower Sour

Ingredients

25ml Rose Rabbit Elderflower Liqueur

15ml the reid Single Malt Vodka

20ml Lemon Juice

20ml 1:1 Sugar Syrup

1 egg white

Method

Glass: Coupe

Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker, shake and strain

Garnish: Rose Petals

Bonfire Spritz

Ingredients

20ml Rose Rabbit Elderflower Liqueur

5ml Mezcal

10ml White Cacao Liqueur

Premium quality soda water top

 

 

Method

Glass: Highball

Method: Add all ingredients and stir over ice before topping with soda

Garnish: Gypsophila

Cosmo to Go

Ingredients

35ml the reid Single Malt Vodka

10ml Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

40ml *Red Berry and Grapefruit Syrup

*Add 30 grams of red berries and 10 grams of grapefruit zest to a blender with 200 grams of caster sugar and 200 grams of water. Blend and strain. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Method

Glass: Hipflask / Coupe

Method: Add all ingredients over ice to dilute, pour into a hipflask for later, or serve fresh.

Garnish: None / Orange Zest

Otago Nights Sour

Ingredients

35ml Just Hatched Single Malt Whisky

20ml *Manuka Honey Syrup

20ml Fresh Lemon Juice

20ml Egg Whites

Float Central Otago Pinot Noir

*Add 2 parts honey to 1 part water and incorporate on a low heat (do not boil). Cool and store.

Method

Glass: Old Fashioned

Method: Add all ingredients (apart from the wine) to a shaker, add ice and shake hard. Strain over ice and slowly pour the Pinot Noir to float.

 

Orange & Saffron

Ingredients

25ml Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

25ml *Saffron Dry Vermouth

25ml Suze

*Add 1 gram of Saffron per 100ml Dry Vermouth and leave to infuse in the fridge for 2 hours. Strain and store.

** Turmeric also works for a delicious substitute for Saffron

***Top with Prosecco for a spritz with a twist

Method

Glass: Old fashioned

Method: Add all ingredients to ice and stir

Garnish: Lemon zest

Kiwi & Cardamom Spritz

Ingredients

30ml The Source Pure Cardrona Gin

20ml *Kiwi Fruit & Cardamom Syrup

10ml Fresh Lemon Juice

Prosecco top

*Add the flesh of 2 kiwis and 5 grams of cardamom pods to a blender with 200 grams of sugar and 200 grams of water. Blend and strain. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

 

Method

Glass: Flute

Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake hard. Strain into a flute and top with prosecco.

Garnish: Lemon zest

Halloween Highball

Ingredients

25ml the reid Single Malt Vodka

50ml Half and Half

25ml Cold Brew Coffee

25ml Rose Rabbit Butterscotch Liqueur

Method

Glass: Highball

Method: Add all ingredients (apart from the half and half) to a glass and fill with ice. Give the half and half a quick whisk or shake before pouring slowly into the glass with the other ingredients to layer.

Garnish: Marshmallow Ghost

New Years Eve

Ingredients

35ml Just Hatched Single Malt Whisky

15ml *Champagne Cordial

2 Dashes Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

*Add equal parts sugar and water to a pan with an equal volume of Champagne and stir on a low heat. Allow to cool and store for up to 5 days.

Method

Glass: Old Fashioned

Method: Add all ingredients to ice and stir to desired dilution

Garnish: Orange zest

Cardrona Negroni

Ingredients

25ml The Source Pure Cardrona Gin

25ml Coffee Bean Campari

25ml Sweet Vermouth

2 Dashes Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

Method

Glass: Old Fashioned

Method: Add all ingredients to ice and stir to desired dilution

Garnish: Orange zest

Butterscotch & Cider Highball

Ingredients

30ml Rose Rabbit Butterscotch Liqueur

100ml Aspall Cider

10ml *Vanilla Cinnamon Syrup

* Split 1 vanilla pod : 2 cinnamon sticks, in equal parts sugar and water on a low heat until incorporated and tastes sweet and spicy. Strain and bottle

 

Method

Glass: Highball

Method: Mix all ingredients together on a low heat for a winter warmer!

Garnish: Cinnamon stick

Bloody Mary – American style

Ingredients

40ml the reid single malt vodka

1 strip bacon (crispy American style)

120ml Big Tom tomato juice

2 dash (to taste) Chipotle Tobasco

Creole Salt Rim – Add a pinch of sea salt, paprika and chipotle flakes to a ramekin and stir together. 

 

 

Method

Glass: Highball

Method: Add all ingredients to a glass & stir.

Garnish: Bacon strip & Creole rim

Butterscotch Lebowski

Ingredients

45ml Rose Rabbit butterscotch liqueur

30ml shot of espresso

Topped with milk

Garnish with a cinnamon stick

Method

Built over ice

Vodka, soda, lime & thyme!

Ingredients

45ml the reid single malt vodka

Top with premium quality soda water

Garnish with fresh lime & a sprig of thyme

Method

Built over ice

Butterscotch Sublime

Ingredients

45ml Rose Rabbit Butterscotch Liqueur

Freshly squeezed lime quarter

Method

Built over ice

Orange Soda

Ingredients

45mls Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

Top with premium quality soda water

Garnish with fresh mint

Method

Built over ice

Earl’s Iced Tea

Ingredients

45ml Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

Cold Earl Grey Tea (steeped overnight )

Garnish with your choice of mint, fruit or cucumber

Method

Built over ice

Cardroni

Ingredients

10mls Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur

30mls The Source Pure Cardrona Gin

30ml Campari

Garnish – High Quality Dark Chocolate garnish (we love Whittakers 62%)

Finish garnish with sprig of thyme

Method

Built

The Reid’s Garden

Ingredients

45mls the reid single malt vodka

100ml cranberry juice

Wasabi

Ginger Beer Top

Garnish with fresh basil or mint

 

Method

Method: shaken with cranberry juice

Add ginger beer at the end & garnish

Espresso Martini

Ingredients

  • 25ml The Reid Single Malt Vodka
  • 25ml Fresh Espresso
  • 25ml Coffee Liqueur
  • Coffee Beans

Method

Shaken & Strained

Gisborne Collins

Ingredients

  • 30ml The Source
  • 10ml Rose Rabbit Orange
  • 10ml Pickle Brine
  • Soda
  • Thyme
  • Orange zest

Method

Built

Angels’ Share

Ingredients

  • 45ml The Reid
  • 10ml PX Sherry
  • 10ml Sweet Vermouth
  • Lemon Zest

Method

Stir & Strain

Cherry Bramble

Ingredients

  • 30ml The Source
  • 1 tsp Black Cherry Jam
  • 10ml Dry vermouth
  • 5ml Maraschino
  • Jack Rudy Cherry
  • Mint

Method

Shake & Strain

Valley Reviver

Ingredients

35ml The Source

15ml Rose Rabbit Orange

20ml Lemon

10ml 1:1 Sugar Syrup

1 egg white

 

Method

Sling

Wild Blossom

Ingredients

  • 25ml Rose Rabbit Elderflower
  • 15ml The Reid
  • 20ml Lemon Juice
  • 20ml 1:1 Sugar Syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Rose petals
  • Mint Leaf

Method

Shake & Strain

Alpine Sour

Ingredients

  • 15ml The Source
  • 15ml Rose Rabbit Orange
  • 15ml Lemon
  • 10ml 1:1 Sugar Syrup
  • 1 Egg White

Method

Shake & Strain
Garnish with dehydrated
orange/orange zest

Raspberry Cooler

Ingredients

  • 40ml The SOURCE
  • 20ml Lemon Juice
  • 10ml Sugar
  • 4 Raspberries
  • Mint

Method

muddle raspberries and sugar, add rest and churn

Southern Spritzer

Ingredients

  • 30ml Rose Rabbit Orange
  • 15ml Sloe Gin
  • 20ml Lime
  • 10ml 1:1 Simple
  • 2dsh Peach bitters
  • Soda
  • Orange Zest

Method

Built

the reid in Paris

Ingredients

  • 35ml the reid single malt vodka
  • 15ml Black Raspberry Liqueur
  • 40ml Pineapple Juice
  • dehydrated pineapple & rose petals

Method

Shake & Strain

Cardrona Old Fashioned

Ingredients

  • 25ml Rose Rabbit Orange
  • 25ml Bourbon
  • 2 dash Chocolate bitters
  • Orange zest

Method

Stirred

Apres Ski

Ingredients

  • 25ml Rose Rabbit Orange Liqueur
  • 150ml Hot Chocolate
  • Grated Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon Twirl
  • Swirly Cream

Method

Built

View All Cocktails

Our reviews

  • Had brunch at the distillery this morning. Sardines on toast. Without question the best version of this dish I have ever had. And the service was 5 star.

    Tony B.

    This establishment is well worth a visit. The distiing industry is really only young in NZ but the tour is well worth it. They explain the process from the barley to the final product whether that be whiskey. Vodka or gin. They also produce lovely butterscotch, orange and elderflower liquers. The whole complex is well set out and they have amazing food in their small boutique cafe.

    Dave C.
    5 star rating

    Brilliant experience! Fantastic Vodka, Gin (Shelley), Liqueur and Whiskey(Alex) tasting with Kenny, topped off with epic sardines on toast! Heading home with purchases

    TamzinS

  • A brave concept establishing a distillery, very well executed. Out of curiosity as single malt whiskey drinkers we popped in . So worth a visit- beautiful setting, very professional team- warm welcome with a tasting thrown in - hmm very clever as we did buy the Vodka ( so smooth ). Ben was knowledgeable. They also have a cafe - small interesting menu You can book for tastings and tours, since discovered they make fantastic cocktails!

    Gwen S.

    If you are remotely interested in the art of distilling then this is an awesome visit.
    Great, friendly, interesting and informative team. The end result of the distilling process is not bad either.

    John F.
    5 star rating

    Invigorating, Informative and Intoxicating! My partner and I really enjoyed this beautiful tour. Not only is the location stunning, the people here are local hard working and passionate owners. The knowledge and experience really shows in their produce. Their Vodka (single malt) is one of only four of its kind in the world and currently ranked number 1! They have a top shelf single malt whiskey called “just hatched” which has captured our taste buds. The source Gin is a fav amongst our family members and a must buy. Highly recommend visiting Cardrona Distillery even if you’re not interested in the process, the tour itself is enough to entertain.

    hungry_traveller_94

  • Great tasting at the distillery. Ben was a fantastic host, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Thank you.

    Andrew A.
    5 star rating

    The tour is a must! We did the first tour of the day, our guide was great, learning about the process was really informative and interesting, the smell of the barrels was so good, the tasting was great.

    TreenaS21
    5 star rating

    One of the very best distillery tours Having recently moved to NZ from Scotland I had to see what was different about NZ distilling. The Cardrona tour with Kenny was up there with the very best tours that Scotland can offer. Still in its infancy, Cardrona is also already producing some seriously good spirits. Highly recommend the tour for anyone visiting Wanaka!

    2candan1