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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

  • 5 star rating

    Fantastic new food offering We had a wonderful tasting at the Cardrona Distillery. Our guide Kenny was excellent with great humour and expertise. Very impressive. Equally outstanding was the food by the talented head chef Kim Kuruvilla. The offerings were small and perfectly formed. Not overly fussy, with an emphasis on fresh and local the flavours were modern and yet very comforting. We ate out a lot during our stay inn Wanaka and this was my favourite food experience. The accompanying gin and tonic was also a cut above.

    5 star rating

    AMAZING Always an awesome afternoon at the Cardrona Distillery, Kenny and the team ensure all guests have an amazing experience. The food and cocktails are stunning, delicious and unique to any other offer around. Nestled in the hills, a most picturesque environment! You cannot miss a visit to the distillery when visiting this region! A must visit!

    5 star rating

    At the tops of any Food and drink experience Fabulous staff Great food. Chef very talented. Gin good Whisky superb. Cocktails to die for Would go again and in fact every time we are in Wanaka it is on our list Thank you!!

  • 5 star rating

    Great experience Visited here, very professional tour run by Pam who gave a full history and explanation of the history and functionality of the distillery. Takes about an hour with tasting as well

    the liquors vodka and gin were all excellent, not being a whisky drinker cannot comment on that.

    We had some small plates in the attached cafe, salmon was excellent and also had the clams. Really good food.

    Recommend this to anyone visiting As a must do experience

    They also send product home free of charge

    5 star rating

    What a surprise Very informative tour led by a lovely lady who went through the history of this distillery and it’s three products ie gin vodka and whisky .
    Was lead through the actual factory and the whole thing was concluded with a very educational tasting conducted in a boardroom ……
    Most impressive …awesome local NZ product that can rival any overseas spirit

    5 star rating

    Seniors visit 4 of us visited from Wanaka by taxi.. Our tour guide, Stirling, was so enthusiastic about the whole process & gave a detailed explanation. After our enjoyable tasting & purchasing he then arranged for us to be driven to the Cardrona Hotel, which was above & beyond anyone's duty there.
    Thank you to all the very attentive staff.

  • 5 star rating

    A 'must do in Wanaka. We booked the basic tour online $25 each. Certainly got our money's worth. Our guide Samantha took us through all the details and processes of the whisky, gin and vodka production processes. Answered all our detailed questions with good humor and accuracy. Especially enjoyed the very informed (and delicious) tasting at the end. I was driving so mostly sniffed and smallest of sips but still enjoyed hugely. It's an easy drive but If in a hired campervan you can only get there from Wanaka, the Queenstown access via Crown Range is forbidden. We didn't have the Light meals that are available, but coffee was excellent. Their products are at the premium price end of the scale. I bought a bottle of the elderflower liquor, for those special winter occasions!

    Barry M.
    5 star rating

    A 'must do in Wanaka. We booked the basic tour online $25 each. Certainly got our money's worth. Our guide Samantha took us through all the details and processes of the whisky, gin and vodka production processes. Answered all our detailed questions with good humor and accuracy. Especially enjoyed the very informed (and delicious) tasting at the end. I was driving so mostly sniffed and smallest of sips but still enjoyed hugely. It's an easy drive but If in a hired campervan you can only get there from Wanaka, the Queenstown access via Crown Range is forbidden. We didn't have the Light meals that are available, but coffee was excellent. Their products are at the premium price end of the scale. I bought a bottle of the elderflower liquor, for those special winter occasions!

    5 star rating

    Exquisite dining While staying in Queenstown we visited Wanaka over the Cardrona Road.
    This road is in great condition and now tar sealed all the way. Some sharp bends but great views and worth the effort.
    We were told about the Cardrona Distillery so decided to drop in unannounced.
    We were treated like royalty and selected some sharing platters with gin to wash it down.
    Although the platters were not big in size, they tasted great with interesting flavours.
    A great way to split the 55 minute trip from Queenstown to Wanaka.

    Peter_Bloor