Kaimai Distillery are extremely proud of their premium gin collection and for good reason. Receiving a number of medals across their range at both the recent London Spirits Competition and prestigious IWSC 2024. 

The combination they have achieved in their use of selected botanicals and quality distilling processes, ensures each gin has its own distinctive and well-crafted flavour.

They were founded in 2020 by Wayne and Kathy Chowles at the historic Waikino Hotel in the Karangahake Gorge at the northern extent of the Kaimai Range.

Stories of the gold mining era and head distiller Wayne’s background in the mining industry provide the inspiration for their gins. Celebrating the unique land, people, and history of their surrounding area. 

They use 50,000-year-old water that has been slowly filtering through the Coromandel Ranges from an artesian aquifer to make their spirits.

Eliza's Claim

Gold Gin

Made using 12 botanicals in a combination of maceration and vapour infusion with 50,000-year-old water from an artesian aquifer in the Coromandel Ranges and gold flakes.

Dry Gin

A contemporary gin made in the London Dry style with classic and native botanicals which are stage infused and blended with organic rosemary and mānuka honey.

Ruby Gin

Classic botanicals complemented by forest berries to add sweetness and tanginess, hibiscus for its delicate floral note and colour, and mānuka honey for sweetness and earthiness.

Resident Spirits

Mining isn't the only source of inspiration for the stories behind the distillery's gins though, with two taking their creativity from the tales of ghosts that haunt their historic base of operation and another from the emerging New Zealand truffle industry which is becoming well-established in the nearby Bay of Plenty.

Agatha's Tears Dark Gin

Celebrating the first of the Waikino Hotel’s resident spirits, a former madam of the house who still wanders the halls, and is infused with butterfly pea flower which gives it a dark blue colour that turns light pink when mixed.

Emily's Garden Gin

Honouring the second of the Waikino Hotel’s resident spirits, a little girl who died after falling into the Ohinemuri River, and is crafted entirely from botanicals foraged or grown on the hotel ground.

Sirius' Find Truffle Gin

Infused with an array of herbs to complement the star botanical, black truffle, otherwise known as the Périgord truffle which is native to Southern Europe.