Overview
Proving once again that Aotearoa's smallest towns produce some of our biggest hitters, a tiny distillery in Thames has picked up this year's award for the country's best gin.
We may be famous internationally for our wines, but in recent years more and more New Zealand distilleries have been releasing award-winning gins - think Little Biddy out of Reefton in the South Island, or Grey Lynn Gin in Auckland's central suburb. Now micro-distillery Coromandel Distilling Company, situated in the small coastal town of Thames, has won an award for its flagship Awildian gin which was just named Best Gin in New Zealand at the 2022 World Gin Awards.
Produced by CDC owners Paul Schneider and Daniela Suess, the award-winning flagship gin is a London-dry style gin with a Coromandel twist: juniper, rose petals, hibiscus, blueberry and some "other secret ingredients" are macerated for 16 hours, before being married with waters from the Coromandel ranges and given at least three weeks to mature.
And if you're keen on playing scientist at home, you're in luck: CDC has just released the Awildian gin in a bright blue hue thanks to the addition of butterfly pea, which then changes to a blush pink colour when mixer is added. It's like watching an experiment on a kid's after-school tv special. Just way more alcoholic.
To visit the team and pick up some bottles on your sojourns over the coming long weekends, you'll want to time it right. The distillery currently opens its doors just two days a week for tastings, sales, and private tours: Fridays from 11am-3pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Of course, you can also order their gins online from no matter where you are around the country. We'd recommend pouring a glass and taking it down to the beach on your next Coromandel holiday for the truly authentic experience.
You can find the Coromandal Distilling Company at 715 Pollen Street, Thames, where it's open Fridays 11am-3pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm.