Back to Blog

Inside a Distillation Run: What Actually Happens in the Still

When people think about distilling, it’s often imagined as a simple process. Heat a liquid, collect what comes out, and you have gin. In reality, it’s a far more deliberate and carefully controlled journey, where every stage plays a role in shaping the final spirit.At Ruapehu Distillery, that journey happens inside Nigella, our 500L copper pot still, and it begins well before the still is even switched on....

A Perfect Autumn Weekend in Ohakune: Adventure, Food, and Gin

Autumn is when Ohakune slows down but in the best way.The summer crowds have gone, the mountain air sharpens, and the landscape shifts into deep reds, golds, and burnt orange. It’s the kind of season where everything feels a little more relaxed… and a lot more memorable.  The last few weeks have seen clear skies, crisp mornings, and breathtaking views.If you’re looking for a weekend that blends adventure, good food, and something worth sipping slowly, this is it.Saturday Morning: Star...

Ruapehu Distillery Featured in the Ruapehu Bulletin After Visit from MP Carl Bates

We were proud to recently feature in the Ruapehu Bulletin following a visit from local MP Carl Bates. Susan welcomed Carl to Ruapehu Distillery a couple of weeks ago, where he toured the distillery, learned more about the story behind the business, and sampled our locally made Straight Up Carrot Gin.During the visit, Carl Bates shared strong support for the venture, recognising the value of locally owned businesses that bring new energy to the Ruapehu region economy. He also highlighted the impo...

How to Drink Carrot Gin: 4 Easy Cocktails to Try This Weekend

If you’ve picked up a bottle of Straight Up Carrot Gin, you’re already doing things a little differently.Made in Ohakune at the base of Mt Ruapehu, this small-batch New Zealand gin brings something unexpected to the glass.  A bright, clean gin, with a subtle earthy sweetness that changes depending on how you drink it.If you’re wondering how to drink carrot gin, here are four simple serves to get you started....

Ruapehu Distillery Featured in Ruapehu Bulletin | Taste Easter Ohakune | Carrot Gin NZ

Ruapehu Distillery was proud to be featured in the Ruapehu Bulletin over Easter, as part of the vibrant Taste festival in Ohakune.Easter in Ohakune is always a busy one, but Taste brings something extra. It’s where local food, drinks, and people come together.  A weekend that showcases exactly what makes this place tick.  Up at Kings the Beer Fest was in full swing, and the Junction Market was a hive of activity in the morning that featured about 20 stall holders and their local good...

On Air: Tales from the Top Shelf

Ruapehu Distillery was recently featured on Tales from the Top Shelf, hosted by Suzie Carrig on Coast Access Radio 104.7FM, sharing the story behind one of New Zealand’s most unique craft spirits; Straight Up Carrot Gin.  It was a good, honest conversation about the journey behind Ruapehu Distillery.  From the early idea, to building the distillery in Ohakune, through to creating Straight Up Carrot Gin.Based in Ohakune, beneath Mt Ruapehu, our distillery is built on local ingred...

Coming Up Carrots at Ruapehu Distillery

At the foot of Mount Ruapehu, Ruapehu Distillery is redefining what New Zealand gin can be. Set in the heart of the Central Plateau, this emerging craft distillery is turning heads with a spirit that’s as distinctive as its location; Straight Up Carrot Gin.In a region famous for its carrot-growing heritage, Ruapehu Distillery has transformed a local icon into a premium craft gin that delivers both originality and depth of flavour. Straight Up Carrot Gin is juniper-forward, layered with bright ...

From Carrot Paddocks to Straight Up Carrot Gin

Anyone who has driven through Ohakune has probably seen the giant carrot standing proudly beside the road at Carrot Park. It’s a quirky landmark, but it represents something very real about the town’s history.Why carrots grow so well in OhakuneFor decades the fertile volcanic soils around Ohakune produced some of the best carrots in New Zealand. Fields across the Waimarino plains supplied markets throughout the North Island, helping earn the town its reputation as the country’s carrot capi...

What Happens Inside a Working Distillery in Ohakune?

Most people walk into a distillery thinking it’s just about tasting a few spirits. But behind the scenes there’s far more going on. Distilling is a mix of science, maths, raw ingredients, botanicals, careful measuring, and a fair bit of patience.It’s also full of stories. Every piece of equipment, every ingredient, and every batch has a journey behind it.At Ruapehu Distillery in Ohakune, those stories begin right here beneath Mt Ruapehu. It’s a pretty good place to make gin.Meet Nigella,...

Ruapehu Bulletin

Recently we invited a group of local Ohakune businesses in for a behind-the-scenes visit to say thank you and to share a taste of Straight Up Carrot Gin. The visit was covered in the Ruapehu Bulletin, and we’ve shared the article below....

Small Town. Big Build

Building a distillery in Ohakune, New Zealand wasn’t the romantic lifestyle dream people imagine. It was paperwork, concrete dust, compliance meetings, and learning the language of fire ratings, flow rates, and hazardous atmosphere plans required under New Zealand regulations.When you decide to build a compliant distillery in New Zealand, especially in a small mountain town beneath Mount Ruapehu, you don’t just buy a still and turn it on.You deal with fire regulations and hazardous atmospher...

Sly Grog Stories: Hidden Stories of Ohakune's Early Days

If you’re exploring things to do in Ohakune, you’ll find adventure everywhere; breathtaking mountain views, biking, hiking trails, including the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, skiing, boarding and a thriving local food, beverage, and spirits scene.But long before tourism and ski fields, Ohakune had a different kind of reputation.At the turn of the 20th century, this railway town became part of the wider King Country sly grog culture. A time when alcohol was officially restr...

Ever wondered why we built Ruapehu Distillery in Ohakune?

Read the article published in Adventure Magazine. The Rise of Ruapehu Distillery ...

In the news

Read the articleLockdown Hobby leads to former teacher opening Ruapehu Distillery...