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 ingredients, bold ideas, and a commitment to doing things differently. In this interview, we talk through the journey from concept to fruition, and how carrots, a crop deeply tied to the region, became the hero ingredient in our signature gin.

The conversation covers the realities of starting a craft distillery in New Zealand, the process behind developing flavour, and what makes Straight Up Carrot Gin stand out in an increasingly crowded gin market. From bright citrus notes to a subtle earthy backbone and a clean, peppery finish, this is a gin shaped by place and experimentation.

Tales from the Top Shelf is a programme dedicated to showcasing New Zealand spirits, distillers, and the stories behind the bottle. It was a great opportunity to share what we’re building here in Ohakune and why Ruapehu Distillery is focused on creating spirits that are local, lively, and a little unexpected.

If you missed the live radio broadcast, you can listen to the full interview via the podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/tales-from-the-top-shelf/id1776934883?i=1000758390282