Over the last couple of years, Justine has been offering tastings and tours from Mt Fyffe Distillery on the family farm. These informative tours are free and offer visitors an insight into a grassroots distillery in action, allowing them to chat with the distiller herself.

You’ll find the distillery on the farm 8km north of the Kaikōura township, the drive out to the distillery takes you onto a gravel road leading up to the farmhouse which is on the foothills of Mt Fyffe and offers amazing views of the Kaikōura penninsula.

Make sure you book an appointment with Justine before driving out as these are essential. You can contact her at ginrocks@mtfyffedistillery.co.nz or ring her on 021 135 4796. The distillery is open 10am to 4pm daily.

Once at the distillery you are generally welcomed by Milo the spaniel, who is very friendly and likes to let me know that someone is here. The distillery is small… but its amazing what you can fit into a tiny space. Justine will take you though what got her into gin, the stories behind the gins and liqueurs and how she makes her spirits with “Bruce” the 40 litre copper alembic Still.

After the tour you get to sample the gins, tried neat and then slightly watered down which gives you the best idea for profiling spirits and understanding their flavours better.

There is no expectation to buy, but if you are keen, there are gins, liqueurs, gift packs, t shirts, tote bags and much more available to purchase from the distillery. Eftpos and cash accepted.

So next time you head to Kaikōura on your vacation to experience all that Kaikōura has to offer, give Justine a bell, head on up to the distillery and come have a yarn about all things grassroots distilling.