It is with immense pride and excitement that we can now share that Hector's Gin has received four accolades at the recent NZ Spirits Awards Competition. We are incredibly humbled by the results and would like to thank the judges, TSWL, everyone who has been a part of the journey so far and most of all, you, our loyal Hector's fans.

Hector's Gin receives four medals at the recent NZ Spirit Awards Competition.

Gold hits the harbour - four gins, four wins

Our fourth release in the Hector’s series is our Little Akaloa Pink Blossom Gin. One of our blossom varietals was sourced directly from Virginia Mayo’s private residence on Decanter Bay Road in Little Akaloa. Given Virginia’s nickname is ‘Ginny’ and her family have lived in Little Akaloa for many generations, it was a match made in heaven. The rest of the blossoms used in the distillation were Cherry Blossoms picked from Cheskins in Little River.

Our fourth release in the Hector’s series is our Little Akaloa Pink Blossom Gin.

Little Akaloa Pink Blossom - New Release

Take flight with Garden City Helicopters and experience the taste and tales of the Akaroa harbour, told in gin with Akaroa Craft Distillery. Take in unique views of Canterbury and Banks Peninsula from the air, look down on gathering grounds of the many botanicals that make up the flavours of the gin on offer.

For more info: https://gchaviation.com/akaroa-craft-distillery-heli-gin-experience/

Take flight with Garden City Helicopters and experience the taste and tales of the Akaroa harbour, told in gin with Akaroa Craft Distillery.

GCH Aviation – Akaroa Craft Distillery Heli Gin Experience

Situated in Okuti Valley, Phytofarm is owned and run by Valmai Becker. Valmai is a well known Naturopath and Professional Member of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists. The development of Phytofarm is now her primary passion and brings together a number of her skills - gardener, teacher, learner and care taker of 30 acres of forest and gardens. We are delighted to support Phytofarm with the inclusion of several of the wild foods and botanicals grown on site including Lemon Verbena which is the main botanical in our Hector’s Little River Lemon Verbena Gin.

Situated in Okuti Valley, Phytofarm is owned and run by Valmai Becker. Valmai is a well known Naturopath and Professional Member of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists.

Phytofarm

French Peak is a locally owned vineyard, located in picturesque French Farm. Only 3.5 hectares, French Peak is the oldest vineyard in Banks Peninsula and has a unique terrior as it is based in the centre of an extinct volcano. The top of the vineyard is at an altitude of 80m high and only 700m from the sea. It has been run organically since 2016 and is currently going through BioGro certification. French Peak Pinot Noir is added to our NZ First, Hector’s French Farm Petit Pinot Gin.

French Peak is a locally owned vineyard, located in picturesque French Farm. Only 3.5 hectares, French Peak is the oldest vineyard in Banks Peninsula and has a unique terrior as it is based in the centre of an extinct volcano.

French Peak Vineyard

Sea kelp is the main botanical in our Hector’s Long Harbour Ocean Wash Gin. Our kelp is sustainably sourced and managed from NZ Kelp under New Zealand’s world renown Quota Management System. Certified organic with AsureQuality, NZ Kelp is freshly hand gathered from the ocean. Nothing is added and only water is removed through air drying and gentle dehumidification. Every piece of NZ Kelp can be traced back to the area it was harvested from. The addition of kelp in our gin adds a beautiful minerality and umami soy flavour resulting in a silky smooth finish.

Sea kelp is the main botanical in our Hector’s Long Harbour Ocean Wash Gin. Our kelp is sustainably sourced and managed from NZ Kelp under New Zealand’s world renown Quota Management System. Certified organic with AsureQuality, NZ Kelp is freshly hand gathered from the ocean.

NZ Kelp

We named our first gin series Hector’s after the Hector’s Dolphins that habitat in and around Banks Peninsula. These endangered dolphins are as native to New Zealand as the Kiwi. About 1,000 live around the Peninsula and they can easily be seen on one of the many tourist boat offerings available in Akaroa.

We are proud to partner with the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust and for every bottle of Hector’s Gin sold out of the Akaroa Craft Distillery Tasting House, we donate a portion of sale proceeds back to the trust to aid with their continuing good work in the conservation and preservation of wildlife in Banks Peninsula.

It is our way of giving back and to help preserve the beauty of this place for future generations.

NZ Whale and Dolphin Partnership

Other articles

Gold hits the harbour - four gins, four wins

Little Akaloa Pink Blossom - New Release

GCH Aviation – Akaroa Craft Distillery Heli Gin Experience