The National Distillery Company co-founder Blair Nicholl at the Napier business' distillery and cellar door, where it produces gin, vodka, rum and liqueur. Photo / Supplied
The National Distillery Company co-founder Blair Nicholl at the Napier business' distillery and cellar door, where it produces gin, vodka, rum and liqueur. Photo / Supplied
A Napier distillery has received a welcome boost by way of a handful of gold medals for its gins and vodkas, during what it says is the toughest market it has traded in.
The National Distillery Company has been operating for six years in the National Tobacco Company Building inAhuriri, and has won a long list of accolades during its relatively short history.
Last week, as part of the NZ Spirits Awards 2025, it was awarded four gold medals for its NZ Native Gin and The Hemp Gin, as well as its Aquifer Yuzu Vodka and Damson Plum Vodka (the latter of which the company distils for Shayne and Rachael Walker).
“It’s never been a tougher market than we are in currently.
One of the gold medal-winning gins. Photo / Supplied
“This has been the toughest year we have seen since when Covid first hit ... so it is really awesome to grab [these medals],” he said.
“It does help the brand and helps reward our distillers, and gives us that little bit of extra push to keep going and to continue being one of the more innovative companies in its space.”
He said it was “huge for us” and put them in contention for a special awards night in August, where gold medal-winning spirits vie for best in category trophies.
The company has won three of those trophies over the years.
The National Distillery Company distils and sells gin, vodka, rum and liqueur and is in the process of adding brandy to its catalogue.
Nicholl said while the market was tough at present because of an economic downturn, and his team was down to seven staff, the company was getting through by working hard.
“[It’s the] old school mentality of work a bit harder and push through, which has got us to where we are.”
Nicholl said there are ambitions to continue to expand the business, which currently sells its spirits in New Zealand and the United States.
A 10% tariff has added a challenge for its US sales.
The company wants to expand into Asia around late 2026 or early 2027 and is looking for investors as part of its expansion plans.
The company has also been awarded an Excellence Award from Tripadvisor, for ranking among the top 10% of businesses in the world to visit based on reviews.
