Waiheke Whisky comes from Waiheke Island in New Zealand. Waiheke is a small island in the Hauraki Gulf, just a 40 minute ferry ride east of Auckland. The island has a strong tourism industry and is renowned for its vineyards and wineries, its beaches, and restaurants. Although it’s popular for day trips or weekend stays out of Auckland, the small island – just 92km2 in area – is home to roughly 9,000 people. As a point of reference and context that many readers will appreciate, Islay is roughly 620km2 in comparison and home to just over 3,000 inhabitants. Islay is obviously well known for its whiskies. One suspects Waiheke isn’t too far behind!
The distillery itself has an incredible story that showcases extraordinary enthusiasm, passion, initiative, independence, and determination by its founders, together with a journey and evolution that belies its years. Indeed, evolution is key to appreciating Waiheke’s story, and it would be an injustice not to outline some of it here.