Cardrona Distillery — Attraction in South Island

Cardrona Distillery – Young Whisky with Serious Character

Tucked away in the beautiful Cardrona Valley, Cardrona Distillery is crafting something truly special — and their young whisky proves that age isn’t everything. This isn’t your typical long-aged Scotch; it’s a bold, fresh take on New Zealand single malt that proudly wears its youth on its sleeve.

The whisky has a bright, clean nose with hints of honey, dried apricot, vanilla, and a touch of spice — a signature of their ex-bourbon and sherry cask maturation. On the palate, it’s surprisingly smooth for its age, with a rich malt character, warm oak, and a soft, oily texture that lingers longer than you’d expect. There’s a vibrant energy in each sip — it’s like the wild alpine air somehow got trapped in the barrel.

What makes Cardrona’s young whisky stand out is the craftsmanship. Every bottle is handmade with care, from grain to glass. You can taste the passion behind it. It’s a young spirit with a mature attitude, offering a glimpse of what’s to come as their casks continue to age.

For any whisky enthusiast or curious newcomer, this is a must-try — a bold step in New Zealand’s growing...

After visiting the cardrona hotel for coffee and tea we found out that there was a newly opened Cardrona Distillery nearby. It's easy to spot- just look for the fence covered in bras (for breast cancer awareness fundraising). The distillery itself was a wonderful place to explore - sleek modern architecture with lovely design details gives the experience a great atmosphere. We sampled the very first run of their spirits- with the single malt vodka being the clear favorite among my group. Puns aside, none of us had tasted anything like it- a vodka with a delicate and smooth flavor perfect for sipping. It's quite pricy at NZ$110 per bottle, but the bottles have an elegant oval glass design that would make a great display piece and the flavor is definitely worth it. The tourguides are very informative and caring - an overall wonderful stop on our journey throughout through Cardrona. Apparently the porthole logo is inspired by their German made distilling tanks, and the four point on it represent the four corners of the world where the distilleries custom made tanks are from, and the four founders who dreamed up the concept of...

We had a great time at the Cardrona Distillery tour and tasting. We did the $35pp tour and tasting with Johnny, our guide, who was absolutely outstanding. He is so knowledgeable and passionate about the distilling process, and incredibly patient with all of our questions. You could tell he genuinely cared about sharing the story and craft behind Cardrona’s spirits.

The tour itself was really interesting to learn all about the grains and barrels to seeing the copper stills up close. The tasting afterward was in a private room and gave us a deep appreciation for the care that goes into each bottle. We enjoyed everything we tasted - whiskey, gin, vodka and liqueurs.

If you're visiting the area, don’t miss this tour. It's not just for spirit lovers. The parking is free, there is a restaurant and fireplace where you can grab lovely food if you decide not to go on the tour. We left with great memories and a few bottles too! Thanks for making our experience so...