Art Deco Distillery

OVERVIEW

Join an enlightening tour of a gin distillery in one of Napier’s famed Art Deco buildings and enjoy a cocktail as you watch how the spirits are produced. While driving through downtown, the guide will elaborate on the 1931 earthquake and fire that destroyed the city and fueled a rebirth of construction in the popular Art Deco style of the time. You will see inspiring iconic buildings decorated with relief stucco ornaments in geometric patterns, sleek shapes and even Māori symbols. One of the most elegant of those architectural treasures is now home to the National Distillery Company. While touring, you will see how the gins are produced using native botanicals such as harakeke – more commonly known as flax – and karamu, a plant with medicinal uses. The botanicals contribute to the spirits’ unique flavor profiles. The gin in your drink may be dry, citrusy or perhaps boast an earthy sweetness.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover how gins are distilled using local botanicals and enjoy a gin cocktail while touring.
• Admire the elegance of the distillery, an Art Deco building that once housed a tobacco company.
• Drive through the world’s largest collection of Art Deco buildings in downtown Napier.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.