Our story
Martinborough’s original craft gin, SINCE 2005.
Inspired by the spectacular Cape Palliser Lighthouse on the southernmost tip of the North Island, Lighthouse Gin is one of New Zealand’s oldest craft gins, established in 2005.
Distiller Rachel Hall is the custodian of a recipe perfected over many years. Twice distilled with nine botanicals and perfectly blended with pure water that journeys from high in the Remutaka Ranges, emerging at a spring in Palliser Bay.
A remarkably clean, smooth citrusy gin that’s true to its London Dry style - gin as it should be.
A local icon
Inspired by the spectacular Cape Palliser Lighthouse
Standing watch at the southernmost edge of New Zealand’s North Island, the Cape Palliser Lighthouse has been a beacon of safe harbour and craftsmanship since 1897. Brought over from Birmingham, United Kingdom in pieces, it was hauled up the steep cliff and pieced together panel by panel.
Built to withstand isolation, wind, and time itself, we took its name and its standard: something bright, something enduring, something made to last. Lighthouse Gin captures the character and history of this spectacular place.
“That sense of craftsmanship, making it the best it can be, from ingredients to distillation, to when the bottle goes out the door to you, is what we put into Lighthouse Gin, just like its namesake.”
- Rachel Hall, Head Distiller
The maker
RACHEL HALL, LIGHTHOUSE GIN HEAD DISTILLER AND NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST FEMALE HEAD DISTILLER.
From gathering botanicals, twice distilling, tasting every batch for consistency, labelling and bottling, Rachel Hall has been crafting Lighthouse by hand since 2014.
Despite growing up in the historic Greytown Hotel (now known as the Top Pub) Rachel was never that mad about gin. It wasn’t until her 30s that she become captivated when she met Neil Catherall, one of the founders of Lighthouse Gin.
Lighthouse Gin was established in 2005. Our first home was a makeshift distillery in the back of an apple juice factory where Rachel was working at the time. Upon watching Neil work his magic, Rachel became enamoured with the distillation process and took to learning Neil’s signature techniques.
Five years after Lighthouse’s inception, Rachel formally joined Lighthouse as Neil’s right hand in 2010. Later in 2014, he handed her the reins as head distiller, the first female to hold this role in New Zealand.
Our home
In 2023, the Lighthouse Gin distillery moved into its new home at The Runholder in Martinborough.
Visitors can see Rachel at work crafting her next batch while enjoying a Lighthouse Gin & Tonic or gin cocktail in the spacious tasting room. Experience the best of Lighthouse Gin with a guided tasting or step behind the scenes for an immersive distillery tour.