Our story begins back in 2019. When returning to his childhood backyard on the stunning Otago Peninsula, Richard knew he’d found the perfect property to call home again, the Sandymount Estate. A remote, scenic area of the peninsula, characterised by its beauty, charm, and abundant resources, despite its occasional (and sometimes pretty strong) winds.

With spring water bubbling to the surface just up the hill and an abundance of native flora, Richard recognised the opportunity to take his distilling hobby to the next level and founded Sandymount Distillery in May 2021. Since then, Richard has transitioned from starting small in his garage to operating out of the distillery he completed building by November 2022.

The wildlife and natural beauty of Sandymount and the broader Otago Peninsula inspires profound admiration and a sense of responsibility. Our love for the land strongly influences our commitment to sustainable practices and integrating local resources into our products.

Sandymount Distillery makes full use of the surrounding environment. As well as the pre-existing abundance of wild botanicals, Richard has planted additional native species and an orchard, ensuring innovative flavour profiles for a long time to come. A testament to our work is our Tī Kōuka Forest Gin, which uses six native botanicals that are naturally found on site. In its early days, this gin contributed to the funding of a replanting program that is still in operation at Sandymount Distillery.

Reducing our carbon footprint is a primary goal at Sandymount. Our stills operate on an array of 20 solar panels, harnessing the sun’s energy, while our natural spring ensures a clean water source for our products.