Juno Distillery

The origins of New Plymouth’s boutique distillery, Juno, is a compelling tale of relentless passion and a scientific approach. For husband-and-wife duo Jo and Dave James, distilling has become their happily ever after endeavour, and it is apt then, that Juno is named after the goddess of marriage and domestic harmony.

Juno Distillery is hyper-local, using locally sourced botanicals, water from Mt Taranaki and even a copper still designed by a Taranaki-based engineering firm. Gin is where it all began, and the award-winning spirit is a testament to the precision and artistry the couple has poured into their range. Every year they release four small-batch gins reflecting flavours and botanicals from that season – think refreshing notes for long hot summer days, or evocative forest and sea aromas for autumnal nights. The bottles are adorned with bespoke artworks that beautifully conjure the essence of the respective gin and will be a handsome addition to any drinks cabinet. Their bestseller is the signature Extra Fine Gin, a London-dry style that’s been triple-distilled to perfection. These days, though, Juno does more than just gin, with a growing range of spirits coming out of the distillery.

We recommend joining one of Juno's guided distillery tours, where you can take a deep dive into the ins and outs of their distillation process and hear more about how their popular distillery originated. You’ll also get to sample a few different styles and have fun exploring the behind-the-scenes of a fully functioning boutique distillery. Keen to get hands-on? Book in for one of their mixology classes and learn to shake up cocktails using Juno’s spirits. Afterwards, spend some time perusing their bespoke cellar door shop with a selection of gins, vodkas and more (complete with discounted prices).

It would be remiss not to visit Juno before your next round of cocktails. Their spirits are guaranteed to elevate your drinks to the next level.