Our Story
Lyttelton Distillery Company was born out of a discussion with friends during Labour Weekend 2016 at Hall Road, Bannockburn in Central Otago, New Zealand.
Good Central Otago wine contributed to the discussion that weekend as friends traversed all manner of topics including the concept of turning potatoes into Irish poitín (like a vodka).
Soon after, we purchased a still and fermenting equipment. We experimented with fermenting grains, plain table sugar, honey and kumara with varying degrees of success, followed by pot and reflux distilling (and learning the difference between the two). Becoming familiar with the lexicon was an experience in itself – foreshots, heads, hearts and tails, hydrometers, refractometers, alcoholmeters and the list goes on. We negotiated the excise tax rules and got our licence to manufacture alcohol from New Zealand Customs (they were very helpful – “Why would we put up obstacles? The more successful you are, the more tax we collect.”)
After several months, we were brave enough to taste the end product. Friends were kind enough to say it was “acceptable”. Improvements were made with each batch, mixologists consulted, and additional equipment added to the process. Gin quickly became our focus.
By the end of 2017 we had formed Lyttelton Distillery Company Limited and we had our licence to manufacture alcohol. Trial batches of gin continued. By the autumn of 2019 we had a pallet of bottles, 2000 labels and 300 litres of alcohol but no marketing plan other than giving friends some t-shirts with the Lyttelton Distillery Company logo and Peninsula Gin label on them. But at this point we had not even had the courage to ask any merchant to buy our gin. Readers will readily see the flaws in our business planning! So, what to do? We went on holiday to Spain, Greece and Turkey together with our t-shirt wearing friends. During our time in Turkey someone from home was also on holiday and saw the t-shirts. When they got back home they asked local fine wine and spirit retailer Vino Fino where they could buy some Peninsula Gin. “Never heard of it” was the response. Fortunately, Vino Fino tracked us down and we made our first sale: a case of six bottles. It was Christmas 2019. Peninsula Gin proved popular over that summer. Other retailers came on board. Over the 2020 summer Vino Fino sold more of our Peninsula Gin than any other gin in their stock.
Meet the distiller
Co-owner Peter Hall is the distiller at Lyttelton Distillery Company. Career-wise, Peter has reinvented himself several times. He spent 23 years as a lawyer, followed by a return to university to study medical law followed by international law and politics, followed by several years teaching at tertiary level in commercial law, company law, employment law, and government-business relations. This was followed by five years in a team advising and representing school boards of trustees throughout New Zealand on their employment law issues.
Peter is now focused on the world of distilling although he is still asked to assist in resolving the odd employment law problem.
Lyttelton Distillery Company is a member of Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and Peter is a member of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (London).
