Behind Wilderkin’s Craft Vodka

Find your groove with Wilderkin, a premium hand-distilled vodka crafted in small batches using the finest local ingredients.Infused with Waihi Beach-grown chillies and honey and kiwifruit from Katikati, each bottle celebrates the wild beauty of the beach, bush, and community.

Wilderkin has quickly earned multiple medals at the 2024 and 2025 NZ Spirit Awards. Available online with free local delivery or at Waihī Beach Liquor Barrel, it’s also poured in many local bars and restaurants.

Read on to meet the team behind Wilderkin and discover what makes their vodka unique.

Wilderkin

“The name Wilderkin means being a little crazy, mischievous and adventurous,and kin sums up our team’s kindred spirits and camaraderie.”

What makes Wilderkin different from other craft distilleries?

“Wilderkin handmakes their vodka from scratch using just potatoes and raw organic sugar! Over 80% of distilleries in NZ using an ethanol base from dairy by-product; but to achieve the smooth, clean finish of Wilderkin we believe our process achieves the purest product.”

What’s the story behind the name “Wilderkin”?

“The name Wilderkin was inspired by our crew. We’re all about fun and not taking ourselves too seriously! Wilder – means being a little crazy, mischievous and adventurous. Kin – sums up our team’s kindred spirits, camaraderie and long social nights!”

What’s one ingredient or botanical you love working with?

“Chillis! The crew loves their spicy food and it was inevitable their first infused vodka would be a Chilli variety. But it took over a year for the team to agree on the heat of the Chilli vodka!!”

What makes Waihī Beach the perfect place to live and bring your ideas to life?

“We love the pace of the beach and the good people here! All our team have lived internationally and have settled back to the beach as it’s just darn beautiful, the sand on your feet and swimming in the ocean. Also there’s such a fun and diverse bunch of people here. You’ll see people you’re surfing with later that morning grabbing their coffee, and then at the pub that night. This community also encourages and celebrates new ideas and businesses which is just so cool; and one of the reasons we went commercial with our vodka.”

Where’s your favourite local spot to relax with a drink?

“We just love the Secret Garden – such a funky spot, it’s like you’ve stepped into a Bali bar and you’ll always bump into a group of locals..”

What’s something people might not know about Wilderkin?

“We make our vodka with a six cylinder copper still; that was handmade in Colorado, USA. JC bought it when living in the States and unpacked it and trialled it for the first time here in Waihi Beach.”

MEET THE TEAM

JC

Head vodka baron and creator of stuff. He has a solid nose for spirits and can mix a mean cocktail (just not after 10pm when his measures get a little dangerous).

CINDY

A cosmopolitan devotee from her time in the USA. Cindy is always on hand to bravely taste JC & Nige’s concoctions

NIGEL

Musician by night, distiller by day. When Nige isn’t drumming up a storm he is scheming new and magical infused vodka and matching cocktails.

What’s your favourite thing about living and working in Waihī Beach?

” What we love is the laidback vibe, flexibility and of course the fun local crowd. And our crew loves the outdoors – so when the surf is on, we drop everything and head for the waves; or whenever we can we hit the golf course or you can find Pip riding her horse down the beach.”