In early 2011, craftswoman, Desiree Reid decided to pursue her dream of making a New Zealand single malt whisky that would stand tall on the international stage. She began researching distillation and the crafting of great spirits. The exquisite range of award winning whiskies, spirits and liqueurs produced at the Cardrona Distillery is the result of many years of study, planning and research.

Desiree Reid travelled widely for two and a half years, learning from many of the world’s masters, including the late Dave Pickerell, former head of Maker’s Mark. Her studies took her back to Scotland and through the United States many times, to garner the technical know-how and marketing insight to build Cardrona Distillery.

In May 2013, Desiree Reid sold her farming business to move to Wanaka, ultimately finding the distillery site at Cardrona. On 23 October 2015, the spirit flowed for the first time and on 5 November, the first cask was laid.