The Matahui Tasting Experience
Experience the award-winning spirits tasting that Gin Lab guests call "the best they've ever done" - now available as a standalone experience. Sample 3 premium gins and 3 exquisite liqueurs (including our Trophy-winning Best Botanical Spirit), enjoy a miniature cocktail, and discover our permaculture garden.
Perfect for spirit lovers, past guests wanting to return, or anyone exploring the Bay of Plenty.
1 Hour
$45pp
6 Tastings +
Mini Cocktail
Garden Visit
10% Discount
Is This Experience Right For You?
This experience is perfect if you:
- Love tasting spirits but don't want a hands-on workshop
- Have limited time and want to experience Matahui's highlights in an hour
- Are a past Gin Lab guest wanting to taste new releases or bring friends
- Want to explore before committing to the full Gin Lab experience
- Prefer to sample and purchase rather than create your own
- Are visiting the Bay of Plenty and want an award-winning tasting experience
- Live locally and want a relaxed weekday outing
This is the exact same tasting our Gin Lab guests enjoy while their gin is being made - they consistently rate it as the best spirits tasting they've experienced.
Want to create your own gin instead?
Our Gin Lab Experience includes this same award-winning tasting PLUS you'll create your own signature gin using our unique Flavour Library and take home a bottle of your own creation.
Your 1-Hour Experience Includes
An intimate tasting journey through our award-winning spirits, botanical discoveries, and the craft of small-batch distilling.
Premium Tastings
Sample 3 award-winning gins (including our Gold Medal winner) and 3 artisan liqueurs (including New Zealand's Best Botanical Spirit - Trophy winner 2024). Learn how to get creative with garnishing our spirits and discover flavour profiles you never knew existed.
Crafted Cocktail
Finish your tasting with a perfectly balanced signature cocktail that showcases our spirits at their best. Discover new ways to enjoy gin and liqueurs beyond the standard G&T.
Garden Discovery
Weather permitting, explore our permaculture garden where we grow many botanicals used in our spirits. Learn about our 'garden-to-glass' philosophy and see ingredients growing before they're distilled.
Expert Guidance
Discover how we craft our spirits, learn about our unique Flavour Library, and gain insight into what makes Matahui special. Plus enjoy 10% off all Cellar Door purchases after your experience.
Your Experience Timeline
A perfectly paced hour of discovery, education, and exceptional flavours
Meet our passionate team and hear the story of Matahui Distillery. Learn about our commitment to small-batch production, our award-winning spirits, and what makes the Bay of Plenty perfect for growing botanicals. We'll introduce you to the tasting experience ahead and answer any questions.
Weather permitting, stroll through our permaculture garden and see where the magic begins. Learn about our garden-to-glass philosophy and discover botanicals growing on-site. See native New Zealand plants like kawakawa alongside classic gin botanicals.
If weather doesn't permit outdoor walking, we'll showcase the garden and botanicals from our Cellar Door tasting area.
The heart of your visit! This is the same tasting experience that Gin Lab guests rave about:
- Guided gin tasting: Sample 3 of our premium gins including Summer Garden Gin (Gold 2025)
- Liqueur discovery: Taste 3 exquisite liqueurs including our Trophy-winning Fennel Liqueur - Best Botanical Spirit in New Zealand
- Cocktail finale: Enjoy a signature mini cocktail expertly crafted to showcase our spirits
- Discovery & conversation: Ask questions, explore flavours, and discover your new favourites
Throughout the tasting, our expert team shares the stories behind each spirit, the botanicals used, and insider tips for enjoying them at home.
What You'll Discover
Award-winning spirits crafted from the finest Bay of Plenty botanicals - many guests leave with bottles of their new favourites.
Award-Winning Gins
Sample 3 of our signature gins from:
- Summer Garden Gin (Gold Medal 2025)
- Adventurers Gin (Silver Medal 2024)
- Winter Garden Gin (Silver Medal 2025)
- Berry Adventurers Gin (Bronze Medal 2024)
Discover how different botanical combinations create unique flavour profiles.
Trophy-Winning Liqueurs
Taste 3 artisan liqueurs such as:
- Fennel Liqueur - Best Botanical Spirit in New Zealand (Trophy + Gold 2024)
- Grapefruitcello (Double Gold 2024)
- Limoncello (Bronze Medal 2024)
- Spiced Plum Liqueur (Bronze Medal 2025)
Experience why our liqueurs compete with the best in the country.
Expert Knowledge & Cocktails
Learn about craft spirits, discover botanical flavour profiles, and understand what makes craft spirits exceptional. Plus, enjoy serving suggestions and cocktail recipes to recreate the experience at home.
After your tasting, enjoy 10% off all purchases - take home the spirits you loved!
Experience Matahui Wednesday-Sunday
While we welcome guests throughout the week, weekday visits offer special advantages:
More Intimate
Quieter sessions with more personalised attention
Easier Access
Better parking and relaxed arrival
Unhurried Pace
Extra time for questions and conversation
Garden Mornings
Midweek mornings showcase the garden at its freshest
Available:
Wednesday-Sunday
Click below to find available times.
Local tip: Weekday afternoons are perfect for a relaxed outing that won't interfere with your weekend plans.
Welcome Back, Gin Lab Alumni!
Loved the tasting during your Gin Lab visit? We'd love to see you again!
Return to Matahui to:
Taste Our Newest Releases
We regularly add seasonal products and limited batches
See What's Growing
Our garden changes dramatically with the seasons
Stock Up
Replenish your favourite gins and liqueurs (with 10% discount)
Learn New Recipes
Discover cocktails and serving suggestions you might have missed
Many past guests return to see what's new and enjoy our award-winning spirits again.
Pro tip: Book a Wednesday-Friday session for a more relaxed, intimate return visit. We'll have more time to catch up and share what's been happening in the garden!
What Gin Lovers
Say About Matahui
"I visited Matahui Distillery yesterday with my family, for the tasting and tour. What an amazing time we had! Our hosts were so welcoming and informative- the gin was delicious and there was plenty of it to try! All 3 of us learnt a lot about tasting notes and pairings, to improve our future gin drinking experiences. We all came away with some great souvenirs 😉
Sadly only here for a flying visit otherwise I’d be back at Matahui Distillery in a heartbeat!
Thank you everyone!"
"I came to do the distillery tour and tasting with my mum and sister. It was absolutely brilliant. Super informative and the tastings were great. The gin and liqueurs are all delicious. The staff are so friendly, we had the best time! As a local I'll be bringing every visitor here as part of the best bits of the Bay."
4.9/5 stars from 200+ Google review
Perfect For...
Spirit Enthusiasts
Discover award-winning craft spirits and learn professional tasting techniques from expert distillers.
Past Gin Lab Guests
Return to taste new releases, see what's growing this season, and bring friends to experience Matahui.
Tourists & Visitors
Experience the best of Matahui in just 1 hour - perfect for Bay of Plenty tours with limited time.
Gift Recipients
Have a gift voucher but prefer tasting over creating? This experience is perfect for you.
Friends & Family Introduction
Bring someone new to Matahui - low commitment, high enjoyment, great discovery experience.
Research Visit
Considering the Gin Lab? Start here to experience our hospitality, quality, and teaching style first.
Weekday Explorers
Live locally? Pop in for a midweek tasting and garden stroll - no weekend crowds, just quality time.
Seasonal Highlights at Matahui
Spring in our Garden
Native kawakawa
coming back to life after winter
Fennel flowering
our trophy-winning botanical in full display
Young citrus fruits
developing for summer harvest
Garden birds
nesting in the orchard - bring your camera!
The garden changes dramatically with each season - every visit offers new discoveries.
Past guests often return to see what's new in the garden and taste any new releases we've added to our collection.
Book Your Tasting Experience
Small groups mean intimate experiences. Sessions available Wednesday-Sunday.
Secure Payment
Via Rezdy
Full Refund
up to 14 days
Small Groups
max 8~12 people
Award-Winning
Distillery
Enhance Your Experience
Add a Seasonal Platter - $29pp
Enhance your tasting with our delicious seasonal platter featuring the finest New Zealand artisan ingredients and fresh produce from our gin garden. Perfect pairing with our spirits.
Available as an add-on when booking your Tasting Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Wednesday-Sunday, with sessions running throughout the day. You must book at least 4 hours in advance, though we recommend booking earlier as our intimate sessions (maximum ~12 people) fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
Weekday tip: Wednesday-Friday sessions tend to be quieter and more intimate.
The Tasting Experience runs for approximately 1 hour, making it perfect for fitting into your day whether you're touring the Bay of Plenty or planning a relaxed local outing.
Your experience includes:
- Guided tasting of 3 premium gins and 3 artisan liqueurs
- One signature cocktail showcasing our spirits
- Introduction to our botanical garden (weather permitting)
- Education about our distilling process and Flavour Library
- 10% discount on any Cellar Door purchases
Yes! This is the exact same award-winning tasting experience our Gin Lab guests enjoy while their gin is being made. Many past guests return to:
- Taste new releases and seasonal products
- Bring friends or family for an introduction to Matahui
- Enjoy the garden in a different season
- Stock up on their favourite spirits with the 10% discount
You'll also discover cocktail recipes and serving suggestions you might not have explored during your Gin Lab session.
We love seeing familiar faces return!
Great question! Choose the Tasting Experience if you:
- Prefer discovering and sampling over hands-on creation
- Have limited time (1 hour vs 2.5 hours)
- Want a lower price point ($45 vs $130)
- Are returning and don't need another bottle of custom gin
- Want to bring someone for a low-commitment introduction
- Love trying spirits but don't want to make your own
Choose the Gin Lab if you want to create your own signature gin and learn professional distilling methods hands-on.
Both experiences include the same award-winning tasting component!
This is primarily a spirits tasting experience. The garden visit is a beautiful bonus (weather permitting), but the focus is on sampling our award-winning gins, liqueurs, and cocktails with expert guidance.
If you're specifically looking for an extensive garden tour focused on horticulture, we'd recommend contacting local garden tour operators. Our experience is about the spirits - with the garden providing context for our garden-to-glass philosophy.
You'll sample:
- 3 award-winning gins including Summer Garden Gin (Gold 2025), Adventurer's Gin, and Winter Garden Gin (Silver 2025)
- 3 artisan liqueurs including our Trophy-winning Fennel Liqueur - Best Botanical Spirit in New Zealand, Grapefruit Cello (Double Gold), and more
- 1 signature cocktail crafted to showcase our spirits perfectly
We also regularly add new releases and seasonal products, so returning guests often discover something they haven't tried before.
Absolutely! While we showcase exceptional gins, you'll also taste 3 different liqueurs and learn about the craft of distilling. Many guests discover spirits they never knew they'd love. It's as much about education, discovery, and exploration as it is about the drinks themselves.
Yes, we can lend you an umbrella or we can tell you about the garden from indoors if you prefer.
We provide sample bottles for designated drivers to take home and enjoy later, so they don't miss out on the tasting experience! This has been a huge hit with our guests.
Absolutely - in fact, we encourage it! You'll receive a 10% discount on all purchases from our Cellar Door after your experience. Many guests discover spirits they love and walk away with bottles of their new favourites (or gift them to someone special).
We can also discuss bespoke gin orders if you're interested in having a custom recipe created just for you.
While we love your enthusiasm, the Gin Lab requires advance booking and runs 2.5 hours, so same-day upgrades usually aren't possible due to scheduling.
However, many guests book their Gin Lab session during or after their Tasting Experience - we'd love to have you back for the full hands-on experience!
Yes! We regularly release seasonal products, limited batches, and new botanical experiments. Past guests often return quarterly or seasonally to discover what's new.
Our award-winning range continues to grow, and we love sharing new creations with both first-time visitors and returning guests.
Yes, all participants must be 18+ as you'll be tasting alcoholic beverages throughout the experience.
Yes! For groups of 10+ people, corporate events, or special celebrations, we offer tailored private experiences. This Tasting Experience works beautifully for:
- Corporate team outings (shorter, more flexible than Gin Lab)
- Social club visits
- Special interest groups
- Family gatherings
Please contact us directly to discuss options, pricing, and availability for private bookings.
If you cancel 14 or more days before your experience, you'll receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of your booking are non-refundable.
However, you can transfer your booking to another date if your plans change (subject to availability).
We're located at 270 Matahui Road, Aongatete, near Katikati in the Bay of Plenty:
- 35 minutes from Tauranga
- 10 minutes from Katikati
- Easy access from State Highway 2
The rural setting is part of our charm! We'll send detailed directions with your booking confirmation. Despite the rural address, we're easier to find than you might think.
Your Matahui Journey
The Tasting Experience (1 hour, $45pp)
Taste award-winning spirits, explore the garden, discover our story
Gin Lab Experience (2.5 hours, $130pp)
Create your own signature gin using professional methods + our unique Flavour Library
Seasonal Tastings
Every season brings new botanicals and new releases - come back to see what's growing and what's new
Planning to experience both?
Many visitors book the Tasting Experience first to experience our hospitality and quality, then return for the full Gin Lab.
Perfect for Corporate Groups
The Tasting Experience offers flexibility that's ideal for corporate and group bookings:
Shorter duration
(1 hour) fits business schedules better than 2.5-hour workshop
Lower price point
($45pp) works within most corporate budgets
Scalable
accommodate larger groups with multiple sessions
Professional setting
for team building or client entertainment
Educational focus
learn about craft, quality, and botanicals
For groups of 10+ or private corporate experiences:
- Exclusive session options available
- Customisable add-ons (seasonal platters, extended tastings)
- Flexible timing to suit your schedule
- Professional hosting for client entertainment
Discover Award-Winning Craft Spirits
Join us for an intimate hour of exceptional tastings, botanical discovery, and the warm hospitality that defines the Bay of Plenty.
1 Hour
$45pp
Includes: 6 premium tastings + miniature cocktail + garden visit + expert guidance + 10% discount
270 Matahui Road, Aongatete
30 minutes from Tauranga | 10 minutes from Katikati
(07) 282 7652
Gift vouchers available - the perfect present for spirit lovers!