Kiwi Distillery Eyes Global Expansion After Whey-Based Gin Judged World-Leading | New Zealand Gin Export
A Tauranga craft distillery is preparing to pursue a major New Zealand gin export opportunity after its whey-based spirit was judged the highest-rated gin at one of the world’s leading international competitions.
Clarity Distilling Company’s Clarity Navy Gin received 99 points and a Gold Outstanding medal at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London. It was the highest-scoring gin entered in the competition, placing the young Bay of Plenty producer ahead of established spirits brands from around the world.
The result triggered a sharp increase in enquiries from overseas consumers and distributors, with interest coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and India.
The story was covered by Scoop, bringing wider attention to Clarity Distilling Company’s international award, distinctive use of New Zealand dairy whey and plans to develop a multimillion-dollar export business.
Clarity Distilling Company founders George White and Stephanie Downer with their world-leading Clarity Navy Gin.
World-Leading Award Creates New Zealand Gin Export Opportunity
Co-founder George White says the international result could help Clarity Distilling Company make the transition from a small founder-led operation into a significant New Zealand gin export business.
“We have had enquiries go through the roof almost overnight. People in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are contacting us directly asking where they can buy the product, and we are having to explain that we are not exporting yet. That tells us there is real demand if we can put the right distribution in place and a window to capitalise on this momentum if we can move quickly.
“For a small New Zealand producer to be competing against some of the most established spirits brands in the world and come out with this level of recognition is a significant moment for us.”
The IWSC recognition follows a series of international and domestic awards for the Tauranga distillery. Clarity Dry Gin received Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Clarity Navy Gin was named Gin of the Year and Spirit of the Year New Zealand at the 2026 London Spirits Competition.
The company has also won Best London Dry Gin at the New Zealand Spirits Awards and Distillery of the Year at the 2025 Small Batch New Zealand Gin Awards.
Whey-Based Spirit Gives New Zealand Gin Export Brand a Point of Difference
Clarity Distilling Company uses ethanol derived from grass-fed New Zealand dairy whey as the alcohol base for its gin. The ethanol is sourced from regional suppliers and produced from casein whey, a natural by-product of milk processing.
The whey in this New Zealand gin export contains lactose, or milk sugar, which is fermented through an anaerobic process. Ethanol is then recovered through distillation and concentrated for use as the base spirit.
Most ethanol used in commercial spirit production is derived from grain, molasses or cane sugar. White says the use of casein whey gives Clarity a rare production story and a distinctive position in premium international markets.
“The locally sourced whey in our base spirit gives the gin a texture and softness that people notice, changing the mouth-feel of the product and giving us a point of difference in markets such as the United States, where the grass-fed New Zealand dairy story is already well understood and highly regarded.
“Most gin globally is built on a grain or sugar-based spirit. We are starting from a very different raw material, and we think that is one of the reasons international judges are responding so strongly to the product.”
“New Zealand has spent decades building a reputation around grass-fed dairy and clean food production. We are taking that same story into premium spirits,” he says.
The company’s production method also differs from that of many larger gin manufacturers. Each botanical is distilled individually before the components are blended into the finished spirit.
White says this process provides greater control over flavour, balance and consistency while remaining scalable if international distribution agreements are secured.
United States Identified as Premium Gin Growth Market
Clarity Distilling Company sees the United States as one of its most important potential export markets. Spirits account for a significant share of American alcohol sales, but the premium gin category remains less developed than whiskey, tequila and vodka.
White believes this gives differentiated products with credible provenance an opportunity to secure attention from consumers, distributors and retailers.
“That creates an opening for differentiated products with a clear point of origin. For us, the combination of New Zealand provenance, grass-fed whey-based ethanol and international award recognition gives us a story that is very different from what US consumers usually see in gin,” he says.
The company is not yet exporting, but the direct enquiries received after the IWSC result have provided an early indication of consumer demand. Establishing suitable distribution, regulatory and logistics arrangements will be central to converting this attention into sustainable sales.
India Discussions Add to New Zealand Gin Export Potential
Clarity Distilling Company has also been approached by India-based importers and distributors, including a Mumbai retailer with more than 70 stores.
The discussions follow the signing of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement on 27 April 2026. The agreement has been signed but must complete the required legal and ratification processes before entering into force.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the agreement is intended to reduce barriers and improve access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies.
“India is a huge opportunity for our New Zealand gin export – it is the fastest growing spirit market in the world and the FTA has definitely helped open the door to a consumer base we may previously struggled to access. We are talking about a market where one city can be several times the size of New Zealand’s entire population.
“The trade agreement has created momentum and confidence around New Zealand products entering India, we are hoping we can be part of that wave.”
White says a significant export agreement would create flow-on benefits for Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty, including additional employment in production and logistics.
“Right now we are operating at only about five percent of our capacity so we are able to scale quickly if we can secure the right distribution agreement”.
Founder-Led Distillery Ready to Increase Production
Clarity Distilling Company was established by White and co-founder Stephanie Downer. The pair remain involved in each stage of production, from distilling and bottling to labelling, packing and dispatching orders.
“George and I are involved in every part of the process at the moment. We distil, bottle, label, pack orders and send them out ourselves,” she says.
Downer says international expansion for their New Zealand gin export operations could allow the business to develop from a two-person operation into a larger regional manufacturing company.
The distillery’s domestic presence has also grown, with its products stocked through online retailers, bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout New Zealand.
White says the company has continued to grow despite challenging conditions for premium discretionary products. International markets are increasingly important because New Zealand gin demand is affected by seasonal changes.
“The New Zealand market is important to us, but it is small and seasonal. We want to expand into the northern hemisphere markets as well. When it is winter here, it is summer there, and that gives us the ability to smooth out demand across the year.”
TVNZ Breakfast covers Clarity Distilling Company’s international award and export growth plans.
International Recognition Could Support Regional Jobs and Growth
Downer says the latest award for their New Zealand gin export demonstrates that an emerging New Zealand manufacturer can compete successfully against established global producers.
“We started as a small Tauranga distillery and in three years we have achieved recognition across San Francisco, London and the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
“The challenge now is to leverage this international recognition and build Clarity into a New Zealand export success story that creates jobs, drives regional growth and takes Bay of Plenty craft spirits to the world,” she says.
The next stage of building their New Zealand gin export operation will depend on the company’s ability to secure the right international distribution relationships and act while awareness of its competition result remains high.
Food, Beverage and Export Public Relations from Impact PR
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