New Zealand single malt distillery, Cardrona Distillery, just announced Hotaling & Co. as its exclusive U.S. importer. This partnership will help Cardrona expand its presence in the U.S., offering spirits such as The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky and The Reid Vodka to a wider audience.
Cardrona was founded in 2015 by Desiree Reid. In less than a decade, the distillery has earned a reputation for crafting small-batch, grain-to-glass spirits with locally sourced ingredients, according to the distillery website. In 2023, International Beverage acquired Cardrona.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Hotaling & Co. as our U.S. importer,” said Reid in a news release. “Their dedication to working with unique, high-quality spirits makes them a wonderful fit as we continue to grow our brand and share our passion for distilling New Zealand spirits with American consumers.”
Cardrona Distillery spirits
The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky combines South Island-grown malted barley, alpine water and a hands-on distillation process, according to the distillery. Aged in the remote and extreme climate of the Cardrona Valley, the whisky matures in hand-selected ex-sherry, ex-pinot noir and/or ex-bourbon casks. Currently, three solera-aged expressions that serve as ‘progress reports’ are available in the U.S., each with an SRP of $120 per 750-ml. bottle:
- The Cardrona “Just Hatched”
- The Cardrona “Growing Wings”
- The Cardrona “Full Flight”
In addition to its whiskies, Cardrona Distillery also produces The Reid single malt vodka. The Reid is crafted from malted barley, alpine water and distiller’s yeast, according to the distillery. After a 70-hour fermentation, The Reid is distilled on a pair of Jacob Carl column still to refine and preserve its flavors. The result is a vodka with notes of pear, lemon, toffee and malt biscuits. Packaged in a bottle shaped like a water droplet, The Reid has an SRP of $90 per 750-ml. bottle.
The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky and The Reid Vodka are now available in California, Illinois, New York and Nevada, with additional markets expected to open in 2025, according to the distillery.
