If you think you’re noticing a lot more distilleries popping up in New Zealand, you’re not wrong.

Since 2012 there has been a 380 per cent increase in distilleries in New Zealand. From 27 in operation, there are now about 130 (Australian Financial Review).

Distilled Spirits Aotearoa (DSA) has a membership of 96 and welcomes one or two new members every month.

In recognition of this, Think Drinks has invited Jered Tate from Up a Tree Distillery, Roxburgh to have a chat this Wednesday.

Jered’s bright idea to start a distillery didn’t come while up a tree – it came to him one night over a few whiskeys. As it happens, the two things were deliciously destined to collide.

When you have a 25-hectare orchard, producing some of Central Otago’s finest stone fruit, there is inevitably fruit that doesn’t make the cut – be that from a weather event or bird

damage.

Jered’s grown-up version of “when life gives you lemons”, was to build a distillery and make schnapps, gins, pálinkas, brandies, fruity liqueurs and apple ciders from the less than perfect

fruit.

Reducing waste was a huge driver for the move into establishing the distillery and after years of research, Jered had a custom 500L Copper Column Still built, shipped to Roxburgh

at the beginning of 2020.

Covid, and a friend’s cancer scare, motivated Jered to set-up what he had been dreaming about for ten years. It was these two catalysts that spurred him to stop dreaming and

start doing.

Jered’s biggest challenge in the business has been establishing a distribution network. He has made inroads locally, and as time allows, he plans to grow this and look for

international distributors. He has the orchard performing well, the distilling down to a fine art and production is unlimited. As he says, “booze is not going to go off”.

His advice to others contemplating new adventures is to be brave, believe in yourself and do an enormous amount of research.

If you have a new business or have an idea to put into action, come along on Wednesday to hear more. Free for all to attend.

This month's Start Up Central Think Drinks is on tomorrow (Wednesday, September 21) 5.00 pm at Oliver’s in Clyde.