Make Your Own Gin at the Matahui Gin Lab

Gin tastes better when you make it. At Matahui Gin Lab in Tauranga, you design a 500ml bottle of bespoke gin using botanicals from the distillery’s own permaculture world, guided by master distiller Paul. It’s hands-on, laid-back, and you leave with your recipe and a proper chance to understand what makes great gin work.

I really like the two-part payoff here. You spend your time building a gin you’ll actually enjoy, then you get a complimentary post-session tasting at the Cellar Door with award-winning spirits, including New Zealand’s Best Botanical Spirit. It also helps that the session is small, so you get real attention while you’re tasting and adjusting flavors.

One possible consideration: it’s a bit out of the way. The drive can be pretty, but plan for travel time so you do not feel rushed when you arrive.

Key highlights you should know before you go

• Custom bottle, 500ml size: create and take home your own bespoke gin blend.
• Flavour Library of botanicals: choose from a wide range of ingredients for your recipe.
• Botanicals grown on-site: many selections come from the permaculture garden.
• Master guidance from Paul: you get step-by-step help to balance your flavor profile.
• Eco-friendly micro-distillery tour: learn how sustainable distillation fits the plant-forward approach.
• Complimentary tastings after your session: sample award-winning spirits at the Cellar Door.

Where Matahui Gin Lab fits in your Bay of Plenty day

Matahui Gin Lab is in the Tauranga area, with the meeting point listed at 270 Matahui Road, Aongatete 3181. The format is a focused, two-hour workshop plus extra time that includes touring and tasting, so it works best when you can treat it as your main activity rather than squeezing it between other stops.

The total time is about 2 hours 30 minutes. That length is long enough to make a bottle, learn the basics of tasting and pairing, and still feel like you have time to enjoy the experience instead of “rushing through.”

Group size is capped at 10 travelers. That matters more than you might think, because gin making is sensory. You are tasting and making choices, so smaller groups usually mean less waiting and more room for questions.

Price and value: what $58.95 buys you

The price is $58.95 per person, and for what you get, I think it is solid value if you are a gin fan or you like hands-on food and drink activities. You are not paying just for a guided talk or a quick sip. You are paying for a workshop where you build a take-home bottle and then taste award-winning spirits after.

You also get extra value in the form of context. The distillery is set up around sustainable distillation and plants, and you get an eco-friendly micro-distillery tour as part of your session. That pairing of craft plus learning is why the experience feels more complete than a basic tasting.

If you are not sure you will like this kind of activity, the small group and guided approach makes it easier to participate, even if your palate is brand new to gin. And if you are already a gin person, you get a chance to think in flavor notes and balance instead of just enjoying what is in front of you.

Your session starts at the distillery, then you get hands-on fast

When you arrive at Matahui Gin Lab, you are not sent off to watch someone else work. The whole experience is built around making your own 500ml bottle of bespoke gin tailored to your taste.

From the start, you are guided through the process by Paul, the master distiller. That matters, because gin recipes can sound technical, but the workshop format keeps it practical. You are choosing botanicals, thinking about taste, and learning what each selection contributes.

Also note that this uses a mobile ticket. So have your confirmation handy on your phone and do not count on last-minute internet hunts right before your start time.

The gin-making part: picking botanicals with intention

This is where the fun begins. You access New Zealand’s only Flavour Library of botanicals, which is essentially a structured way to explore how different plant flavors show up in a gin.

Many of the botanicals are cultivated in Matahui’s on-site permaculture garden. That detail is more than a marketing point. When ingredients are grown locally and handled through an intentional system, you often get a clearer sense of character in the botanicals you are tasting and selecting.

Here is the practical side: you are designing your gin to match your taste. That means you are likely choosing along the lines of what you want more of, what you want to soften, and what kind of overall balance you prefer. The workshop guides you toward a balanced, flavorful result rather than a random grab-bag mix.

Why the small group format feels better than you expect

With a maximum of 10 travelers, you get a more personal feel. This is not a huge room with a line of people waiting to do the same step.

Smaller groups can change the vibe in two key ways. First, you can ask questions in the moment, instead of saving them for the end. Second, you get more chances to taste and compare, which is the only way the flavor choices start to make sense.

One reason people rave about this kind of setup is that it makes tasting feel like learning, not just consuming. You come away with better judgment for what you will want in future gin drinks, because you practiced the thinking in real time.

Paul’s role: turning a concept into something balanced

Paul leads the gin lab, and the workshop is structured so you are not left guessing. When a master distiller is running your session, you tend to get more than “here are the ingredients.” You get guidance on balance, flavor direction, and what to expect from the choices you make.

That is also why the experience is friendly for different levels. If you know gin well, you still get the satisfaction of tailoring a bottle the way you like. If you are new, you still get explanations that make the tasting notes and pairing ideas stick.

One tip that helps in any gin tasting exercise is to keep your decisions simple. Pick one or two directions you want, then adjust around them. This workshop format supports that, because it is focused on building one bottle from your choices, not juggling dozens of unrelated samples.

The eco-friendly micro-distillery tour: what it adds to the story

After your gin-making session, you get access to a guided tour of the eco-friendly micro-distillery. The tour is centered on how Matahui harnesses the power of plants and uses a sustainable distillation approach to craft its luxury gins and liqueurs.

I like including this kind of tour because it gives your take-home bottle more meaning. Instead of thinking of your gin as a one-time novelty, you understand the approach behind it. That makes your bottle feel more like a personal product from a specific method, not just something you picked up.

Even if you do not care about production details, the tour still helps you connect flavor to process. When you see how the distillery is plant-forward, the tasting part makes more sense.

Cellar Door tasting: award-winning spirits, no awkward timing

The best part after you finish your bottle design is the complimentary tasting at the Cellar Door. You sample Matahui Distillery’s award-winning spirits, including New Zealand’s Best Botanical Spirit.

This tasting is where your workshop choices start to click. You can compare what you built with what the distillery has already mastered. It also lets you broaden beyond just your own recipe, because you taste a range of spirits and learn how different botanical profiles land in a glass.

Reviews highlight that there is plenty of spirit to try, and that matches what you want from a tasting after a guided workshop. You are not just getting one sip and a goodbye. You get time to taste, ask questions, and refine your understanding of flavor notes and pairings.

Who this experience suits best (and who should skip it)

This is a great fit if:

• You love gin and want a take-home bottle made to your preferences
• You enjoy learning through doing, especially with food and drink
• You want a unique Bay of Plenty activity that feels local, not touristy

You might think twice if:

• You dislike hands-on activities or tasting-based sessions
• You want a purely scenic, passive outing with minimal participation

The tone here is practical and friendly. It is not about being a specialist. It is about building a bottle and learning enough to enjoy gin better afterward.

Getting the most out of your visit (small planning tips)

A couple of simple moves can make the workshop smoother.

First, arrive a little early if you can. The experience starts at 270 Matahui Road, and the “out of the way” comment in feedback makes sense. In rural or semi-rural areas, you do not want to start the session frazzled.

Second, come ready to taste. Even if you think you are not picky, you will learn quickly what you like. Your choices become easier when you take your time and do not rush through tasting notes.

Third, think about what you like right now. If you have a go-to gin style, flavor, or mixer, you can translate that into your botanicals. The point is tailoring your gin to your taste.

Should you book Matahui Gin Lab?

If you are a gin lover, I would book it. The combination of a hands-on 500ml bottle you take home, guidance from Paul, a micro-distillery tour, and a complimentary tasting is a strong package for the price of $58.95.

If you are undecided, I would still consider it because the workshop is built for different experience levels. You do not need to be a gin expert to have fun and learn. The main question is really just this: do you want to spend a couple hours creating something you will enjoy later?

Bottom line: if you want an authentic, practical, plant-focused gin experience in the Bay of Plenty, this is one of the more satisfying ways to spend your time.

FAQ

How much does Make Your Own Gin at the Matahui Gin Lab cost?

It costs $58.95 per person.

How long is the gin lab experience?

The experience runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.).

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes. The experience has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What do I take home?

You take home a 500ml bottle of your custom gin.

Who leads the gin-making session?

The workshop is led by Matahui’s master distiller, Paul.

What botanicals can I use?

You can choose from a Flavour Library of botanicals, and many of these come from the distillery’s on-site permaculture garden.

Is there tasting included after the workshop?

Yes. After your session, you get a complimentary tasting at the Cellar Door, including award-winning spirits such as New Zealand’s Best Botanical Spirit.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Changes within 24 hours are not accepted.