New Plymouth-based company BeGin Distilling has won national titles for its Juno Extra Fine Gin and Vesta Vodka brands.
Taranaki is raising a glass in celebration after local distillers Dave and Jo James, founders of BeGin Distilling in New Plymouth, claimed the top national honours for their flagship spirits, not once, but twice.
Juno Extra Fine Gin was crowned New Zealand’s number-one Spirit at the 2025 Superliquor Super Spirits Awards, while both Juno and its sister spirit, Vesta Vodka, received Trophies at the NZ Spirits Awards, sponsored by Liquorland.
The Super Spirits Awards' top honour is particularly significant as it crowned Juno Gin the best spirit across all categories, including gin, whisky, rum, and vodka, making it the ultimate champion in New Zealand, among hundreds of entries. Both competitions included entries from significant and major international brands of spirits available on the market today.
These wins cap off what the founders describe as "a great 2025 to date," with their spirits earning recognition not just in New Zealand but across Asia.
The husband-and-wife team credit their success to Taranaki itself, pure mountain water, fertile soils, and a community that supports innovation and sustainability.
“We’re proud to showcase Taranaki to the world, bottle by bottle,” said Jo James.
“These awards show that New Zealand craft spirits can stand tall on the world stage, and it all starts here in our backyard.”
With this double triumph, BeGin Distilling has cemented its place as a leader in New Zealand’s fast-growing craft spirits industry, while keeping its roots firmly in Taranaki.
“Crafted in Taranaki, celebrated nationwide, Juno Gin and Vesta Vodka are proof that world-class spirits begin at home.”
One of the foundations of Juno Distillery is to “Make it Right”. This commitment to sustainability underpins everything it does.
“During the still design phase, we worked with our Taranaki engineering team, Rivet, to create a copper still that minimised waste production and, where waste generation was unavoidable, included handling systems to allow recycling of by-products into other industries (our liquid by-products have been used to make beer and solids to make chocolate truffles).”
More news here.
