Broken Heart Spirits

What Broken Heart Spirits does

Broken Heart Spirits is a New Zealand-based craft distillery headquartered in Queenstown, founded in 2012 by German master distiller Joerg Henkenhaf. The company produces a multi-category spirits portfolio led by gin and extending into vodka, rum, whiskey, liqueurs, brandy, and more recently a 0% alcohol line and a beer SKU. Manufacturing is operated from a single facility by a team of 1-10 employees, with the founder's German distilling pedigree and a stack of international awards (including IWSC and World Gin Awards recognitions) functioning as primary quality signals.

Revenue is generated through a three-channel model: direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, wholesale/retail partnerships, and international export distribution spanning Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, and Macau. The company has invested in sustainability-focused packaging via eco-refill pouches, designed to support repeat D2C purchasing and a reusable-format positioning. Pricing reflects premium craft positioning, supported by award credentials and the founder's expertise as quality cues.

The company is pursuing capital expansion in 2025 through an equity crowdfunding campaign on PledgeMe, with proceeds earmarked for a new distillery facility — an indication of forward capacity scaling. International markets, product breadth, and packaging format are the three active vectors of strategic expansion. No technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability is described in the available material; the business is fundamentally a physical-goods craft manufacturer.

Name

Broken Heart Spirits

Legal name

Broken Heart Spirits Limited

Website

https://brokenheartspirits.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Broken Heart Spirits is a Queenstown craft distillery producing award-winning gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, liqueurs, brandy, and 0% alcohol spirits. Founded in 2012 by German master distiller Joerg Henkenhaf, it distributes via D2C, wholesale, and exports to Australia, Germany, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Craft gin distillery
• Premium spirit production
• Sustainable spirit packaging
• Botanical gin manufacturing
• Flavored gin varieties

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Bottle Sales (D2C): Primary revenue stream through direct e-commerce sales of spirits to consumers in New Zealand and internationally. Products sold in various sizes (200ml, 500ml, 700ml) with prices ranging from $30 to $220 NZD. Includes eco-refill pouches at discounted prices.
2. Wholesale Distribution: National distribution through Giesen Group to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores throughout New Zealand. Also utilizes international distributors for global markets.
3. International Distribution: Sales through international distributors in Australia (The Gin Boutique), Germany (Durlacher Pestoria), and Hong Kong/Macau (Pinewood Wine).
4. Crowdfunding/Equity Campaign: Planned 2025 crowdfunding campaign through PledgeMe to raise funds for new purpose-built Queenstown distillery expansion.
5. Gin Garden Tasting Room: On-site tasting room and bar at Arthurs Point, Queenstown serving 12-15 award-winning spirits, cocktails, beer, wine, and food. Private tastings available for groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Broken Heart Spirits manufactures and sells premium hand-crafted distilled spirits, with its flagship Original Gin and a portfolio that includes vodka, spiced rum, single malt whiskey, liqueurs, brandy, beer, and 0% alcohol variants. Production is based in Queenstown, New Zealand using glacial water from Mt Aspiring National Park, 11 natural botanicals, organic local fruit, and a carbon-neutral wood-fired still, with sales through direct e-commerce, a national distributor, an on-site Gin Garden tasting room, and international distributors.

Product overview

Broken Heart Spirits is a multi-award winning Queenstown, New Zealand-based distillery offering a diverse portfolio of premium spirits centered around gin, complemented by vodka, rum, whiskey, liqueurs, brandy, non-alcoholic options, and beer. The core product line features the Original Gin (flagship), Navy Strength Gin, and Queenstown Edition Premium Gin, with flavored variants including Rhubarb Gin, Pinot Noir Gin, Quince Gin, Barrel Aged Gin, and the premium Bella – Wild Plum Gin Elixir. Additional spirits include Vodka, Spiced Rum, Single Malt Whiskey, Quince Liqueur, and Limited Edition Weinbrand. The company has expanded into non-alcoholic products with 0% Alcohol Gin and 0% Botanical Spirit. Sustainability is a key differentiator, with New Zealand's first eco-refill pouches and Bottle for Life reusable glass bottles. Supporting products include gift boxes, glassware, Spiced Plum Gin Jam (a by-product of the Bella production), and gift vouchers. Products are distributed through the online shop, the Gin Garden tasting room in Queenstown, and international distributors in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gin Garden: Queenstown's first boutique gin tasting room owned and operated by Broken Heart Spirits, located in Arthurs Point.

Products and services

• Original Gin 700ml Flagship multi-award-winning dry gin made with 11 natural botanicals, featuring citrus, spice, floral, dry, fresh, and earthy flavors. Targeted at craft gin enthusiasts and consumers seeking premium spirits.
• Original Gin 200ml Smaller 200ml format of the Original Gin, ideal for gift hampers or portability.
• Navy Strength Gin 700ml High-potency gin at 57% ABV with a bold botanical profile aimed at bartenders and gin enthusiasts seeking more powerful creations.
• Queenstown Edition Premium Gin 700ml Limited edition premium gin combining botanical essence from Navy Strength Gin with Original Gin alcohol content, featuring citrus, green herb, pine, juniper, and earthy notes. Won World's Best London Dry Gin at IWSC 2023.
• Rhubarb Gin 500ml Flavored gin infused with organic green, pink, and red rhubarb from South Island, featuring dry, tart, crisp, fresh, and perfumed flavor profile. Pair with tonic and ruby red grapefruit.
• Pinot Noir Gin 500ml Amalgamation of Gin and Pinot Noir made with sun-soaked Central Otago Pinot Noir grapes from Mount Edward Winery and spice notes from the Original Gin base. Soft, fruity, smooth, spiced, warm, and sweet profile.
• Quince Gin 500ml Flavored gin made with organic home-grown autumn quince fruit from the property. Dry, fruity, perfumed, and spiced profile described as the perfect cheeseboard gin.
• Barrel Aged Gin 500ml Gin aged for up to one year in French Chardonnay oak barrels, a sipping spirit with buttery, citrus, sweet, toasty, warm, and mellow notes.
• Bella - Wild Plum Gin Elixir 700ml Premium gin elixir blending wild plums with eighteen aromatics and botanicals, created in collaboration with Annabel Langbein. Features sweet tangy plums with rounded spice, pepper, liquorice, and almond notes with a silky full-bodied finish.
• Vodka 700ml Premium vodka made with spring water from Arrowtown, New Zealand. Pure and clean with soft lemon notes; won World's Best Pure Neutral Vodka at World Vodka Awards 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eco-refill pouches reduce CO2 emissions by more than 95%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Giesen GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational distributor for Broken Heart products throughout New Zealand. Handles distribution to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores nationwide. Contact: [email protected]
• Pinewood Wine (Hong Kong/Macau)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSole distributor in Hong Kong and Macau. All brands endorsed by HKQAA under Hong Kong Wine Registration Scheme. Distributes 18 brands including Broken Heart Spirits.
• Durlacher Pestoria (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman retailer specializing in wine, spirits, pesto and pasta, and Mediterranean specialities. Located in Karlsruhe, Germany - founder Joerg's hometown.
• The Gin Boutique (Australia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian retailer of Broken Heart products. Stocks range of spirits including Original Gin, Vodka, Rhubarb Gin, Spiced Rum, and specialty items.
• CaspakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPackaging solutions partner that created New Zealand's first eco refill pouches for Broken Heart Spirits. Innovative recyclable soft plastic pouches reduced glass consumption.
• Soft Plastic Recycling SchemecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for soft plastic recycling. Customers can return empty pouches to Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme locations, at the Distillery, or at Gin Garden Tasting Room.
• Trees that CountminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to support New Zealand Government's goal to plant a billion trees by 2028. Funds raised by selling refill pouches support local native tree planting projects.
• Future PostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoft plastic recycling partner that uses collected materials to manufacture fence posts, vegetable gardens and parking bumpers in New Zealand.
• SaveBOARDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoft plastic recycling partner that uses soft plastic materials to manufacture sustainable building materials including insulation board.
• NZ PostminorOthersCourier service partnered for soft plastic recycling collection for customers not near recycling bins. Provides specific courier bags made from recycled materials.
• Mount Edward WineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal winery just 10-minute drive from distillery. Source of Pinot Noir grapes for Pinot Noir Gin, supporting 'farm to table' local sourcing concept.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tanqueray: Global mass-premium gin brand owned by Diageo; competes with Broken Heart on trade lists and consumer occasions. Relevant incumbent benchmark for pricing, marketing scale and shelf competition.
• Bombay Sapphire: Global premium gin brand (Bacardi) with distillery-visit experience (Laverstoke Mill). Comparable both as a premium-gin competitor and as a benchmark for distillery-as-tourism-experience model.
• Hendrick's Gin: Global premium craft-style gin (William Grant & Sons) with strong on-premise presence. Comparable as the premium craft-narrative benchmark that Broken Heart competes against for bar placement.

Direct peers

• Archie Rose Distilling Co. Australian craft distiller (Sydney) producing gin, vodka, rum and whisky with a premium, awards-led brand similar to Broken Heart's positioning. Comparable on craft multi-spirit portfolio and on-premise focus.
• Four Pillars Gin: Australian craft gin (Yarra Valley) with strong international awards record, sustainability initiatives and active export push. Closest cross-Tasman peer in craft gin premium tier and international expansion.
• Scapegrace Distillery: New Zealand craft gin distillery (Christchurch) with a sustainability-led premium positioning and global awards footprint. Closest direct comparable to Broken Heart in NZ craft gin: similar category, similar export-led growth story, similar premium price ladder.
• Reid + Reid: New Zealand craft distillery producing gin, vodka and brandy from a small team with an emphasis on local provenance and quality awards. Direct comparable on size, craft positioning, and NZ origin.

Emerging players

• Lyre's Spirit Co. Non-alcoholic spirits brand competing in the same0% category as Broken Heart's 0% Alcohol Gin and 0% Botanical Spirit. Comparable for the sober-curious line extension.
• Thomson Whisky: New Zealand single malt whisky producer with a similarly small, provenance-driven, award-supported positioning. Comparable for the whiskey SKU and NZ craft spirits investor narrative.
• Seedlip: Pioneering non-alcoholic 'spirit' brand with similar premium positioning to Broken Heart's 0% range. Overlaps on the alcohol-free innovation lane.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BrokenHeartSpirits
• Instagraminstagram.com/brokenheartspirits
• Xx.com/BrokenHeart_NZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broken-heart-spirits-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broken Heart Spirits