Rifters

What Rifters does

Rifters is a privately held craft distillery operating under the legal entity Arrowtown Distillery and headquartered in Arrowtown, New Zealand. It was co-founded by two builders, Stu and Hamish, who produce a portfolio of handcrafted spirits including Original Dry Gin, Quartz Gin, Blue Gold Gin, Blossomed Gin (limited release), Royal Gin Navy Strength, Pinot Noir Aged Gin, Arrowtown Vodka, and Royalburn Single Malt Whisky (the first cask of which was laid down in 2022). Production is small batch and uses traditional methods — a 100-litre copper pot still, pure New Zealand artesian water, locally foraged Central Otago botanicals (Wild Thyme, Manuka, Douglas Fir), and barrel aging in ex-bourbon and Central Otago Pinot Noir casks.

The business model is direct-to-consumer-led, anchored by a Shopify-powered storefront (riftersgin.com) with free New Zealand shipping on orders over $135 and selected international shipping, complemented by a physical Tasting Room at the historic Dudley's Cottage (4 Buckingham St, Arrowtown) offering complimentary gin tastings. A wholesale enquiry channel serves bars, restaurants, and retailers, and gift vouchers ($50-$500) extend the buyer base. Bottles are priced from NZD $48 (vodka) to NZD $81 (whisky), with the standard gin range at $54-$57 and reserve/aged expressions at $60-$75. The company claims multiple international awards across San Francisco, London, and New Zealand competitions and positions itself as the producer of the "World's Best Gin," supported by sustainability initiatives (single-use plastic free, recycled glass) and a community-fund partnership on vodka sales.

Name

Rifters

Legal name

Arrowtown Distillery

Website

https://riftersgin.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rifters is a privately held craft distillery in Arrowtown, New Zealand, producing small-batch gin, vodka, and whisky from local Central Otago botanicals and artesian water, sold direct-to-consumer online, at its Tasting Room, and via wholesale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft gin distillery
• Small batch spirits
• Artisan gin production
• Premium distilled spirits
• New Zealand gin

Headquarters

HQ city

Arrowtown

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

Revenue model

1. Gin Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of premium small batch gins through their e-commerce website. Products include Original Dry Gin, Quartz Gin, Blue Gold Gin, Blossomed Gin Limited Release, Royal Gin Navy Strength, and Pinot Noir Aged Gin Limited Release. One-time purchase model for individual bottles.
2. Whisky Sales: Sales of Rifters Royalburn Single Malt Whisky. Limited release single cask products in 350ml bottles, individually numbered. Target collectors and whisky aficionados.
3. Vodka Sales: Sales of Arrowtown Vodka crafted from glacial waters filtered through natural quartz. Portion of each bottle sale supports the Love Queenstown Community Fund.
4. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers available in denominations of $50, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $500, allowing recipients to choose their preferred bottle.
5. Tasting Room Experiences: Physical retail location offering complimentary gin tastings including tasting the World's Best Gin. Also available for private tastings by arrangement.
6. Wholesale Orders: The company accepts wholesale enquiries for bulk orders, suggesting B2B revenue streams alongside direct consumer sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rifters is a small-batch craft distillery based in Arrowtown, New Zealand that produces handcrafted premium gin, vodka, and single malt whisky. The spirits are made with pure New Zealand artesian water and locally sourced or foraged botanicals, distilled in small batches using a 100 litre copper pot still. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through their Shopify e-commerce site, a flagship Tasting Room at historic Dudley's Cottage, and via wholesale channels.

Product overview

Rifters is a small batch spirit producer based in Arrowtown, New Zealand, specializing in handcrafted gins. The product portfolio consists of multiple gin expressions (Original Dry Gin, Quartz Gin, Blue Gold Gin, Blossomed Gin, Royal Gin Navy Strength, and Pinot Noir Aged Gin), a Single Malt Whisky, an Arrowtown Vodka, a 350ml Twin Pack bundle, and gift vouchers. The gins range from core expressions ($54) to limited releases ($57-$75), with the whisky priced at $81 and vodka at $48. All spirits are crafted using New Zealand artesian water and local botanicals, with awards from international competitions including San Francisco, London, and New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Original Dry Gin An enhanced dry gin full of botanical flavor, pure, clean and balanced with warm earthy and citrus tones and a smooth dry finish. Crafted at 40% ABV in 700ml bottles at $54.00. Targeted at premium spirit enthusiasts seeking a versatile core gin.
• Quartz Gin A botanical gin, small batch distilled with Elderberries and Mint Tips, along with locally foraged Wild Thyme, Manuka and Douglas Fir. Delivers eucalypt and citrus high notes with a smooth and long herbaceous juniper finish. Priced at $54.00 per 700ml bottle. Targeted at premium gin drinkers seeking distinctive regional botanical profiles.
• Blue Gold Gin A bold botanical gin, small batch distilled with Lemon Grass, Kaffir Lime, Szechuan Pepper and Butterfly Pea Flower. Inspired by the gold miners who explored the glacial rivers of Arrowtown. Priced at $54.00 per 700ml bottle as a limited release. Targeted at adventurous spirit enthusiasts.
• Blossomed Gin Limited Release A small batch floral gin inspired by Wanaka's Lavender Farm, distilled with Pacific Blue Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Fresh Chamomile, Elderflower and Gorse Flower. Priced at $57.00 per 700ml bottle as a Seasonal Limited Release with only 400 bottles made. Targeted at collectors and floral gin enthusiasts.
• Royal Gin Navy Strength The first drop of Rifters reserve selection, crafted and refined in a 100 litre copper pot still at Navy Strength 57.7% ABV. Features refreshing tones of grapefruit, subtle sweetness from liquorice root, pink peppercorns, and a bay leaf finish. Priced at $75.00 per 700ml bottle as a Seasonal Limited Release.
• Pinot Noir Aged Gin Limited Release Award-winning Quartz Gin rested in a premium Central Otago Pinot Noir barrel for over a year, delivering smooth tannins, subtle dark fruits and elevated floral eucalypt notes. Priced at $60.00 per 700ml bottle as a Limited Seasonal Release. Targeted at premium spirit collectors and enthusiasts.
• Rifters Royalburn Single Malt Whisky Crafted from Royalburn grain and aged in ex-bourbon barrels in the Whakatipu Basin. Rich, smooth, and complex with notes reflecting the influence of the land and the barrel's deep, warming character. Field Report Chapter 02 is a 3-year-old Limited Release Single Cask at 46% ABV in 350ml bottles priced at $81.00. Targeted at whisky collectors and enthusiasts.
• Arrowtown Vodka Inspired by the thyme-scented Central Otago breeze, crafted from crisp glacial waters filtered through natural quartz of wild braided rivers. Delivers a soft, smooth, clean taste at 40% ABV. Priced at $48.00 per 700ml bottle. A portion of each bottle sale supports the Love Queenstown Community Fund.
• Rifters Gift Voucher Digital gift voucher available in denominations of $50, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $500, allowing recipients to choose their preferred bottle from the Rifters range. Targeted at gift purchasers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blossomed Gin limited to only 400 bottles per seasonal release
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royalburn StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyalburn Station has been growing grain for 130 years, currently run by Carlos Bagrie and Nadia Lim. They grow barley for Rifters whisky perched on the Crown Range exposed to harsh conditions. Royalburn has historical significance as one of the original farms supplying grain to Speight's Factory. This partnership provides the exceptional barley used in Rifters Royalburn Single Malt Whisky, creating a unique terroir-driven product.
• Love Queenstown Community FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA portion of each Arrowtown Vodka bottle sale goes back to the Love Queenstown Community Fund when purchased online or at the Tasting Room. This partnership supports the local community while providing a unique selling proposition for the vodka product.
• East ImperialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Imperial Yuzu Tonic is recommended as the preferred tonic for the Gin & Tonic serve on the cocktails page, suggesting a preferred partnership for serving recommendations.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify powers the Rifters online store (riftersgin.com). The company uses Shopify's e-commerce platform, analytics, and integrated marketing tools. Privacy policy explicitly states use of Shopify for online store functionality.
• Wanaka's Lavender FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiration for Blossomed Gin taken from Wanaka's Lavender Farm. Distilled with Pacific Blue Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Fresh Chamomile, Elderflower and Gorse Flower. A regional partnership providing botanical inspiration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hendrick's Gin: Globally distributed premium gin brand from William Grant & Sons. Represents the broad incumbent benchmark for craft-style gin at scale, useful for benchmarking Rifters' pricing and channel ambitions.
• Sipsmith London Dry Gin: UK craft-style gin pioneer using small-batch copper pot still methods similar to Rifters. Useful comparability around small-batch distillation heritage and copper pot technology.

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Gin: NZ craft gin producer with award-winning botanical expressions. Comparable in scale, NZ-DTC focus, and premium positioning against Rifters' gin portfolio.
• Thomson Whisky NZ: New Zealand single malt whisky and craft gin distillery. Closest direct peer for Rifters' whisky line given overlapping regional grain sourcing and small-batch premium proposition.
• Cardrona Distillery: Central Otago-based craft distillery producing single malt whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs. Closest geographic and product peer, also leveraging local provenance and aged-whisky pipeline.
• Scapegrace Distillery: New Zealand craft distillery based in Christchurch producing gin, vodka and whisky. Direct competitor in the premium NZ craft spirits category with similar DTC and wholesale play.
• Mt. Rosa Distillery: Central Otago craft spirits producer focused on gin and liqueurs with foraged local botanicals. Comparable terroir-led, premium-small-batch positioning to Rifters.

Others

• East Imperial: Premium tonic water brand recommended as Rifters' preferred G&T pairing partner. Adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSItUsTPckJ85vEOQsbKn9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/riftersgin
• Instagraminstagram.com/riftersgin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rifters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Rifters