About Us

Introduction

“If you’re after a genuinely boutique experience, this distillery should top your list”, says Lonely Planet, the world’s most trusted tour guide, about Puhoi Organic Distillery in its 2019 ‘Global Distillery Tour’ publication.

The Kirichuk family, owners and operators of Puhoi-based highly innovative boutique business, are known to be New Zealand’s trailblazers in Sustainability, Product Development of Functional Foods & Beverages, Formulation of Adaptogenic All-Natural Remedies, Zero-Carbon boutique production, Enotherapeutic Infotainment, and Panoramic Cellar Door Distillery’s Venue operation.

At Puhoi Organic Distillery & Caviar House you will all you need for creating festive occasions and boutique atmosphere for yourself and your loved ones. From classy artisan unique gifts (Spirits, Caviar, Perfumes) and to bespoke private infotainment boutique all-inclusive events (Celebrations, Corporates, Team Building, Caviar Banquets, Weddings, etc.).

The use of the family’s diversified intrinsic set of qualifications, knowledge and skills, ranging from medical and engineering to business and polyglot, resulted in long list of achievements, from successful in-house Research and Development of over a hundred of artisanal products, to establishing the first and only in New Zealand Solar Powered Distillery and authentic Caviar House.

The family eco-friendly and sustainable business philosophy: “We apply the curative power of Mother Nature to bring happiness and wellbeing to people and leave only green footprints on the Planet” brought not only a well-deserved business award such as Excellence in Sustainability 2023, but also the trust and recognition of discerning customers.

OUR TEAM

The Distillery’s Intellectual Property comprised of a multitude of unique technologies, recipes and know-how, all created and developed by the Kirichuk family team. Therefore, to protect the family trade secrets, only the family members are involved in R&D and production. By now, 16 Trade Marks protecting this IP have been registered.

The business is owned and operated by three family members: husband and wife, Alex and Iryna Kirichuk, and their daughter Victoria.

YOUR PROFESSIONAL HOSTS

Alex Kirichuk

Master Distiller Alex Kirichuk has a Degree in Nuclear Power Engineering awarded in 1975 by the Odessa State Polytechnic University. The 1986 Chernobyl Disaster caused Alex to become an avid supporter of environmental sustainability. Since then, Alex has been involved in numerous eco-friendly projects. In New Zealand he has long years of experience in creation of unique equipment and technology for Food & Beverage production. Alex is our Distiller, Brewmaster, Equipment Engineer, Company Director and Caviar Expert.

Doctor Iryna Kirichuk (MD)

is a specialist in Cardiology and Sports Medicine. She graduated as a Medical Doctor with Honours from Odessa National Medical University (Ukraine) in 1984, study Iryna, in the course of this highly specialized work, developed many natural remedies for overall good health and different ailments. In New Zealand she is now using her many years of medical training to good effect in formulating a wide range of Functional Adaptogenic Beverages (Herbal Tonics & Spirits) through the use of her own method of practical application of Natural Adaptogens and Enotherapy (Science and Art of treatment with alcohol-based remedies). Doctor Iryna is the Formulator of all our recipes; she also is our primary Quality Controller & Caviar Sommelier. To read more about Dr Iryna Kirichuk (MD), visit her official website

victoria-kirichuk-director-and-owner-of-the-first-new-zealands-caviar-house-better-alternative-to-caviar-mafia-and-caviar-mania-and-skazka

Duty Manager Victoria Kirichuk

Also our Gin Distiller, PR Manager and Marriage Celebrant. Victoria is a Polyglot, speaking seven languages (including English, Mandarin Chinese, French, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish and Japanese). She is the go-to person for all the private event bookings of our panoramic Cellar Door Venue: Tastings, Corporates, Master Classes, Weddings, Birthday & Anniversary celebrations, Hen & Stag parties, etc. As the Director of New Zealand Caviar House & Caviarologist, Victoria supplies our business with the top-quality Caviar.

Our Achievements

A unique all-natural recipe range developed
Unique equipment designed and custom-made locally.
Revolutionizing technologies created, tested, and approved.
Multiple required licenses, certificates and permits obtained from Auckland Council and NZ Customs.
Turning the Distillery Grounds into a bee-friendly organic botanical garden & orchard: ground-stabilization, landscaping, medicinal plants’ cultivating, greenhouse & nursery established.
Eco-friendly 2-storey Distillery workshop built on the business part of Kirichuk family’s residential property, equipped with all the necessary modern engineering systems (gravity cooling system, 221 meters deep artesian water bore, eco-friendly septic with irrigation field, rainwater drainage system), certified commercial kitchen, Optic Fibre Internet communications, Wi-Fi, hard-surface driveway and spacious visitor parking secured by modern electric gate, CCTV, etc.
The creation of such advanced business zone on the Kirichuk family home property, with the Distillery and its own R&D laboratory, resulted in providing home occupation for the whole Kirichuk family.
Home occupation for all the members of Kirichuk family eliminates need to commute to work and sets the travel carbon footprint to zero.
Company website/online store www.spirits.net.nz designed, developed and run by the family team.
In 2016 our customer list was enriched by such distinguished customers as Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Smith & Caughey’s, Giraffe restaurant by Simon Gault, Wharekauhau Lodge, and others.
In 2018 two powerful solar systems have been integrated into Distillery’s power supply, thus making Puhoi Organic Distillery the world’s first Solar-powered Distillery.
In 2019, after the detailed inspection of the Distillery’s site, Lonely Planet’s representatives summarized their impression in the publication titled ‘Global Distillery Tour’: “If you’re after a genuinely boutique experience, this distillery should top your list”.
In 2019 all Distillery’s team members were invited by the Chinese Government to the world biggest alcohol exhibition in Guizhou, China; and received customers’ and local media acknowledgement.
All Intellectual Property (know-how, product recipes, technologies, trade secrets) protection implemented by the family team; 16 Trade Marks registered with IPONZ by the family’s own agent Victoria Kirichuk.
In 2022 the Zero Emission policy was further developed: the first full electric EV for local Zero emission delivery was purchased and two destination chargers have been installed at the Distillery’s parking.
In 2023 New Zealand’s very first Vegan Certificates for spirits were issued by NZ Vegan Society for Puhoi Organic Distillery’s range of gins.
2023 flood disaster triggered improvement of the power supply back up at the Distillery’s site: powerful LPG Generator was installed and uninterrupted power ensured.
In 2023 the panoramic Cellar Door venue (including weatherproof Crystal Pavilion Bar, Panoramic Terrace, Food Laboratory and comfortable Ladies & Gents toilets) was constructed; this way the Hospitality direction was further improved.
In 2024 New Zealand Caviar House was added to the family’s Functional Foods & Beverages platform. Thanks to this new enterprise, New Zealand has gained access to genuine Sturgeon Caviar aqua farmed in Ukraine.

Duty Manager Victoria Kirichuk on 10 Nov 2023 - Copy

Our Business & Spirits Awards, National & International

Since the ribbon-cutting ceremony in October 2015 and until now, the Distillery’s team’s accomplishments have been recognised with a number of Awards. Here they are listed in chronological order:

2016

+ Silver Winner, London International Wine & Spirits Competition (for Karven private label Dry Gin)
+ Double Gold Winner, China Wine & Spirits Awards (for Karven private label Dry Gin)
2017

+ The Best Emerging Business (Finalist), Westpac Awards
2018

+ People’s Choice Award (Winner), Westpac Awards
+ Best Artisan Spirit (Finalist), Massey University’s Artisan Food & Beverage Awards
2019

+ The Most Innovative Business (Winner), David Awards
+ Excellence in Customer Service (Finalist), Westpac Awards
+ Excellence in Innovation (Finalist), Westpac Awards
2020

+ Double Gold Winner, London Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards (for Middle Mount’s private label Whiskey Infused with New Zealand Ginseng & Manuka Honey)
2023

+ Excellence in Sustainability (Winner), 2 Degrees Auckland Business Awards

Accolades & Titles of Honour

2018: The first & only 100% Solar Powered Distillery in the World.
2019: Named by Lonely Planet as the ‘top of the list boutique distillery worldwide’.
2023: The first business in Auckland, New Zealand to be awarded Excellence in Sustainability.
2024: The first and only New Zealand Caviar House established by Kirichuk family Caviar experts & Sommeliers, supplying New Zealand with fine quality Caviar.

Puhoi Organic Distillery & Caviar House follows ‘Zero Dollars spent on advertising’ philosophy. Our products and services speak for themselves, and by now most of our new customers discover us by the ‘word of mouth’ through the praise they hear about us from their family and friends. The numerous media publications, TV & Radio programmes featuring and praising our family business (listed below) are the result of the genuine interest of the journalists, their respective authors, who discovered us through the word of mouth.

Media release

Honorable mentions - VIDEO

Excellence in Sustainability Award 2023 for Puhoi Organic Distillery by Auckland Business Chamber NZ