Our Story

Every bottle has a story,

share a story with every bottle™

Homegrown ingredients infused into each recipe – small batch and seasonal varieties.

This is the view from our deck over the back garden. You can see the veg patch, glasshouse, the lemon tree, and a few peach trees.

Storytime Spirits was born out of a love of extraordinary local ingredients and special moments spent sharing stories and a tipple with friends.

We moved to New Zealand from the US in 2018, inspired by its breathtaking landscapes, deep-rooted community values, and the wholesome, balanced lifestyle we dreamed of for our growing family. This country has a way of welcoming you and making you feel at home.

When we bought our home in Upper Hutt during the 2020 lockdown, we discovered a hidden treasure in our garden: a lush, fruit-laden orchard bursting with lemons, feijoas, black doris plums, blueberries, blood peaches, and more. It felt like that land was inviting us to create something special!

After maxing out on jam (because honestly, there’s only so much toast you can eat), we wondered if there was another way to celebrate this incredible produce. That’s when Ben discovered his passion for distilling. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession — crafting clean, smooth vodka and infusing it with fruit straight from our garden.

Ben finds joy in every part of the process — experimenting with flavours, refining techniques, and turning local ingredients into something truly special. Every bottle reflects his passion and creativity, and every sip allows you to taste New Zealand — fresh, vibrant, and unpretentiously beautiful.

Encouraged by friends and family who insisted, "You have to sell this!", we took a leap of faith.

While Ben continues to work full-time, evenings and weekends are dedicated to distilling. Angie — a stay-at-home mum and passionate volunteer at our kids’ school — keeps the business running behind the scenes, handling everything from admin to deadlines.

At Storytime Spirits, we’re proud to be 100% locally owned and operated, rooted in Kiwi values, and committed to sharing our passion for handcrafted vodka and the unique, vibrant flavours of New Zealand.

We believe the best vodka starts with extraordinary ingredients, and great stories are even better when shared.

So, grab a bottle, gather your people, and make some memories.