A vodka distilled in Tauranga has been named New Zealand's best.

Blue Duck Rare Vodka came out on top of Dish Magazine's New Zealand vodka tasting panel.

In review of the gold medal winning drink, judges praised its citrus finish, no added preservatives and charitable cause, with $5 from every bottle purchased direct from their website donated to NZ Forest & Bird.

With the vodka distilled on Minden Road in Te Puna, the Western Bay district is becoming something of a hotspot for New Zealand's top beverages.

Toward the end of 2021, Te Puna-based Cider Factorie saw their Perfect Pear 2018 cider crowned the nation's Champion Cider.

Distillery owner and director Tobi Deinlein is happy with the result.

'Our family run distillery has been quietly going about its business in the Minden hills for close to 20 years,” he says.

'Though domestic sales have been hard hit, exports have grown remarkably and we've exported over 60 pallets in the last 12 months.”

Tobi says the award has extra resonance, given the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry he has worked so closely with over the years.

'It's a great pick me up during these Covid times,” says Tobi.

'A lot of the bars and restaurants that we have been personally dealing with for many years have really been hurting, sadly a number haven't made it.

'Thinking about that brings you down to earth with a thud.”

Tobi says that, above all, it is the loyal customers who he is happiest for.

'It's our loyal band of customers that we're really excited for,” says Tobi.

'Not a week goes by that we don't hear from a few telling us how much they love and rate Blue Duck.

'They're going to be really stoked by this result.”