Last Light Rum is an authentic Kiwi rum distillery tucked away in a humble West Auckland shed. Born from hand-built stills and tireless experimentation, it crafts solera-aged, pot-still, and cask-strength rums using traditional techniques and local volcanic molasses.
Last Light Rum began life in a modest tin shed on Auckland’s Te Atatū Peninsula, where Jonathon Price’s passion for home distilling, starting with a DIY 50 litre keg still, evolved into a full scale operation by 2023. With unyielding commitment to experimentation and craft, Jonathon and his founding team built larger pot and column stills from repurposed IBC containers, all handcrafted on site. This established an authentic, grassroots distillery rooted in Kiwi ingenuity.
What distinguishes Last Light is its embrace of the solera system, a maturation method more commonly seen in sherry or port, housed in tiers of American and French oak barrels previously used for New Zealand wines. This fractional aging approach ensures each batch maintains consistent complexity while allowing flavours to deepen naturally over time.
The distillery’s early acclaim was swift. In 2022, Last Light claimed top honours at the New Zealand Spirit Awards and captured multiple medals at The Rumbles, positioning it as a leader in New Zealand’s boutique rum renaissance. Today, Last Light stands as a pioneer and exemplar, combining artisanal storytelling, traditional systems, and visionary craft to redefine what Kiwi rum can be.
