Hokonui Moonshine Museum

The Gore District's colourful history of whiskey making and consumption is celebrated in this unique museum, located in Gore's heritage precinct. The museum opened in 2001, bringing Gore's illicit past out of the closet and preventing the story from disappearing into legend.

Walking visitors through 50 years of prohibition in the early 20th century, static displays, audio, visuals and artefacts bring to life the key events, enterprising Scottish immigrants, and other characters of the era that spawned the moonshine industry.

Find out how adventurous many local moonshiners became in the face of police opposition, and how kiwi ingenuity often foiled the Customs men.

Old Hokonui whiskey, made to the original recipe, is among a range of merchandise available to buy.