Source: Thorn PR
Wellington, 17 October 2022 – Award-winning Kāpiti coast distillery, the Bond Store, has created a limited-edition gin for the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden, featuring heritage roses from the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens and native kawakawa, with sales supporting the Friends Interpretation Centre located in the soon-to-be renovated Begonia House.
The Friends of the Botanic Garden have been supporting Wellington Botanic Garden for 32 years, fundraising and working to foster public interest in the gardens’ scientific, educational, and cultural work. Board member Mazz Scannell said of the project, “fundraising takes many forms, and this year we decided to branch out and add a special Friends gin to our repertoire”.
The collaboration is believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, drawing inspiration from a similar collaboration created for Kew Gardens in the UK.
Aptly named “Down the Garden Path”, the boutique gin pays homage to the Botanic Gardens, and alongside traditional botanicals, the infusion incorporates native kawakawa and rosehips specially harvested from the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens; including from a number of heritage roses, resulting in a distinctive aromatic gin that is a salute to both domestic gardens and the Rose Garden.
“Rosehip is difficult to work with – I have not used it before, so there was a lot of research and experimenting with different quantities, especially when the rosehips are all from different varieties,” says Bond Store Chief Distiller Bec Kay.
“We worked with focus groups to refine the taste until we were sure we had a gin that was head and shoulders above the competition… many in the focus group were so impressed they placed their orders ahead of the release”, added Scannell.
The label on the bottle will also holds a special meaning. “The Friends funded the ceramic stepping stones a number of years ago; the incorporation of the design as part of the label is a salute to the projects of past Friends,” says Scannell.
The launch of the limited-edition spirit was marked by a fundraising dinner held at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday, the 15th of October, where Bec Kay served up classic G&Ts incorporating the floral infusion.
“It is a limited edition, but we hope that if it is successful, we will do a different gin every year,” Bec says.
The limited-edition release will be available to order through www.thebondstore.co.nz
About the Friends of The Botanic Garden
The Friends of The Botanic Garden have supported Wellington Botanic Garden for 32 years. They raise funds, support garden projects and foster public interest in scientific, educational, cultural and recreational activities. They do this by hosting forums, curating live music events, running lectures and guided walks. You can read more about their work here https://friendsofthewellingtonbotanic.wordpress.com/
About The Bond Store
Chris Barber and Bec Kay purchased Koakoa Limoncello in 2017. Since then, they have grown the business to offer The Bond Store Kawakawa Gin, Vodka, and a new range Cocktail Collusion – bespoke, ready-made cocktails in a can. Focused on sustainable practices in their craft, they use lemons from Gisborne to create their award-winning Limoncello under the Koakoa brand and Kawakawa from the Wairarapa to make their award-winning Bond Store gin. Available at selected bottle stores, you can also purchase their products online at thebondstore.co.nz.
