Lighthouse Gin is, first & foremost, a New Zealand gin. Whilst the history of gin goes back to at least the mid-fifteenth century in Holl&, its true antecedents are much earlier, founded in those first experiments in the ancient & mysterious art of distilling in the presence of herbs & spices. The predominant flavour & aroma of a modern distilled dry gin will always come from juniper & coriander, but the great challenge for the distiller is to select & blend a variety of additional, exotic botanicals to impart a uniquely satisfying, balanced character to the gin. Greytown Fine Distillates is the brainchild of Neil Catherall, the company's distiller & master craftsman, & Andrew Wright, a local businessman. Their vision & drive combine with the energy & enthusiasm of distiller James Graham to form the core team responsible for bringing Lighthouse Gin to you. Lighthouse Gin is made by hand in the classic 'distilled dry gin' tradition, utilising nine botanicals in their natural state. The distillers create the gin in a 200-litre copper still, which Neil designed himself, & had specially built by local craftsmen at 2K Design in Masterton. The final formula of Lighthouse Gin must remain a secret, but the distillers believe they have achieved a distinctive & complex gin that is smooth & fresh & combines herbal, citrus, & spicy characteristics, with a subtle delicacy. The double distillation process is costly & time-consuming but results in a softer, more refined, & more approachable spirit, with each batch having its own subtle signature. To answer the question
- does this gin reach new heights? Well, from all reports coming back from the experts & connoisseurs, it does. & in the great tradition of kiwi quality & reputation, it is a worthy newcomer. Lighthouse Gin is hand crafted, hand bottled, hand labelled, & the heart cut of a small number of distillations is double distilled & combined into a batch.