The demand for gin doesn’t seem to show any sign of slowing down and when you combine that with the increasing demand for organics - an organic gin sounds like a remarkably good idea. Even better if that gin is organic, biodynamic and made with foraged local botanicals.
Hastings Distillers is a boutique distillery based in Hawke’s Bay focussing on quality, not quantity with their stunning limited release spirits.
This from Hastings Distillers:
Quintessence of spring captured in Blossom Parade gin
Credit: Brian Culy
A hint of warmth on newly bared arms, asparagus spears pushing up through damp earth and trees laden with cherry blossom – these are the hallmarks of a Hawke’s Bay spring.
Hastings Distillers are highly regarded for their seasonal gins and aperitifs and the Blossom Parade – a nod to the iconic spring event held in Hastings annually – is arguably the most well-loved. Lightly perfumed and refined, it’s a special gin marking the change of seasons and heralding warmer weather ahead.
For Hastings Distillers’ founders, Kate Galloway and David Ramonteu, it’s an exciting time of year, and one they acknowledge by releasing the Blossom Parade, of which only 850 bottles were produced in 2022.
“It’s a vintage-like gin – an expression of elegance,” begins Kate. “I love that its blend of local organics captures how the spring is evolving in any particular year. We’ve had a unexpectedly cold start to the season this year in Hawke’s Bay, which is suggested through the livelier and fresher notes that have revealed themselves in this year’s Blossom Parade.”
The limited-edition Blossom Parade, combining citrus, exotic flowers, orange blossom and green fruits, batch-distilled and cut to strength with Kaweka spring water, is delicious served over ice, with a dash of soda or tonic, or as the key component of a spring cocktail.
“It’s a true homage to the Hastings district, and the brief burst of pale pink we see on almost every street in the area,” says Kate. “It captures the fleeting scents of the season and signals the beginning of a new cycle of growth which ultimately leads to autumn, and to harvest.”
For Hastings Distillers, it is autumn that is the busiest period, with Kate and David plucking and picking many of their botanicals for the concise – but internationally celebrated – range of premium spirits produced. “And it has always been that way – both Kate and I have a background in wine-making and have travelled the world with our craft” says David. “I once spent 10 years of my life moving from vintage to vintage and never seeing spring, so this time is special to me.”
The Hastings Distillers Blossom Parade gin joins Hastings Distillers’ impressive line-up of award-winning spirits (the Albertine and East Block 200 gins and L’Opera aperitif) as well as other seasonal and one-off releases including Posy gin liqueur and Barrel Aged Negroni.
Available to buy now at www.hastingsdistillers.com
• Biogro certified organic
• Non-filtered or fined
• Contains no animal products
• Alc/Vol: 42%
• Vol: 500mL
RRP $85