Gin – it’s the next big thing

STAND by for the gin wave, New Zealand.

Wairarapa brothers Chris and Stewart Reid are betting that Kiwis will get into the spirit of the famous drink .

It took 50 batches, ‘‘a lot of sampling’’, and tens of thousands of dollars, but their Martinborough distillery is finally off the ground.

Reid+Reid has grown slowly since its bitter sweet beginning in 2013, when the brothers took their love for gin to the next level.

Three years on, they’ve got their own little set-up – a 200 litre custom-made copper still and small bottling line – in a shed that was once a car yard tearoom. They’re now producing about 200 bottles a month.

Reid+Reid is nestled in the heart of Wairarapa’s wine region and is one of about 10 gin distilleries throughout the country.

Gin is – according to those in the industry – on the up and up in New Zealand. Both Kiwi and international consumers are growing very fond of gin, making it a great industry to delve into.

Chris Reid said gin was ‘‘massive’’ in the US, Australia and the United States.

‘‘New Zealand still hasn’t been hit by the wave . . . but, slowly, we are seeing, in the last couple of years, a lot more trickling in.

‘‘I think, quite like the craft beer industry, craft gin and also other craft spirits will be taking off within the next two to three years.’’

However, they didn’t start the business just because gin was flavour of the month.

‘‘The reason we first started things was because we really liked gin, so it was just going ‘Hey, we think there is a trend here, we want to get on this bandwagon and do it’,’’ Reid said.

‘‘We did it because we love gin and we love making gin . . . not because of a trend, though hopefully there is a trend, because, fortunately, trends pay bills.’’

It’s a similar story for Rogue Society founders Daniel McLaughlin, Richard Bourke and Mark Neal.

McLaughlin said that although it took them a few years to get off the ground, things were now looking up.

‘‘We are coming up three years old in February. It took us about two years to get to market – it was a long ride to sell the first case.

‘‘It’s ticking along nicely now and we’ve got really good distributions.’’

The craft spirit market – including boutique gin operations – was slowly becoming more popular, McLaughlin said.

‘‘It stems from a resurgence – about 10 years ago, gin found a new popularity.

‘‘There is still massive growth in the UK and Europe with growth in the double figures and it trickled back to New Zealand and Australia and over the last few years New Zealand has been doing really well.’’

There has been a move to smaller and more boutique brands, he said.

‘‘The craft spirit market is just getting going in New Zealand . . . it’s really exciting.’’