DRINKS edit
KIWI CHRISTMAS IN A GLASS
Black Pineapple has come up with a definitive nod to a Kiwi summer icon. Inspired by New Zealand's Christmas tree, the limited edition Pōhutukawa Cooler Cocktail is a summery mix of premium local vodka, hibiscus flowers, fresh cherries and allspice, garnished with freeze-dried cherries and fresh rosemary. Order a kit for an intimate Christmas shindig or gift one to the cocktail connoisseur in your life. Kits start from $69 and include ingredients for four fresh cocktails, garnishes and instructions. Visit blackpineapple.co.nz.
HEY HEY WHILE THE SUN SHINES
While you can’t pick your drinks just because you like the cans, thankfully the contents of the new Hey Hey RTDs are just as appealing on the inside too. We can’t decide which is our favourite flavour: the Gin, Cloudy Pink Grapefruit & Tonic; or the Vodka, Peach, Nectarine & Soda. Both are low in sugar and contain no artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners or preservatives. An ideal picnic partner. 10 x 330ml cans, $28.99 from drinkheyhey.com.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Northland microwinery Gravel Down Wines, helmed by Laurence Brand and Rebecca Thorne, may be small but the wines it is creating are anything but. Focused on organic and sustainable viticultural practices, three wines are now part of its stable – a syrah, the Light Red and the Field Blend, made with flora, grüner veltliner, verdelho and petit manseng grapes. See graveldownwine.com.
GINNOVATIONS
If you’re looking to switch up your gin game or want something a little special to gift to the gin-lover in your life, here are two deliciously different options.
Strange Nature Gin
Waste not, want not should be Giesen’s mantra. Rather than discard the leftover alcohol extracted from Giesen’s 0% Sauvignon Blanc, it’s used for a spin on traditional gin. The alcohol tasted so good only one botanical – juniper – was added. Strange Nature Gin bears all the flavours of its sav blanc origins and is fruity, tropical, zesty and herbaceous. 700ml $84.95 from strangenaturegin.com.
Bombay Bramble
Making the most of summer berries, Bombay Bramble is a bold new dry gin made with the 100 percent natural flavour of freshly harvested blackberries and raspberries. With no sugar added, the true essence of the fruit imparts a rich vibrant character to this beloved gin brand. And the colour suits the season. 700ml $54.99 from liquor stores.