Unique range of gifts at the Gore Visitor Centre
When it comes to gift giving, it often pays to look for something a little different.
Something that shows you’ve thought about it.
Something unique.
Well, let me introduce you to Renatta Hardy at the Gore Visitor Centre.
Renatta has the wonderful title of Tourism/Visitor Centre Senior Consultant, but leading up to Christmas she felt like Mary McRae back in the prohibition days, peddling moonshine to the good people passing through her establishment.
From whisky-infused chocolates, the newly extended five-strong range of Hokonui Moonshine, newly re-designed fishing caps or Gavin Thomson-designed GoreNZ Maruawai T-Shirts, there is certainly plenty of options for the discerning buyer.
The full range is available at gorevisitorcentre.co.nz and Renatta is hardpressed to pick out just one hot-seller.
‘‘We can’t keep up with the demand for our Moonshine Whisky Liqueur Chocolates.
‘‘We sell them as fast as Jude Taylor can make them,’’ Hardy said.
Just reading the label does the selling. Whisky Liqueur Chocolates with smooth milk chocolates centres, the warmth of whisky covered in rich dark chocolate. You had me at warmth!
Thomson’s design influence is a wonderful addition to the giftware range.
The local Maori carver’s inspiration comes from his tupuna (ancestors) and his pounamu take pride of place on the Centre’s shelves and his t-shirt design has sold exceptionally well, retailed exclusively through the Gore Visitor Centre.
But let’s be fair, it’s all about the Moonshine.
The Great Sequah and Moffitt’s Original Firewater are the latest additions to the range.
The latter’s story adorns the walls of the Moonshiner Museum and it’s worth re-telling here.
The year is 1940 and the former Criterion Building in the main street of Gore housed a well-known fish shop and restaurant, run by one Dick Nobilo, known as ’Dick the Greek’, even though he was actually Croatian.
Gore had experienced 37 years of Prohibition and with the resulting absence of liquor outlets, some brave shopkeepers provided a ’sly grogging’ service dispensing both legitimate and ’moonshine’ alcohol illegally from their premises.
Mr Nobilo’s forte was whisky disguised within parcels of fish and chips.
A brilliant combination and a was well for Nobilo until a disastrous fire in his building which ultimately revealed a stash of six dozen half bottles of whisky behind a false wall in his kitchen.
This revelation was greeted with surprise, (and more than a little delight,) by volunteer fire-fighters who made off with a considerable number of bottles before Police arrived, and arrested Nobilo for supplying liquor in a no-licence district.
It is understood the incriminating evidence eventually confiscated by Police was a mere fraction of Nobilo’s original stash.
Now, 80 years on, his Original Firewater is immortalised and sold all above board.
If you’re on the hunt for a unique gift for that special someone, give the gift of Gore with a trip to the Gore Visitor Centre in-person or online. And tell them Dick Nobilo sent you.
‘‘We can’t keep up with the demand for our Moonshine Whisky Liqueur Chocolates. ‘‘We sell them as fast as Jude Taylor can make them.’’
Tourism/Vicitor Centre Senior Consultant Renatta Hardy.