The hidden distillery above music bar
When Duncan Otto and Chanel Stenson aren’t serving customers at Biddy Mulligans, they’re upstairs making gin.
From making the alcohol base, distilling native flavour, to bottling and labelling, the attic above the live music bar is where all the creations happen.
Nearly two years since the distillery launched its first product, the pair say they are feeling more confident after receiving good feedback from both the experts and the mass market.
Every week, 127 bottles of Piko gin are distilled at the Hood St premises. Some of those are sent downstairs and poured at the bar, but most are shipped to other bars and retailers.
Their signature Piko gin uses pikopiko fronds. The idea came when one of their mothers, who used pikopiko in her cooking, suggested the group try it as a gin botanical.
After its launch, Clark Lane Distillery has developed its first pink Piko gin and even a gin-infused jam. The drinks are now sold in nine stockists across the country.
Co-founder Otto said they developed the new products when the business signed up to showcase itself at the Auckland Gin Festival, and was concerned its single product stand would look too monotonous.
To make the pink gin, blackberries and cranberries were soaked in the Piko gin for 48 hours and strained out.
Stenson said the Piko pink gin is not as sweet as a lot of the other pink gins in the market, but has retained a dry gin flavour.
“It still has the light sweetness from the berries but it’s not overpowering.”
To make the jam, fresh berries and berries that were used to make pink gin were stirred together, which gave the jam a gin flavour, something patrons happily fork out $20 for. The business partners’ biggest surprise was seeing 200 jars of $20 jam selling out instantly at the festival.
Although some product ideas came through coincidence, Otto attributes their success to having many blind tasting sessions.
“We did blind tasting with 12 people for our Piko gin - eight of them thinks it’s the best gin. That gave us confidence to take it to the next level.”
Winning in two awards was also confidence boosting. The Piko gin has been awarded in the London Gin of the Year and Asia Spirits Challenge.