FIRST JOURNEYS - A RACE AROUND THE WORLD 2020 - PIN 15 OF 23
THE SOURCE GIN, Cardrona, New Zealand
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME.
PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE
Day 9...
I’ve ventured over to explore the South Island and visit the town of Cardrona, which was at the centre of the region’s gold mining industry in the 1800s. You can still visit the historic Cardrona Hotel today, which is a popular après-ski spot during winter, and the area is also great for hiking and mountain biking in the summer months.
One of New Zealand’s fastest-growing super-premium distilleries is situated in the valley and was founded by husband and wife duo Desiree and Ash Whitaker. Desiree has had a lifelong romance with whisky and, after many years of study, research and planning, they founded the distillery in 2015 to make Single Malt Whisky, Gin, Single Malt Vodka and limited-edition liqueurs.
They’ve not only sourced the very best equipment from all over the world, but also use as many locally sourced ingredients as they can, giving their spirits a very unique flavour profile.
The Source Gin includes locally foraged rosehip, juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, lemon and orange zest, and is vapour distilled into their single malt spirit. They don’t chill-filter, so you get that lovely louche when you add ice and tonic.
Upon first tasting this last year, I had to buy the bottle, as it really is exceptional. So, should you see it on your travels, don’t hesitate to acquire your own!
But I need to step back to the history of the town again and the gold rush of the 1800s. My inspiration for this cocktail comes from one of the richest mines in the Cardrona Valley during the 1860s Gold Rush.
It was the owner’s custom to shout “gin & raspberry” whenever a bucket of pay-dirt yielded an ounce of gold, and so the mine was given this rather wonderful name.
"Worth its weight in gold"
The cocktail? Well, it’s gin and muddled raspberries, strained, with a little grenadine for extra colour and sweetness, loads of crushed ice and topped with tonic water.
"Show me a bottle
and I'll tell you a story."