Our distilling process
How science becomes magic
154 years of knowledge
From ingredients to equipment, creating award-winning gin depends on getting everything right from the beginning.
And we get the tools right: despite cost and effort, we decided right from the start to distill in a custom-made Carl still. Carl is a family-run distillation coppersmith who’ve been in the game for 154 years, so it’s no surprise that they’re the top makers. Our 150L still produces a maximum of 62L of the finest quality gin in each batch, and by distilling in micro-batches, we can give each one the ultimate attention to detail.
Capturing unique flavours
While you’re probably familiar with the term ‘spirit’ when it comes to alcohol, we consider gin to be a ‘ghost’: it takes on the life of its ingredients during the distillation process. So, every choice matters. We use a sugar cane base spirit because it adds a natural sweetness that enhances our flavour profiles. We use only the finest botanicals and spices, incorporating local produce wherever possible to embrace the unique flavours originating in the Coromandel.
The distilling process
We’re science nerds, so for us gin distilling is an opportunity to strive for perfection - the ultimate refinement of flavours. Our distillation process has four key stages:
One: maceration
About two-thirds of our botanicals (excluding the most delicate ones) are steeped in our sugar cane base spirit for 16 hours. Maceration extracts the flavours from the botanicals.
Two: distillation
The macerated alcohol is added to our Carl still, where it is heated very slowly. Vapours rise from the pot and, as they rise up the column of the still, are refined as they pass through four plates; you can watch the distillate rise through each of the four windows on our still’s column.
Three: percolation
The more delicate botanicals including Damasc rose petals, English lavender, and citrus prefer the percolation process where they are placed into an aroma basket inside our still. Here, they pass their aromas on to the steam without being exposed to damaging heat.
Four: oxidation
Extraordinarily soft water from the Coromandel Ranges is added to reduce the distillate’s alcohol content from 92% abv to 60% abv. This is the perfect strength for the flavours to settle and combine. For us, oxidation is like a fourth dimension where magic happens and flavours become rounded.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Discover our range of quality gins, distilled in micro-batches with utmost care and attention.