A masterpiece from New Zealand's leading distiller

Elemental Distillers' signature product.

Alcohol content: 45%

Botanicals used

• Juniper berries (wild-harvested/from North Macedonia) *This is the only berry imported as there is almost no stable supply from New Zealand.

And these are all from New Zealand :

• Grapefruit *Golden Special* (Gisborne)
• Coriander seeds (Hawke's Bay)
• Motueka Hops (Organic/Nelson)
• Gorse flower (wild-collected/Marlborough)
• Kawakawaberries (wild-collected/Kapiti Coast)

It's rare to find a gin that makes the origins of its botanicals so visible.

Awards

Winner of the 2023 World Gin Awards ' World's Best London Dry Gin

Tasting Notes

The first aroma you notice is juniper berries , a gin signature, but this is quickly followed by refreshing citrus notes like lemon and lime, and a distinctive spice.

The moment you put it in your mouth, the rich flavor spreads all at once. It's truly complex and vibrant. As it passes through your throat, a pleasant bitterness, likely derived from the hops, lingers for a long time. The lingering finish is dominated by a hint of spice and juniper berry.

The various aromas spread out beautifully like fireworks, slowly disappearing into the night sky over time. That's the image I felt this gin evoked.

Recommended way to drink

Mixing it with tonic was popular at the local tasting room, but to fully enjoy its complex flavor, we recommend drinking it on the rocks or with soda . In winter, mixing it with hot water and honey is also good.

Expressing New Zealand through gin

In Marlborough, known as a huge wine-producing region, a new gin distillery, Elemental Distillers , and its attached restaurant are now popular spots among locals.

I visited the distillery this year and saw that the compact yet functional facility was spotless and well-maintained, suggesting the high quality of the products they produce.

When I went around to the back of the facility, I saw a number of compost piles lined up. They insist on using only New Zealand botanicals (plant-based ingredients), and when they're finished using the botanicals, they turn them into compost and sell it.

It was clear to see that "recycling" and "local production for local consumption" are not just slogans, but are something that you put into practice very seriously.

The owner of this place, Ben Leggett , who is showing us the juniper berries, was born and raised in Marlborough.

Although he comes from a city steeped in wine, it was the world of spirits that he fell in love with. After building up a reputation as a bartender in the UK, he obtained WSET Spirits Level 3 (currently the highest level in spirits) and became the only gin teacher in New Zealand . He is an extremely hard worker.

His belief is that

"All ingredients are fully traceable to where, by whom and how they were grown."

He works closely with growers who know the plants best, harvesting them at the best time of year. This is his pride and joy , "ROOTS."

He says that the distillery's goal is to take craft gin from "a drink that plays around with the combination of various ingredients" to the next level - "an expression of New Zealand through gin."

The distillery's seriousness is also evident in its attached tasting room and restaurant , "The Gin Shack," which serves Asian-inspired dishes made with plenty of spices, perfectly paired with the gin and original cocktails he creates.

A gin made using ingredients from New Zealand's natural environment and New Zealand ingredients.

This combination allows people to fully experience the charm of this region, and achieving this with gin rather than wine is groundbreaking for New Zealand as a whole.

If you are planning a wine-exploring trip to Marlborough, be sure to visit his The Gin Shack. You will discover a new charm in the wine town of Marlborough.

Roots Marlborough Dry Gin