Tales from the Top Shelf

Join host Suzie Carrig as she "travels" the country talking to passionate and knowledgeable craftspeople about their unique stories in the fascinating world of distilling. In this episode of Tales from the Top Shelf, Suzie sits down with Alice McKinley, co-founder and creative mind behind Unlikely Companions, a striking new Hawke’s Bay gin brand already making waves in the distilling world. From perfume-inspired design to daring flavour pairings like Rose & Sichuan and Sea Salt & Kelp, Alice reveals how creativity, curiosity, and Kiwi ingenuity shaped their signature spirits. Fresh off winning the NZ Spirit Guide People’s Choice Award at GinDulgence Tauranga, Alice shares the story of how the brand began, why they embraced a saturated market, and how their modern, minimalist bottle design became an instant shelf-worthy icon. Plus, get a first look at what’s next, from upcoming releases to their new tasting room in Ahuriri. Whether you’re a gin explorer or simply love a good origin story, this episode uncovers the unexpected harmony behind Unlikely Companions. Sip slow, stay curious, and enjoy this peek into one of NZ’s most exciting new distilleries.

Susie talks to Luis Cabrera from Besos about the Margarita's he's developed Join host Suzie Carrig as she "travels" the country talking to passionate and knowledgeable craftspeople about their unique stories in the fascinating world of distilling.

Susie talks to Anthony about the story of Spirits Workshop Whisky and Gins Join host Suzie Carrig as she "travels" the country talking to passionate and knowledgeable craftspeople about their unique stories in the fascinating world of distilling.

Join host Suzie Carrig as she "travels" the country talking to passionate and knowledgeable craftspeople about their unique stories in the fascinating world of distilling.

Join host Suzie Carrig as she "travels" the country talking to passionate and knowledgeable craftspeople about their unique stories in the fascinating world of distilling. This week, we travel to Humdinger Gin to catch up with Andrew.