Tales from the Top Shelf

This journey takes us into the wonderfully unconventional world of Strange Nature, where Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is transformed into a uniquely New Zealand gin. Suzie chats with Rhys about the surprising origins of the brand, the process behind creating gin from recovered wine spirit, balancing bold Sauvignon Blanc character with juniper, and building one of New Zealand’s most distinctive spirit brands. From export success to eye-catching bottle design, this episode explores innovation, flavour and the stories behind a truly different kind of gin.

This episode was first broadcast on Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air. Visit coastaccessradio.org.nz

This journey takes us to Martinborough to sit down with Lacey from Dr Beak - a distillery redefining what it means to make gin in New Zealand. What started as backyard experiments and a simple “should we make gin?” message has grown into a brand driven by curiosity, creativity and a deep connection to the land. From garden-grown botanicals to bold experiments like their umeshu and juniper-forward exploration series, we dive into how Doctor Baek is pushing boundaries while staying true to gin. Lacey shares the story behind their distinctive name, their commitment to locally sourced ingredients, and their long-term vision of creating a true single-site botanical gin. We also explore the challenges of growing your own ingredients, the resurgence of juniper in New Zealand, and what it means to build a flavour profile that reflects place, patience and experimentation.

This episode was first broadcast on Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air. Visit coastaccessradio.org.nz

This journey takes us just south of Auckland to Pōkeno, home to one of New Zealand’s most distinctive whisky distilleries. Susie speaks with Matt about the passion, patience and no-compromise philosophy behind crafting a truly local single malt. From locally sourced ingredients to their rare in-house cooperage, discover how climate, culture and innovation are shaping a uniquely New Zealand flavour profile. We explore the importance of provenance, experimentation with native woods, and what it takes to build a distillery from the ground up.

This episode was first broadcast on Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air. Visit coastaccessradio.org.nz

This journey takes us to Central Otago, where Prophecy Distilling is creating distinctive spirits inspired by landscape, curiosity and collaboration. Georgia shares the story behind the emerging distillery, formed by eight friends and family members who transformed a small kitchen experiment into an award-winning gin and vodka brand, crafted from their unique surroundings. From foraged botanicals like speargrass root and horopito to the creative vision behind their bold bottle design, discover how Prophecy Distilling blends science, storytelling and a strong sense of place. With early success at the New Zealand Spirit Awards and a passion for doing things their own way, this is a story of innovation, community and crafting something special from the Central Otago hills.

This episode was first broadcast on Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air. Visit coastaccessradio.org.nz

This journey takes us to the foothills of Mt Ruapehu, where Ruapehu Distillery is creating something truly unexpected. Founder Susan Delaney shares the story behind her Straight Up Carrot Gin, inspired by Ōhakune’s famous giant carrot and the region’s volcanic soil. From experimenting with unusual botanicals to building a distillery from the ground up, discover how bold ideas and local influence can shape a distinctive new spirit.

This episode was first broadcast on Coast Access Radio, a Community Access Media Alliance station amplifying the voices of Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Supported by NZ On Air. Visit coastaccessradio.org.nz