Tales from the Top Shelf

This journey takes us to the beautiful wine village of Martinborough, where Linz Taring is writing a new chapter at Winslow Distillery - a producer with roots stretching back to 1985 and a name once borrowed from one of Saturn's icy moons. Suzie chats with Linz about the move from Wellington to Martinborough, the decision to produce their own base spirit from scratch, and how a winemaking heritage shapes everything from fermentation to flavour. From their People's Choice Award-winning Astra Gin to the seasonal Navy strength Eclipse and the Christmas-in-a-bottle Tiger Lily liqueur, we explore what it means to build a truly distinctive New Zealand distillery - one that honours its legacy while keeping an eye on the future, including whisky barrels quietly ageing in the wings.

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 Tauranga in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, where we meet Samuel from Dynamic Distilling, the creators of Dabbler's Gin. What started as lockdown experimentation between two food technologists has grown into one of New Zealand's most innovative gin brands. We explore the science behind their naturally infused flavours, the challenges of working with real fruit, and the passion for experimentation that continues to drive every bottle. From hot cross bun gin to lime and mint favourites, discover how curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to dabble have helped shape a uniquely Kiwi success story.

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 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