The Cargo Collective runs them for groups of between three and 12 from owner Malcolm Blakey’s Brew Hall brewery/conference venue in Arthurs Point.
Following a welcome cocktail, participants choose their botanicals — "juniper and coriander seeds are the main ones and then we have about 16 to 17 other types", gin maker Andrew Boulton says.
Along with fun insights, your host guides you through the distillation process in which the botanicals’ flavours and oils are extracted.
During the process, participants can sample a gin tasting flight board and snacks.
They also get to design their own bottle label.
Once your gin’s ready you can make a gin and tonic and design a signature cocktail around it.
Everyone then leaves with their personally-crafted gin — a 500ml bottle for a single still or two 250l bottles for shared stills.
Boulton says what he likes about gin is "it has lots of different varieties and flavours, as well as coming out of anything and everything within the botanical world".
"It’s like eating different flavours of ice cream, but better."
The workshop’s $250 for a person using one still or $150 each for two people sharing a still — bookings via thecargocollective.co.nz under ‘Experiences’.
