New gin on sale in Chch today

Press, 30 October 1981, Page 2

New gin on sale in Chch today

Christchurch drinkers will be the first to sample the South Island’s own commercial gin. The managing director of Southern Grain Spirits (N.Z.), Ltd, Mr J. H. Fitzpatrick, said that the first bottles of “Coachman” gin would go on sale at the main independent outlets in Christchurch today. The company's gin and vodka distillery at Kaiapoi started production this month in a bid to break an Auckland monopoly in the white spirits trade. Comments about the gin had been favourable, said Mr Fitzpatrick, and retail prices would undercut the firm’s Auckland competition. At least 25 hotels, clubs, and cut-price liquor outlets will stock the new label. More gin deliveries will be sent to Dunedin, Invercargill, and probably Wellington next week.

The company also plans to release its first supplies of “Rebroff” vodka and a second “Gracey’s” gin next week.

“We are going as fast as we want to go at the moment,” said Mr Fitz patrick. “I think we will be’ able to give a good, constant supply to independent people in the South Island and then we will look at the North Island market.”

At present, distillery staff are working with a representative of a London distilling firm and are producing about 1200 bottles an hour. J. and W. Nicholson, of London, is providing technical expertise and recipes. Export prospects also looked bright for the company, said Mr Fitzpatrick. Sydney and Melbourne would probably be the initial overseas market.