A Celebration of Gin
With boutique distillers pushing the boundaries, gin enthusiasts are no longer limited to the classic London dry styles of days gone by. Today's gin disruptors are using exciting botanicals, creative varieties and riding the wave of appreciative audiences who are prepared to experiment with fresh new styles. The Gin Weekend host is charismatic New Zealander and former leading London bartender Michael "Mikey" Ball. Now a bar consultant and gin advocate, Mikey will host cocktail hours on the Friday and Saturday nights, where he will make some of the best gin cocktails to suit these new wave styles. Mikey has more than a decade of international experience and is a self-confessed gin tragic and a top communicator. He will also lead guests in a fascinating two-hour Gin Masterclass on Saturday afternoon. The session will take guests on an in-depth journey through the history of gin around the world and in New Zealand a close look at Gin and its place in our culture, its highs and lows, and how it sets itself aside from other classic spirits. Guests will discover the various styles and ways of drinking gin and taste their way through the three New Zealand gins and their botanicals. Another highlight of the weekend will be Saturday night’s dinner, where each dish of Kauri Cliffs’ Executive Chef Barry Firth’s five course tasting menu will hero a specific gin botanical.