Patsy Bass – Founder of Reefton Distilling Co. & Little Biddy Spirits.

Born in Reefton and although her family moved away while she was a young child they came back at every opportunity so still feels like she grew up there.  Almost 20 years ago she bought a bach in Reefton, and in 2016 began to wonder what life would be like if she made the full-time move to Reefton. With the closure of mines & mills, Patsy was keen to see what she could do to create a business to help revitalise Reefton, after exploring many ideas the distillery took flight.

The support of the town and people in Reefton has played no small part in their success. In just under 2 years they had set-up a thriving business, created jobs local people with flow on effects for other businesses.

Today, Little Biddy Gin is the fastest growing gin in New Zealand and has won many national and international awards over the years. The most recent release, Little Biddy Amber, achieving a Gold Medal at the prestigious 2025 San Francisco Spirit Awards (along with their Classic sku!)

Light, floral and super refreshing—perfect for a toast to World Gin Day!

Ingredients:

· 45ml gin (London Dry or botanical)

· 15ml elderflower liqueur (like St-Germain)

· 20ml fresh lime juice · 10ml sugar syrup (optional, to taste)

· Soda water

· Fresh cucumber slices & mint for garnish

Method:

1. Muddle 2 cucumber slices in a shaker.

2. Add gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and syrup.

3. Shake with ice and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.

4. Top with soda water.

5. Garnish with cucumber ribbon and a sprig of mint.

Winter in New Zealand calls for two things: something warm in your glass and something hearty in your bowl—so why not combine the two? Our Mulled Wine Beef Chili is like your favourite cozy jumper in food form. It’s spicy, rich, a little bit boozy, and totally soul-soothing. We’ve taken a classic chili and given it a cheeky winter twist with bold red wine and warming mulled spices. Trust us—your tastebuds (and your toes) will thank you.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey

• 1 can crushed tomatoes

• 1 can kidney beans

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup red wine

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Brown meat with onion and garlic. Drain fat.

2. Add tomatoes, beans, wine, and spices.

3. Simmer for 30–45 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.