Little Biddy Gin Classic

Pristine rainwater and native botanicals foragedForagingPlants gathered by hand in the wild (woods, heath, coastline) rather than grown or bought in.Glossary by hand in the West Coast rainforest go into Little Biddy Classic, the core gin of Reefton Distilling Co. Bottled at 40% ABV, it is versatile and easy drinking, with a bright citrus palate and a warm spice finish. It has won gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025, platinum at the SIP Awards 2023 and gold at the New Zealand Spirits Awards 2022.

Citrus · Woody · Spicy · Herbal

Five forest plants shape its character. Toatoa brings a tannic edge and a citrus note that gives way to fresh juniper, and tarata, the native lemonwood, adds a bright, green, woody and floral citrus. Horopito, known as the New Zealand pepper tree for the hot taste of its leaves, combines with classic spices for a warm, sweet and aromatic finish. Fresh rimu, which grows in the ancient rainforest around the distillery, and Douglas fir add a strong pine resin note. The order is clear: lemony freshness first, then juniper and resin, then pepper on the finish.

The range is named after Little Biddy, a Reefton legend: a gin-toting gold prospector four feet tall who fossicked in this same rainforest. Douglas fir is not native to New Zealand, but the distillery includes it as a nod to the early settlers who, like the tree, put down roots on the West Coast. Reefton suggests the Classic neat, or with a quality tonic or soda water. A Garden GimletGimletGin with lime cordial or sweetened lime juice, served well chilled without ice. It is said to come from the Royal Navy, as a guard against scurvy.Glossary is among the cocktails the distillery features for it.

For the G&T, fill a balloon glassCopa glassA large stemmed balloon glass, popularised by the Spanish gin and tonic: it stays cold for longer and gathers the aromas above the drink.Glossary with cold ice and add 4 cl of Little Biddy Gin Classic and 10 cl of East Imperial Old World Tonic Water. Stir once gently, then add a lemon twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary and two juniper berries. The dry tonic leaves room for the native botanicals, and the lemon echoes the tarata.