A Haven for Aotearoa Gin
Nestled in the heart of downtown Christchurch is an exciting find: New Zealand’s only gin boutique, The Juniper Collective.
It all started in September 2021 when Ashleigh Schuyl wanted to go gin tasting. “At the time you could visit each distillery and try their products, but there was nowhere to try a range of New Zealand gins,” Ashleigh explained. After a couple of G & Ts on a fine night, Ashleigh and her husband investigated running a gin boutique. Two months later, The Juniper Collective opened its doors.
With over 200 gins sourced from across Aotearoa, there is something for everyone. Ashleigh’s team cater to gin experts and experimenters alike, offering private tasting sessions of five gins with different flavour profiles alongside matching tonics and garnishes. “There’s the classic London Dry style gins, but we also have citrus gins, floral gins, savoury gins, and sweet gins,” Ashleigh said. “I recommend tonics and garnishes that pair well with each gin, but everyone has different tastes so the main goal is to make sure everyone has a great time.”
They also offer offsite tastings for corporate functions, parties and local restaurants. Ashleigh loves working with chefs to develop a specific menu for each tasing evening. “Each drink comes out with a food pairing that matches that drink, so it’s a pretty unique experience,” Ashleigh explained.
Last year, The Juniper Collective produced their own limited-edition gin in a collaboration with local distiller, Elsewhere. Ashleigh’s favourite part of the process was foraging for the botanicals near Cave Stream with her family. The gin is a red beech colour with a savoury, peppery flavour, a nod to Ashleigh’s favourite flavour profile.
When asked what Ashleigh loves about running The Juniper Collective, she says it’s the people. “It’s fun when a customer comes in and tries different gins and I get to help them find the one they love. I also love supporting small New Zealand distilleries, working with distillers who are talented and passionate about what they do.”
For Ashleigh, this mentality extends to business partners as well, making Nick Walls from Leech & Partners a great choice for the business’s accountant and business advisor. “Nick understands us as people and as business owners. He knows how we think, how we like to operate, and he gives us great advice.”
To get The Juniper Collective off the ground in under two months, Ashleigh needed to hit the ground running. Georgia Goodman was invited to set up efficient business software, including Xero and Hubdoc, to streamline daily bookkeeping. “I really enjoyed working with Georgia,” Ashleigh said. “She helped me get things going, taught me how to use Xero and Hubdoc, and made it easy.”
“The whole team at Leech and Partners is like that,” Ashleigh said. “If you ever need to meet, Leech & Partners is always happy to chat. They take the time, they don’t rush you, and they can simplify concepts and processes if you don’t understand.”
