Meet the Makers: Gindulgence 2025
Published: Thursday 24 April 2025
Gindulgence, New Zealand’s Gin Festival, returns to Shed 10, Queens Wharf on Fri 2 & Sat 3 May. At this boutique experience, you’ll get to sip and sample your way through an exceptional variety of gins, each brimming with unique botanicals and stories to tell. This year, you’ll also find rum, whisky, vodka and other interesting spirits in the mix!
Meet the newest distillers who will be at this year’s event, showcasing their newest gins. Find out how both Robert and Jared started out working with other spirits before they decided to get into the vibrant world of gin, their inspirations, and what they are looking forward to at this year’s event.
Robert O’Connell from The NZ Rum Co.
How did you get into the world of gin?
I first got into distilling after spending 13 years working on yachts, travelling in and out of the Caribbean. Being in that part of the world, you get swept up in the rum culture - every island has its own spin on it, and the passion for rum is infectious. I came to really appreciate the craftsmanship and diversity behind it, that experience planted the seed and when I eventually moved home to New Zealand I decided to start distilling rum myself. Gin followed naturally - I’ve always loved it - there’s so much room for creativity with botanicals! I was contract distilling for other brands when a friend asked me to create a gin for their wedding - everyone at the wedding was raving about it, I kept hearing, “you have to make this commercial!” and I knew I was onto something - and that’s how Daydream Gin was born!
What is the inspiration behind your gin botanical of choice?
For our first release, Daydream Gin – Orchard, we wanted to create something bold, bright, and super refreshing - the kind of G&T you'd reach for on a sunny afternoon in the backyard! Citrus was always going to be the star, so we used fresh tangelo, orange, and lemon zest, with a touch of spice to bring it all together. It’s vibrant, easy-drinking, and ended up winning double gold at the NZ Spirit Awards, which was a pretty awesome nod! Our second gin, Daydream Botanic, took a different direction. We wanted to explore more of a culinary angle - something savoury and herbaceous, but still really balanced. It’s made with fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, a hint of lavender, and a little citrus to tie it all together - that garden-fresh! Across the board, we stick to traditional methods - no added flavours, colours, or sweeteners - just clean, honest distilling and pure botanicals balanced well.
What’s your favourite way of serving gin?
Call me old fashioned, but you really can’t beat a good GnT. I usually go half soda, half tonic which takes the edge off the sweetness and really lets the gin shine through. A sprig of rosemary is my go-to garnish, especially with Daydream Botanic which also makes a cracking Negroni if you're in the mood for something a bit bolder.
How do you feel about being a part of Gindulgence this year?
We’re really excited to be part of Gindulgence, especially since it’s the first big event for Daydream Gin. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our gin and share it with people who appreciate quality spirits. We’re also looking forward to catching up with other distilleries and being part of such a passionate group of creators.
Why is it important to have an event like Gindulgence for distillers like yourself?
Gindulgence is really important for local distillers because it gives us a chance to showcase our spirits to a focused audience who really appreciate quality. It’s great for people to be able to taste before they buy. Plus, for new brands like ours, it’s a great way to get noticed and start building a following.
Will you be showcasing a new gin at Gindulgence? Tell us more about it.
Yes, we’ll be showcasing Botanic, our newest gin. It’s only been around since October last year, but it’s already been a hit! It’s a beautifully balanced gin with a fresh, herbaceous character - perfect for anyone who enjoys something a bit different.
Jared Day from JD Distillery
How did you get into the world of gin?
After several successful years of crafting homebrew whiskey, I felt the need for a new challenge, and gin seemed like a great idea. One evening, after a BBQ competition, while enjoying some newly developed homebrew gin, a friend remarked that it was too good not to share and asked if I had ever considered going commercial? Well, here we are just over 2 years later.
What is the inspiration behind your gin botanical of choice?
I aimed to create a sessionable gin that could be enjoyed in various ways, catering to individual preferences. Starting with the four main gin botanicals, I experimented with additional botanicals to enhance, rather than overshadow, the primary flavor profile.
What’s your favourite way of serving gin?
I love a simple G&T. There's nothing better than a generous pour of gin with a subtle tonic water. My go to is Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic or Wild Raspberry Tonic. They’re unbeatable.
How do you feel about being a part of Gindulgence this year?
We are both excited and nervous. We love sharing our passion and can't wait to showcase our work to fellow gin enthusiasts.
Why is it important to have an event like Gindulgence for distillers like yourself?
We do not have the marketing power of the big international brands, so this gives us the opportunity to share our passion with like-minded people and showcase our hand-crafted gins to the people of New Zealand.
Will you be showcasing a new gin at Gindulgence? Tell us more about it.
We've timed the release of our new Ginger Gin to coincide with Gindulgence Auckland. This gin has a burst of orange citrus, mingled with smoked peppercorns, and a whisper of warming ginger.
