Queenstown-based multi-award-winning distillery Broken Heart Spirits has added another trophy to its impressive haul of awards as it looks to the future with new products and a new distillery and tasting room.
It once again won Gold at the New Zealand Spirit Awards for its Original Gin – taking home the trophy for best gin in the Juniper Forward category, which most would know as a classic London Dry.
Broken Heart Spirits’ Original Gin was the first drop off the production line 13 years ago when the company started and remains one of its most successful products, winning gold medals each year since the New Zealand Spirits Awards launched in 2020. 4 Trophy’s in total for Rum, Vodka and Gin.
Master Distiller and Broken Heart Spirits founder Joerg Henkenhaf says he’s “extremely proud” that its classic gin is still winning respected awards so many years later.
The company has evolved substantially over the years and now has 12 products in its portfolio which also win prestigious international awards. In 2022 it scooped the world’s Best Pure Natural Vodka in the World’s Best Vodka Awards after being New Zealand Country Winner three years in a row.
Joerg hails from Germany and has lived in New Zealand for 24 years. Committed to sustainability, and realising how wasteful the beverage industry can be, he notched up a New Zealand ‘first’ with the launch of the country’s first fully recyclable eco-fill pouches in 2023.
Although the pouches were first available in just the Original Gin, the product proved so popular it’s now available across the range.
Most recently, Joerg and his team developed a 0% proof Botanical Spirit.
“When I first started in the industry, it never occurred to me that I’d now be producing a zero-alcohol spirit, but it’s what people are looking for,” says Joerg.
“After seeing what else was in the market, we believed there was space for a well-loved New Zealand-based distillery to create a 0% version of our Original Gin. It offers a great alternative for our loyal Broken Heart customers while also growing our audience of non-alcoholic drinkers.”
Broken Heart Spirits’ next big project will be to find new premises for purpose-built Queenstown distillery, incorporating a tasting space for people to sample the range.
“This expansion will enable us to continue to grow our product range while keeping innovation and sustainability at the heart of everything we do,” says Joerg.
“It also means we can accelerate our growth into international markets while being committed to remaining a Queenstown-based business and growing the strong reputation of New Zealand craft spirits.”
Broken Heart Spirits has partnered with PledgeMe Crowdfunding to support this growth and encourages individuals to pledge here
https://pledgeme.co.nz/investments/620
