Episode 35 – Legacy

Today we visit 1919 Distilling located in Tamaki Makarau rau, Aotearoa / New Zealand to speak with founder Soren Crabb

Soren’s early career comprised a navigator’s role with a cruise ship company, rotating 3 months on, 3 months off.

After an uneventful visit to Colorado during some well-earned leave, Soren encountered the notion of craft spirits for the first time. During the corresponding break a year later, Soren discovered that the number of distilleries, of all shapes and sizes, had ballooned from 3 to 33

With his interest piqued, and armed with a renewed sense of purpose, Soren took the decision to leave his job of 10 years, return to NZ, and embark on the epic adventure; craft spirits making.

He’s still very much a navigator at heart, plotting his course, looking ahead, at times going against the current, but always with a steady hand on the tiller.

4 years in, and the best is yet to come for one of Aotearoa's finest

Sit back, relax, and enjoy Soren describing his story and the 1919 Distilling narrative.

0:00 - Welcome -

0:42 – Show reel -

03:22 – Distillery visits are go -

10:00 – Selling the world’s smallest batch -

14:27 – Research and Development -

17:36 – Soren’s view of the 3 cash drivers -

19:47 – Darkest hour; NZ has shut down -

23:05 – Branding challenges and Distribution -

29:20 – 4 years in, biggest challenge -

34:32 – The Kiwiana range -

41:10 – Future plans -

44:36 – Plotting against the COVID tide

46:48 – Soren’s 5 tips

53:36 – Glamorous? Yeah …right…

55:07 – 10Sixty and closing remarks

 Be bold. Enjoy yourself. Let’s create a new gin narrative.

Still Magic paperback, digital and audio copies available from your favourite online stores

Additional Podcast Reference Links

1919 Distilling website

Soren Crabb contact

Host: Marcel Thompson    

@stillmagicway contact@stillmagic.net

Guest contributor: Soren Crabb

Voiceovers: Jules Brooke. 

Contact here Jules Brooke

Editor: Dave Stokes. 

Contact here Author2Audio

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