Today I’m talking to Sarah Bonoma from Dancing Sands Gin in Golden Bay, Aotearoa, New Zealand. This is the second in a series of special edition features showcasing New Zealand suppliers and producers to celebrate the launch of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise’s 2022 Made with Care campaign in Australia. A global initiative designed to raise awareness of New Zealand’s superlative produce, Made with Care shines a light on thoughtfully created and ethically manufactured food and beverages the country is famous for. New Zealand is recognised all over the world for its commitment to creating environmentally conscious, sustainably minded food and wine. This is not a sponsored or remunerated piece, but when I was asked if I was interested in something a little adjacent to Conversation with a chef and I read about the campaign, I jumped at the chance.
Dancing Sands distillery is in Takaka, a tiny town at the top of the South Island and nestled between the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks and looking out over Golden Bay. It’s a stunning part of the world. The Dancing Sands name comes from the Dancing Sands Spring, one of the freshwater springs within Golden Bay’s Te Waikoropupū Springs — some of the clearest and freshest water springs in the world. Dancing Sands Gin is double distilled, and the botanicals are vapour infused before the spirit is blended with water sourced from the aquifer that feeds Dancing Sands Spring. They had me at gin made from incredible spring water, but there’s even more to the Dancing Sands story and I loved chatting to Sarah and hearing about love, moving across the world and starting a distillery.