Hot new gin and craft beer joint Bozo Gin & Rum Bar has just opened on Auckland’s buzzing Karangahape Road and you’re going to want to get amongst it, stat.
Taking over the hidden place behind a curtain that was once the Hallertau Tap Haus and Love Bucket previous to that, the space is inviting, homely and relaxed with speakers on the walls pumping out sick hip hop beats all night and plush sofas and booths to sink into surrounded by verdant plants and homely touches.
Step up to the bar and peruse the 45 gins (and counting) on their impressively lined shelves. For the gin connoisseurs, Bozo Gin & Rum Bar has a wide range of NZ gins such as Denzien, Roots, Lighthouse, and White Sheep Co—all made in expressive Kiwi fashion. The bar is also home to contemporary overseas numbers like Christian Drouin (sourced from apples), The Botanist (botanicals foraged from the isle of Islay), Gin Mare (Mediterranean style from Spain) and a few Japanese numbers that use sansho peppers. Get in.
Home to Aotearoa's largest and most unique rum list—with rums hailing from the Caribbean, South America, Central and North America, as well as our very own shores—not having a dabble would be quite the faux pas. Perhaps an Ableforth's 'Rumbullion' (United Kingdom) or the exquisite international blend that is Plantation 'Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum.
If you’re a beer fan, you’ll soon find the perfect craft beer to slake your thirst as they rotate through Bozo Bar’s favourite breweries. If those don’t take your fancy their impressive array of cocktails surely will with classic, gin-based and rum-based options amongst other concoctions such as UL favourite espresso martinis rounding out the list. Add to this the non-alcoholic options (Seedlip ‘gin’ anyone?) and a lovely wine list and you’ve got yourself the makings of a grand night out. Would it be Karangahape Road with any other outcome?
Should you find yourself peckish, the Saigon sharing platter is a great shout, as is their range of cheese toasties which come spiked with marmite, jalapeño, pickle or 'pizza' (with vegan options available). Other faves are the return to childhood faves of crisps and Kiwi onion dip, jetplanes and their "mi-cro-wa-vé" selection of pies and adjacent. Midnight mac 'n' cheese fix? Sorted.
The masterminds behind the new venture are Sam Cable, Emmett Vallender, Blake Stonham and Doug Gilbert who collectively have impressive credentials across the hospitality industry including some heavyweight time spent working at various Kiwi breweries. You might also recognise Sam and Emmett as winners of The Block a few years ago. With Jack Burton as bar manager, the owners wanted a place to hang out that was chill, with great drinks and an even better vibe—and so Bozo Gin & Rum Bar was born.
We think they’ve totally hit the mark, so come through and see if you agree!
For more information including opening hours, click here.
Image credit: Kole Lulu, Wono Kim.