A South London Nisa retailer has crafted a truly unique product, transforming trees outside his convenience store into a premium gin.
Kaual Patel, owner of Nisa Local Torridon Road in Lewisham, has partnered with Gin In A Tin, a renowned Cotswolds-based distillery, to create a limited-edition gin inspired by the bay and olive trees he planted outside his store.
The idea originated a year ago when Kaual installed a six-square-metre community mosaic outside his store, designed by local schoolchildren. Initially planning to plant trees directly into the ground, Kaual faced restrictions due to underground telecoms cables.
Undeterred, he financed the placement of three bay and two olive trees in large planters, complementing the mosaic and enhancing the area’s aesthetics. The evergreen trees not only added year-round beauty but sparked a “eureka moment” for Kaual, leading to the creation of the bespoke gin.
“I’ve seen olive used in gins before, but never bay,” Kaual explained. “After some research, I found a single bay gin and thought, why not combine both? The key was creating something significant to our store and community.”
Working with Gin In A Tin, Kaual developed three batches of gin, experimenting with varying proportions of olive and bay.
Inviting regular customers to sample the creations, the winning recipe was a perfect blend of 150 parts olive and 50 parts bay, with a touch of lemon citrus. The result, Kaual says, is a gin that “tastes phenomenal.”
Packaged in a fully recyclable metal jerry can adorned with images of bay leaves, olives, and lemons, the gin is as visually striking as it is flavourful. Retailing at £39.99 for a 50cl tin, the limited run of 200 units has already proven popular, with a quarter of the stock sold over the Christmas period.
Kaual’s trees not only provide the raw materials for his gin but also deliver a range of community benefits. The trees enhance the local environment, improving air quality and creating a Mediterranean ambiance.
They’ve been embraced by the local community, who frequently praise their aesthetic and environmental impact.
Kaual notes, “The trees capture carbon, look beautiful, and even inspire local schoolchildren to appreciate nature and sustainability.”
This gin follows the success of Kaual’s earlier venture into craft beer, Torridon Beer, released earlier in 2024. However, Kaual describes Gin In A Tin as a “more premium product” and anticipates strong demand as Christmas approaches.
“No other retailer has done anything like this,” he remarked, “and it paves the way for future innovation.”
Looking ahead, Kaual hopes to build on this success with potential future collaborations. “If it sells out, I’ll consider a summer edition with a more citrus-forward recipe. The possibilities are endless.”
Simon Hannah
