December 2014 saw the inaugural launch of the new Wilding Pine soda syrup, made in collaboration by Six Barrel Soda Co and Wilding & Co.
While it may not be the flavour that immediately jumps to mind when one is thinking of a ice-cold summer beverage, the unique flavour sensation was met with shouts of excitement and unabandoned glee by many, and sold out, twice, within days.
Six Barrel Soda Co. grew from a love of classic sodas and soda fountain culture. “We make our sodas and soda syrups in our Wellington kitchen the old fashioned way from real ingredients. The colours & flavours come from the natural ingredients, we’re drink makers, not chemists” says Six Barrel owner and soda enthusiast, Michael Stewart.
The early summer buds gathered by Wilding & Co’s directors, Mike Sly and Mathurin Molgat were hand picked in Queenstown, and then brought to Wellington in a very aromatic suitcase. The skilled craftsmen at Six Barrel Soda Co. soon had the harvest of budding needles macerated, boiled down and bottled, ready to be poured and enjoyed (tall glass, plenty of ice, slice of cucumber if you don’t mind).
Due to the short season of new, sticky pine buds being available, the Wilding Pine soda was a very limited edition and is no longer on sale. However, both businesses are looking forward to collaborating again in December 2015 and producing another run of the quirky drink.