Latest news with #PaulSchneider
NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
World Gin Awards 2025: Coromandel, Arrowtown Gins crowned world's best
Gin made by a micro distillery in Thames has been named the world's best at this year's World Gin Awards in London. Coromandel Distilling Company, owned by Paul Schneider and partner Daniela Seuss, won the World's Best Matured Gin Award for their Awildian Coromandel Mānuka Gin.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Zealand Micro Distillery Shines With Old Tom Coromandel Mānuka Gin
Awildian Coromandel Gin, crafted by The Coromandel Distilling Co. in Thames, New Zealand, has been awarded "World's Best" at the World Gin Awards in London for the second time - making it the only New Zealand distillery to have achieved this level of recognition twice. In 2022, Awildian Coromandel Gin was named World's Best Classic Gin, and this year it was awarded World's Best Matured Gin at the ceremony held in London on June 4th. This latest accolade comes on the heels of a gold award at this year's esteemed Berlin International Spirits Awards. By reviving the Old Tom Gin style popular in the 18th century, Awildian Mānuka Gin is contributing to a spirited renaissance. This remarkable matured gin combines premium sugarcane alcohol with Tongan vanilla, Guatemalan cardamom, Madagascan pepper, Seville orange, fresh ginger, and sixteen additional botanicals. The result is a silky, warming spirit that is distilled in micro-batches and aged in carefully toasted Mānuka wood coated with local medicinal-grade Mānuka honey. Awildian Coromandel Gin beat out 42 countries, including Scotland's The Botanist Gin and Sweden's Hernö Gin, to claim the title of World's Best Matured Gin. The Story Behind the Success Co-owners Paul Schneider and Daniela Suess operate a small distillery in the heart of Thames, consistently performing well on the global stage with a series of prestigious awards including at the IWSC, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the World Gin Awards. In 2022, the Coromandel Distilling Company's flagship Awildian gin was named the World's Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards, marking the first time a New Zealand distillery has achieved this honor. They also won New Zealand's Best Matured Gin that year. In 2023, they were recognized for New Zealand's Best Classic, Matured, and Contemporary gins. By 2024, in their third year of entering the awards, Schneider and Suess amassed an impressive five Country Winner Golds for their Color-Changing, Classic, Matured, London Dry, and Flavored Gins. This year was their first year of entering the Berlin International Spirits Awards while Gold was again awarded for Awildian Classic as well as Mānuka at the World Gin Awards. Schneider attributes their success to their dedication to their craft: 'We are constantly working and imagining new ways to bring gin to life, but needless to say, we'll be pausing for a drink to celebrate this!' Since opening its doors in 2019, the distillery has collected over 40 awards, begun exporting to Europe and Fiji, and opened a tasting room to accommodate the growing number of curious visitors to Thames. The couple never anticipated a career in distilling gin. With five degrees between them, including a Master's and a PhD, along with years of experience in conservation and postdoctoral research, they initially pursued different paths. However, their lifelong passions formed a perfect foundation for distilling: a shared love for the natural world and a commitment to preserving the wilderness and unspoiled environments. Suess, a hobby beekeeper, began experimenting with honey by-products, particularly mead, which sparked their enthusiasm for distilling and transformed it into a full-blown passion for crafting gin. Nestled in the heart of Thames, the distillery now welcomes visitors for tastings, sales, and private tours. Behind the scenes, Suess, Schneider, and their team are busy with distilling and fulfilling orders, continually innovating with their next creations. The couple forages botanicals locally whenever possible, including those from their own distiller's garden. Schneider shares his enthusiasm for their craft: 'I still can't imagine another business that encapsulates all the facets of our lives like the distillation of gin does. That love for the wilderness and the passion for exploration and curiosity are all present. We named it Awildian because it means 'growing wild' or 'refusing to be tamed,' and we've never liked tame.' Their business model is intentionally micro, focusing on environmental responsibility with a commitment to donating 1% of their revenue to local conservation groups. They are dedicated to the long, thoughtful process of creating the perfect drop, yet they recognize the potential to scale up production in response to increasing demand.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Horror fans hooked on Prime Video series with an impressive 93% Rotten Tomatoes score - hailing it the next American Horror Story
Horror fans are hooked on a new Amazon Prime Video series with an impressive 93 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score - hailing it the next American Horror Story. Three of four seasons of anthology programme Channel Zero, first released between 2016 and 2019, have recently been uploaded to the streamer. Like beloved anthology show American Horror Story, which has run since 2011, each series has a self-contained chilling storyline. The first season, for instance, named Candle Cove, follows a child psychologist (Paul Schneider) and his mother (Fiona Shaw) investigating his brother's disappearance - mysteriously linked to a creepy children's TV show they used to watch. The programme has been popular with critics, with season one boasting a whopping 93 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes - and the second and third instalments rated a perfect 100 per cent. And fans love it just as much too, taking to Rotten Tomatoes to leave their verdicts - with some even suggesting it rivals cult horror classic American Horror Story. One said of the first series: 'Somewhere between American Horror Story and Stranger Things, Channel Zero: Candle Cove provides a meandering plot through the subtle horrors shared by children around the world. 'Relying on few jump scares or over-the-top special effects, Candle Cove still delivers spine-tingling terror. For who prefer chills to thrills, a must-watch.' Another agreed: 'One of the most chillingly effective shows on television. 'A great cast (headed by the incredible Fiona Shaw) bring to life a ghost story/murder mystery set in a small town that, of course, harbours dark secrets; a la Stephen King at his very early best. 'With its ability to evoke the 1980s without a gigantic budget and its lowkey but effectively terrifying telling, the creators of the overblown Stranger Things or the horrid American Horror Story should take note. This is how to do it.' The show was cancelled after four seasons in early 2019 by American TV channel Syfy - which some viewers could not believe. One said, after watching the final season: 'A phenomenal final chapter in the series, if not my personal favourite chapter of the bunch. 'The only downside to it is the fact that it is the last chapter... ever. Fans love the show just as much as the critics, taking to Rotten Tomatoes to leave their verdicts - with some even suggesting it rivals cult horror classic American Horror Story The show was cancelled after four seasons in early 2019 by American TV channel Syfy - which some viewers could not believe 'It is inexplicable to me how lesser properties such as American Horror Story, Slasher or Walking Dead keep getting renewed while this truly frightening disturbing and well-written series was cancelled despite near unanimous critical acclaim. 'Well, at least it went out on a high note with its small but dedicated fan base. Here's hoping it will be revisited someday.' A critic for Collider went as far as to say 'Channel Zero did what American Horror Story couldn't' in its later series. They explained: 'This is the problem with modern American Horror Story. It's such an incredibly inventive world but no matter what it focusses on, it never seems to know what it wants to achieve. 'There's no doubt that [American Horror Story co-creator] Ryan Murphy is a master of bending genes but by blending so many themes, the overall show has lost sight of what it started out as. 'In comparison, Channel Zero never lost sight of being an amalgamation of themes but it did it all while remaining truly terrifying.' Another review, for GameSpot, said it is 'one of the best horror TV shows ever': 'Channel Zero was criminally underrated in its day but has the makings of a modern cult classic.' The show was created by Nick Antosca, also known for creating 2019 TV drama The Act, about the American woman Gypsy Rose Blanchard who murdered her mother, accused of making up that Gypsy was severely ill and disabled. It takes its inspiration from an internet phenomenon known as a creepypasta - a play on the word 'copypasta', referring to a brief story or image that has become online horror legend by being widely shared by users. Channel Zero's second series, called No-End House, has a young woman and her group of friends discover the truth about a house of horrors tourist attraction. The third instalment, Butcher's Block, meanwhile, follows a young woman and her schizophrenic sister who move to a new city, haunted by a series of disappearances - which the women begin to investigate. It comes after fans of rival streaming platform Netflix raved about an 'uncomfortable' supernatural horror movie that made their 'skin crawl'. Blockbuster Truth Or Dare was first released back in 2018 but was heavily edited to cut out some of the gore and tone it down to make it suitable for a PG 13 rating in America. It has since grown a huge fan base and is available to stream on Netflix for UK viewers, in an 'extended version'. 'Dark fears and sinister forces collide when friends play a twisted game of Truth Or Dare in this extended version of the Blumhouse thriller,' the synopsis reads. Starring Pretty Little Liars Lucy Hale, Teen Wolf actor Tyler Posey and Violett Beane, amongst others, the supernatural horror film is listed on Netflix UK as Blumhouse's Truth or Dare: Extended Director's Cut. Many fans have shared their verdicts on the original movie over the years and one posted on Google reviews: 'I really liked it. It made me crawl in my skin because it was so uncomfortable to see, and a good type of frightening for me.'
Metro
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Amazon Prime Video quietly adds one of the 'best horror shows ever'
Amazon Prime Video viewers are urging everyone to binge-watch a horror TV series that 'deserved more attention.' Three of the four seasons of Channel Zero are now available to stream on the streaming platform, free for subscribers. An anthology series, the storylines for all the episodes are based on popular creepypastas (horror content posted on the internet). Channel Zero's first season was based on cartoonist and performer Kris Straub's Candle Cove. Starring Parks and Recreation's Paul Schneider and Killing Eve's Fiona Shaw, it centres on a child psychologist who returns to his hometown to determine if his brother's disappearance is connected to a bizarre children's television series. The second season follows a young woman and her group of friends as they visit a house of horrors, only to find themselves questioning whether it is a tourist attraction or something more sinister. Channel Zero's third season focuses on a young woman and her schizophrenic sister who move to a city haunted by a series of disappearances and, after suspecting that they may be connected to a baffling rumour, they must work together to discover what is preying on the city's residents. On X, viewers have hailed Channel Zero as 'one of the best horror TV shows ever made.' Among them is @soomuu_, who wrote: 'This Series is amazing. Channel Zero No-End House #AmyForsyth#ChannelZero.' @HorrorAddictX said: 'It's time we acknowledged Channel Zero as one of the best horror TV shows ever made.' Echoing their sentiment, @ZacBeThompson shared: 'So pumped for #ChannelZero's return tonight. The best horror show on television. Previous seasons have had sharp writing, incredible atmosphere and chilling visuals. Butcher's Block looks no different.' @RHStavis commented: 'Like wtf is this?! Heartbreaking. #IYKYK #channelzero But also if you don't know, don't sleep on this incredible series..' @cevangelista also added: 'CHANNEL ZERO, a horror series that deserved more attention.' Channel Zero is not the only horror TV show to have gripped Amazon Prime Video users. They are also 'hopelessly hooked' on Australian series Wolf Creek, which has flown under the radar since its initial release in 2016. More Trending A spin-off of the movie of the same name, the show follows Eve (Lucy Fry), a 19-year-old American tourist in Australia, who is targeted by the crazed serial killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt). However, she survives his attack and embarks on a mission of revenge. Both seasons of Wolf Creek, which initially aired on streamer Stan, are now available to binge-watch on Amazon Prime Video. On Google, viewers have hailed the horror as 'phenomenal' but warned it was 'not for the faint-hearted.' View More » Channel Zero is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Amazon Prime confirms iconic 90s gameshow revival with WWE legend as host MORE: Amazon Prime fans rush to binge 'incredible' thriller axed 10 years ago MORE: Clarkson's Farm fans admit true feelings about Amazon series 'going on break'
