Taka means taste from the Gunditjmara language from South West Victoria.
Taka Gin Co. was created for the fusion enthusiast, the thrill seeker, the culture maker. Experience a different kind, a special kind of identity, inspired by Indigenous fusion flavours from First Nations people’s botanicals.
A Family Affair
Taka is a family business with the director, a proud Aboriginal woman, Niyoka Bundle, and her husband, Manx man, Vincent Manning, as well as their son, Finlo.
The brand artwork represents the phytochemical molecular components of the flavours of Taka Gin ingredients, which was developed by Aboriginal artists Vicki Couzens, who is Niyoka’s mum, and the direct roots to the Gunditjmara people.
Graphic design and brand development was by Leon Designs, a First Nations-owned and operated creative consultant, specialising in conceptual design to bring ideas to life.
Taka is distilled by Gypsy Hub at Craft & Co in Naarm, with native botanicals sourced from Natif Super Foods and warndu.
The Journey So Far
Manufactured by award-winning distillery Gypsy Hub, the Taka recipe was formulated using Indigenous plants that are unique in taste. Testing various ingredient combinations, it was clear that native lemongrass and lemon scented gum leaf was the perfect touch.
The journey to make Taka Gin co. was inspired by the founders’ first baby and parent brand, an Indigenous-fusion catering company, Pawa Catering. During lockdown, a series of ideas and brainstorming took place — what was the next passion project? Founders Niyoka and Vincent kept coming back to their love of food and drink, and their consistent passion of showcasing First Nations people’s native foods. Through some testing, research, and experimentation, they nailed down key native plants that would really give the senses an experience, incorporating botanicals that people didn’t even know existed locally.
And so, in their home, Take Gin Co was created.