HONG KONG, 14 MARCH – Proof & Company is excited to announce its new partnership with Hong Kong’s multiple gold-award-winning gin, N.I.P Gin. N.I.P Rare Dry Gin is a premium craft gin made from 21 carefully selected botanicals that showcase the city’s rich heritage and diverse flavours. The brand was created to embody the “Hong Kong Spirit,” showcasing the founders’ belief that anything is possible through resilience, faith, and daring to take that giant step, even without tradition or exclusive privilege. Co-founders Nic Law and Jeremy Li have created a line of award-winning gin varieties that have received numerous prestigious accolades, including the crowning achievement of a Gold medal at the Global Gin Masters of the Drinks Business.
Our General Manager of Proof & Company Hong Kong, Adrian Chung, and Nic Law, co-founder of N.I.P Gin, discussed how the partnership came about and their vision for N.I.P.
How did the partnership between N.I.P Gin and Proof & Company come about?
Nic Law: It’s the first time that N.I.P has partnered up with a distributor since its launch, despite numerous approaches and queries over the past three years. We believe that it is important, as a new brand, for us to present the brand and tell the story by ourselves from the ground up, as we know first-hand how difficult it was to start a distillery in Hong Kong. The challenges we faced during the COVID-19 pandemic only reinforced this belief, as resources were scarce and survival was difficult.
However, as we enter a new year, we’re excited to work with Proof & Company and see what opportunities they can bring to the table. Collaborating with industry experts is a significant milestone for our brand, and we’re optimistic about the potential for a breakthrough year in 2023 and beyond.
Adrian Chung: We have always been drawn to provenance, craft, and community. We love the idea of having a local Hong Kong Gin that has all of these qualities. More than that, I really believe that we can add a lot of value to the brand. N.I.P all about getting down and dirty, involved and showing people that everyone can do great things. We are big advocates of that and we want to keep that identity. Just like us, they’re engaged in hands-on production and that’s an ideal starting point for taking them to the next level and becoming a leading brand in the region. Sometimes, it’s easy to spot a perfect fit and this is certainly one of those cases.
What is the overall vision for N.I.P Gin and how do you envision Proof & Company supporting this?
Nic Law: N.I.P, or “Not Important Persons”, is a brand that strives to inspire people to strive for the extraordinary and defy the odds, no matter their background or status. The vision of N.I.P is to show the various facets of Hong Kong, such as its culture, spirit, and ingredients, to the people of Hong Kong and, eventually, the rest of the world.
N.I.P Gin has always been in search of a distributor that can embody our brand identity, both in its local and global markets. Considering Proof & Company’s substantial exposure to both the Hong Kong and international market, especially in the Asia Pacific area, we believe they can help to take the brand to a whole new level through long-term collaboration and present the flavours of Hong Kong globally.
Adrian Chung: By joining forces with N.I.P Gin, Proof & Company Hong Kong can proudly offer our clients the first-ever local Hong Kong Gin in our collection, which is a momentous accomplishment. We have always been devoted to recognising local craftsmanship and granting our customers access to extraordinary spirits.
Fortunately, we also have established an excellent network within our community, which enables us to extend support to those in need. We are thrilled to invite NIP to join our family and be a part of this thriving network. The partnership aims to create renewed energy and excitement within the industry and to make a positive impact on the community by fostering strong relationships with like-minded partners.
Moreover, we are proud of our tight-knit network which allows us to help those in need. We are thrilled to welcome N.I.P Gin to our family and be part of this thriving community. We truly believe our partnership will spark new enthusiasm within the industry and have a positive effect on the community by fostering positive relationships with our shared vision.
Where can we expect N.I.P Gin to be distributed in the Asia Pacific?
Adrian Chung: We plan to build N.I.P Gin into a force to be reckoned with in Hong Kong. Our primary focus right now is to establish N.I.P Gin as a dominant brand in Hong Kong and to integrate it with the local drinking culture. We want to create a connection between the brand and its customers that goes beyond just drinking. Once we achieve this, we plan to expand our presence in other markets, starting with Mainland China due to its proximity and connection to Hong Kong. Drinking is always a great way to bring people together, I think that’s a good place to start.
At Proof & Company, we are committed to supporting local craft and quality products, and N.I.P Gin is no exception. Our partnership with ecoSPIRITS allows us to offer our customers a more sustainable and affordable way to enjoy N.I.P Gin. If our friends and partners want to use N.I.P Gin on ecoSPIRITS, then it’s twice the love! We believe that high quality doesn’t always come with a high price tag, and ecoSPIRITS offers a unique combination of sustainability, affordability, and excellent spirits. By providing our customers with this sustainable format, we hope to make N.I.P Gin more accessible to everyone who wants to experience its exceptional quality.
Driven by quality and dedicated to celebrating the true Hong Kong spirit, N.I.P Gin is determined to become one of the most recognised and sought-after brands in the region. You can already find N.I.P Gin in Hong Kong – and soon in other places too. Contact our Proof team to discover something truly unique and extraordinary.
ABOUT N.I.P. Distilling
Created by two “not-important-persons”, N.I.P. represents a value that the brand firmly believes in – through grit, belief and persistence, anyone can achieve their dreams and passion as long as one is willing to take that leap of faith, even in a place like Hong Kong where a conforming mindset dominates. This also lays the background for the story of their founders, who came from humble backgrounds and set out to pursue their passion in creating the first true Hong Kong spirit – their own interpretation of a gin that was truly made in Hong Kong which integrates the flavours and tradition of the city with the traditional techniques of gin distillation.
For more information, please visit N.I.P Distilling