Charles Gillet

Hailing from the depths of Southland, my humble beginnings are based in hotels. Finishing my Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management, I spent the next four years in the food and beverage side of hotels. During that period, I moved to Christchurch, and made the jump to working in both restaurants and nightclubs. Yes - at the same time. (Bah, who needs regular sleep patterns anyway, am I right?) This is also when I first started competing in cocktail competitions. Managing Bars in Sol Square precinct, I had a balance of cocktails, late nights, and an amazing hospitality scene in Christchurch circa 2009-11.  Making the jump to Auckland following the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, I worked in cocktail bars like 1885 Basement Bar and Racket & Orleans which provided a once in a lifetime experience during the Rugby world cup of that year. After having a blast in the Auckland hospitality scene, I moved back to Christchurch in 2014. 

Getting in on the ground floor of a rebuild of not only a city, but I suppose, the infrastructure of a hospitality scene, was a big motivating factor. Knowing what the hospitality scene was like before the quake, and seeing what it was on my return, one of my main goals was to be an aid in bringing the hospitality scene in 2014. A year later, I helped open the Dux Central venue, in particular, The Poplar Social Club; a speakeasy style cocktail bar hidden within Dux. A few years later, I ventured to the place where I currently am based, The Last Word Whisky & Cocktail lounge. They have a whisky range that helps you forget what time it is, grilled cheese sandwiches that are deceptively epic, and cocktails that are bite-your-bottom-lip, mmmm. 

Regularly competing in cocktail competitions since 2008, I’ve actually won a couple. (I know, right!) I’ve represented New Zealand in London and Kuala Lumpur and made it to Tales of the Cocktail, in New Orleans, off my cocktail comp success. I’m also a head Judge on the New Zealand Spirit’s Awards panel. I’m 20 years in the hospo game, with a banter that knows no bounds and a sense of humour that’s about as PC as a MacBook pro. I’m equal parts chivalry, shenanigans and alcohol alchemy. A dash of sarcasm and copious amounts of love for the industry and for Christchurch. Stirred down and served straight up. 

One love!