A toast to tradition: Colony
When Louisa Lorenzen met Johan Hansen in the 1860s on the Otago goldfields, she had no idea their romantic story would echo through the ages.
Now, 160 years later, it’s embodied in The Proposal, a liqueur with suspended flakes of gold, symbolising the only gold Johan found, which he used to craft her wedding ring.
After leaving the goldfields, Johan, Louisa, and Johan’s brother Lars, set up a general store in Thames. Subsequent generations branched out into beekeeping while continuing a proud tradition of selling New Zealand products to locals and visitors. 
Their legacy continues at Colony, a boutique store at The Crossing in central Christchurch. It combines New Zealand gifts, art, natural skincare, mead, and liqueurs. The store is proud to honour 160 years of retail history.
With the festive season around the corner, it’s timely to support local businesses. Colony prides itself on unique gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people, while its complimentary tastings of mead and liqueurs make choosing a doddle. For those short on time, online sales are available.
With a knowledgeable team and product testers available, stop by to discover why it’s a favourite for both locals and visitors.
