Pacific Dawn Limited is the former name of 42 BELOW Limited, a drinks manufacturing company based in downtown Auckland, New Zealand. They produce the flagship vodka 42 BELOW and the gin South Gin, as well as 420 spring water (still and sparkling mineral water) and the House Quality Vodka brand Stil Vodka.
The 42nd parallel runs through the middle of New Zealand, which happens to be where 42 Below was conceived. The water used to make the vodka comes from under an extinct volcano and gets the highest purity rating available.
42 Below used to be a little stronger than most other vodkas (84 proof). It uses a process that is closest to the grain (wheat) based vodka of Scandinavia. 42 Below is made from GE-free wheat. The alcoholic content is now reduced to meet government tax levels, so gets a lower tax hence allows it compete with other big brands. The name is supposed to refer to the southern latitude where it is produced just north of Wellington on the country's 42nd parallel and also to its 42% alcohol content.
42 Below vodka is a product which has been introduced to the USA market in 2006. It seems to be focused on the markets of New York, Los Angeles, and Austin. These test markets have seen steady growth in popularity.
42 BELOW is renowned for its unique [vodka] flavours including:
South Gin is flavoured with juniper berries, lemon, orange, coriander seeds, angelica leaves, orris, gentian root, and two New Zealand natives, kawakawa leaves and manuka berries, The gin received the ‘Grand Gold with Palm Leaves’ for 2005 at the Monde Selection in Brussels rating it as the best gin in the world.
42 BELOW Limited undertook an initial public offer of shares and warrants in 2003. The shares and warrants were quoted on the NZSX market operated by New Zealand Exchange Limited (NZX).
However, on 27 September 2006 42 BELOW said it had received a takeover offer from Bacardi Ltd at 77 cents per share, valuing the company at NZ$138 million. Bacardi said it saw 42 BELOW as a young company with long-term growth potential.
"Bacardi plans to invest heavily in the 42 Below brand portfolio and supporting infrastructure," Bacardi's president and chief executive Andreas Gembler said in a statement. The takeover was successful and 42 BELOW Limited is now a wholly owned member of the Bacardi group.
Bacardi is adamant that manufacturing will remain in New Zealand, run by the same team to retain its distinctive Kiwi spirit. "It gives a fresh perspective to the super premium and premium vodka segments and actually comes across with a very nice Kiwi irreverence flavour that's not there in the market at the moment," says Bacardi spokesperson Atul Vora.
They also produce Seven Tiki rum and Tahiti dark rum, and bottle '420' spring water, the water used to make 42 Below vodka.