You may not know the names Ralph Fitch and William Leedes, but we have a lot to thank them for.

Back in 1583, the intrepid explorers set sail on the Tyger River in search of new tastes in India and the East, and they did pretty darn alright.

Thanks to their efforts, and many who came after them, we can all enjoy a bespoke range of premium mixers, which take you back to an era when things were still made with the utmost care and craftsmanship.

Earlier this year, the Bokeh Fashion Film festival invited filmmakers to capture the spirit of Fitch & Leedes in a short film. From the entries, three were selected and given R25 000 to bring their vision to life.

Competition finalist Lamar Bonhomme started out as an actor but decided to switch to a career writing for television. During this time, Lamar wrote on various South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTAs) winning productions before making the transition into directing.

Bonhomme’s film introduces a little magic into the Fitch & Leedes story:

Durbanite Genna-Wae Webster made this charming little romp to find the perfect mixer. She really captures the beauty of two friends who don’t always agree, but somehow manage to make good things happen:

The winning video in the Fitch & Leedes and Bokeh Fashion Film competition, shot by Adam Hansen, is a perfect illustration of the fact that not everyone is an intrepid explorer, but that doesn’t mean that adventure won’t find them:

Born and raised in East London, Adam moved to Cape Town to write and direct movies and commercials. His discipline and meticulous attention to detail will ensure that Adam’s creative quest for impeccable projects is far from over, and he now has R75 000 in prize money to help him on his filmmaking journey.

Thanks to the explorers who broke new ground, we don’t have to travel to far off lands to find the perfect mixer.

Find Fitch & Leedes wherever quality beverages are sold.