WORDS Tracy Greenwood
Craft beer has had its day; the hot new drink on the block is gin. And there are artisan distillers popping up everywhere.
MUSGRAVE GIN
We love Musgrave Pink Gin’s salmon tint. It’s a celebration of the rose, creator Simone Musgrave’s favourite scent. Signature botanicals: Cardamom, African ginger, grains of paradise, rose hips, juniper and rosewater.
R459, musgravegin.co.za
CAPE TOWN GIN & SPIRITS COMPANY
We love both the Classic Dry Gin and the Rooibos Red Gin, but we are really impressed with the rooibos variant because of its uniquely South African spin. Signature botanicals: Juniper, orange peel, cinnamon and, of course, earthy rooibos.
R349, capetowngincompany.com
HOPE ON HOPKINS
We love that this distillery produces three gins: Salt River, London Dry and Mediterranean. Signature botanicals: Buchu, kapokbos and Table Mountain spring water (Salt River Gin); citrus, rosemary and juniper (London Dry Gin); olives, rosemary, thyme, basil, cardamom, citrus and juniper (Mediterranean Gin).
R419, hopeonhopkins.co.za
WOODSTOCK GIN COMPANY
We love that this Cape distiller produces not only three gins – Inception Wine Base Gin, Inception Beer Base Gin and High Tea Gin – but also its own brand of tonic water. Signature botanicals: Jasmine, coriander, buchu, rooibos and citrus (Wine Base); juniper, lemon and lime (Beer Base); rooibos and honeybush (High Tea).
R230 each, woodstockginco.co.za
CRUXLAND GIN
We love the earthy infusion of Kalahari truffle, which gives this boutique gin a distinctly New World flavour. Signature botanicals: Juniper, rooibos, heuningbos, Kalahari truffle, coriander, aniseed, cardamom, almond and lemon.
R399, facebook.com/cruxlandgin
NEW HARBOUR DISTILLERY
We love the singularity of this distiller’s Spekboom // iGwanitsha Gin. Signature botanicals: The leaf of the spekboom tree, lavender, pine, lemon peel, juniper and coriander (Spekboom Gin); juniper, almonds and sweet orange peel (Rooibos Infused Gin).
R379, newharbourdistillery.co.za
INVERROCHE
We love Inverroche Classic Gin, which is infused with Cape fynbos flora. The small batch distillery, located in Stilbaai, produces two more variants, Verdant and Amber. Signature botanicals: Juniper, citrus, spice and fynbos (Classic); sweet citrus and liquorice (Verdant); fresh citrus, juniper and fynbos (Amber).
R299, inverroche.co.za
WILDERER GIN
We love that Wilderer Fynbos Gin is a fine representation of the nuances of the Cape Floral Region. Signature botanicals: Buchu, wild dagga, honeybush, devil’s claw.
R399, wilderer.co.za
PIENAAR & SON DISTILLING COMPANY
We love the fact Master distiller Andre Pienaar says that gin has always been a big part of his family and that these gin-makers are a father-son duo. Specialising in spirits, all of which are made from scratch, there are currently two gins on the market, Empire, an English-inspired gin and Orient, which draws on sweet and spicy Eastern flavours.
R350, pienaarandson.co.za
