WORDS JO BUITENDACH
Whether you are city-bound, on safari or at the seaside, a gin and tonic is the perfect pick-me-up. While a classic G&T will always be a popular choice, why not branch out and try a flavoured or infused gin to jazz things up? Here is VISI’s pick of the bunch.
CAPE TOWN GIN ROOIBOS RED
Launched in 2015, the award-winning Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company distils and bottles locally. Its Rooibos Red gin, infused with hand-picked organic rooibos, is vibrantly red in colour, and has the distinctive taste of rooibos, as well as a rich, earthy spiced flavour. Rooibos Red goes swimmingly with a good-quality tonic – or you can serve it in a negroni with equal parts vermouth and Campari.
R299 | capetowngincompany.co.za
CAPE FYNBOS GIN CITRUS EDITION
Cape Fynbos Gin is distilled in small batches and infused with more than 30 sustainably harvested indigenous botanicals, including wild dagga, buchu and honeybush. After distillation, the peels of orange, mandarin, lemon, lime and grapefruit are steeped in the spirit for seven days. The end result is a gin with complex herbal aromas of clove, white pepper, honey and wild fynbos, with a bright medley of citrus fruit. Serve it over crushed ice with tonic and slices of lemon.
R299 | drinkcapefynbos.com
DEEP SOUTH SPICE ISLAND GIN
Deep South Distillery in Kommetjie is well known for its delicious array of concoctions that include vodka, rum and, of course, gin. Its newest offering is the exciting Deep South Spice Island Gin – an aromatic and flavourful dry gin that has been masterfully infused with a smidge of Zanzibar spices. Mix it with ginger ale – or make a gin hot toddy when the temperature drops. Deep South Distillery also offers a flirty, floral Ruby Gin, and Three Citrus Gin.
R330 | deepsouthdistillery.co.za
GINATO POMPELMO
This playful Italian gin expertly blends juniper berries from Tuscany and Umbria, grapes from northern Italy and citrus fruit from the south. The crisp, summery, grapefruit-flavoured spirit is dusky-pink in colour, and promises a nose of tangy grapefruit aromas, combined with a fruity sweetness and a hint of citrus. Pompelmo is best served in a classic G&T with tonic water, ice and a fruit garnish. Ginato is also available in Limonato, Clementino and Melograno (pomegranate) flavours.
R330 | cutlerdrinks.co.za
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