Article updated on January 14, 2025
Text: Marcella van Alphen
Photographs: Claire Lessiau

Gin, a spirit with a rich history dating back to the Middle-Ages, has experienced a remarkable rebirth in recent years, captivating palates with its diverse flavours and botanical blends. Let us delve into its intriguing past, explore some notable distilleries, craft our own and savour its nuances through expert tastings to learn more about this versatile drink. Join us on a journey through the world of gin in Cape Town, South Africa – world’s second largest gin producer.

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Once upon a time…

Once upon a time, in the 16^th century, a Dutch doctor invented gin by distilling juniper berries. Not so glamourous, the bitter medicinal drink called genever was used as a diuretic, and became popular for its healing properties.

It became so popular that the Dutch soldiers facing the British during the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) would boost themselves with a shot of genever, before engaging in battle. Impressed by the courage of their opponents, the British took an interest in the drink of which they began producing their own version in the U.K. They simply named it gin.

The beneficial use of gin goes further, all the way to the height of the British colonial era when the most daunting enemy under the Tropics turned out to be malaria. Quinine, a bitter substance effective against malaria (still part of today’s tonic as well as some anti-malarial pills) was mixed with sugar, lemon (for a vitamin boost to prevent scurvy), and water. The British added gin as the alcohol would make it safer to drink when en route (and probably more enjoyable!): the iconic gin and tonic was born! This concoction quickly became a favourite amongst British settlers, and is still a pillar of any proper sundowner in the African bush.

If ordering genever is reserved to very respectable men in the Netherlands, gin had also lost some of its glamour until recent years, with a choice limited to not-so-exciting mass-produced options. Thanks to a passionate few, gin has undergone a true renaissance especially in South Africa, with craft distilleries experimenting with local and peculiar flavours and broadening the scope of botanicals, and even tonics! The Cape Town area in particular has emerged as a hub for innovative gin production, boasting a diverse array of locally-sourced botanicals of fynbos from the Cape Floral Kingdom–a UNESCO World Heritage Site–with distinct flavour profiles.

Distil your own gin at the Distillers & Union [Stellenbosch & Woodstock]

To get a deeper understanding of the alchemy behind gin, a gin distilling workshop at Distillers & Union, in the Woodstock district of Cape Town is the best place to start. Here, participants are welcomed to experiment with the secrets of craft distillation, demystifying every step in the process while guided by seasoned experts. The journey begins with a meticulous exploration of different botanicals. Along with juniper, a must as without this berry the spirit cannot be called gin, participants are encouraged to incorporate popular botanicals like coriander, citrus, cucumber, and fennel but also lesser-known botanicals from Table Mountain such as buchu, wild geranium, honeybush and other local fynbos. A few drops of one specific botanical changes the whole character, and the interactions between botanicals are key to craft the sought after profile, maybe fruity or even citrusy, smooth or dry.

After trial and error and obtaining a satisfying flavour profile, every participant’s gin recipe is written down, and the colourful botanical infusions are carefully distilled in copper pots into transparent gins. The workshop climaxes as aspirant distillers bottle their handcrafted gin, and design their own sticker after tasting the end-product.

With each step of the process, from botanical selection to bottling, the workshop at Distillers & Union offers a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in the craft of gin making, stepping into the shoes of a master distiller for a few hours, and gaining a barrel of respect and understanding for the delicate creative process behind craft gins.

Travel tips:

• Make sure to book ahead at the Distiller & Union to get your try at distilling gin.
• Gin tastings of Distillers & Union gins are also an interesting option.

Hope Distillery: pioneering the gin revolution [Woodstock]

The up and coming Woodstock neighbourhood of Cape Town, with its popular Neighbourgood Market and some of world’s best restaurants is also a hotspot for gin distilleries. With no less than five distilleries in Woodstock, many of which that have been noticed and bought back by large wine and spirit groups, it is the Hope Distillery that stands as a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and passion for craftsmanship.

Founded in 2014 by the South African born and raised Lucy Beard, who left her corporate life in London behind after traveling back overland to her home country and falling in love with the drink, the Hope Distillery is Cape Town’s first small-batch craft distillery. Lucy downloaded a book about gin distilling, decided it was feasible, and after a long process of trial and error, and a lot of persistency had Hope to make it!

From humble beginnings to a flourishing enterprise, its commitment to quality and creativity has earned Hope Distillery a dedicated following among gin enthusiasts. From their popular African Botanical gin with a focus on local fynbos to the classic London Dry distilled with juniper and citrus, Lucy keeps experimenting with meticulous attention to details and continues to push the boundaries of gin production, with her Hope Limited Release Series, inspiring a new generation of distillers.

Today the Hope Distillery has become synonymous with innovation and excellence in the South African gin scene and beyond; and Hope-fully it will keep paving the way.

Travel tips:

• Tours and tastings at the Hope Distillery are by appointment only.
• Make sure to stock up at the distillery or at any good liquor store!

Craft gin tasting in style at The Twelve Apostles Hotel [Cape Peninsula]

Slightly away from town, perched between the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and the Atlantic Ocean along the dramatic Victoria Road, the illustrious Leopard Bar of The Twelve Apostles Hotel boasts an amazing view on Lion’s Head from its terrace. Inside, the ambiance is classic with dark wood and an array of wild African animals as pieces of art. This intimacy is the ideal atmosphere to enjoy an exquisite artisanal gin tasting carefully paired with some culinary delights.

The tasting kicks off with an Inverroche Amber, a gin distilled in Still Bay along the Garden Route, infused with indigenous fynbos from the Western Cape. The omnipresent sour fig, adds colour and saltiness to the characteristic gin that is paired with braai broodjie, a warm bun topped with caramelized onions.

The Clemengold gin takes the centre stage. Distilled by the above-mentioned Hope Distillery under license, it boasts citrusy notes derived from sweet mandarins sourced from the sunny Mpumalanga province of South Africa. On the nose and tasted neat, hints of cinnamon and honey come through. More botanicals open up when a bit of ice and tonic is added making this Cape Dry style gin a versatile spirit to be enjoyed neat, with ice, garnished with orange and thyme or in a cocktail. Paired with a springbok tartare, this gin captivates with its refreshing zest.

The Musgrave Pink Gin distilled in Cape Town represents the trendy pink gins. Infused with twelve rare botanicals, warm cardamom notes are followed by African ginger and subtle floral notes of rosehip. The added rosewater tonic stands out. Paired with sushi and garnished with rose petals and cucumber slices, this gin offers a harmonious balance of sharpness and smoothness at the same time.

The tasting culminates with a remarkable Six Dogs Blue from the Karoo-based Six Dogs Distillery that started off in the humble farm shed in the semi-arid landscapes of the Western Cape. Apart from a visual spectacle with its mesmerizing hue derived from the blue pea flower (Clitoria ternatea), this gin steals the show with its Karoo botanicals being distilled under vacuum and blended later for the best result. The gin turns pink only when a good-quality tonic such as Fitch & Leedes is added and seems perfect for adventurous palates.

Travel tips:

• The gin tasting experience at the Twelve Apostles Hotel is accessible for non-guests as well and bookings need to be made upfront.

The pride of Kommetjie: Deep South Distillery [Kommetjie]

Just a stone’s throw away from the famous Cape of Good Hope, lies yet another hidden gem: the Deep South Distillery. It is here in the sleepy town of Kommetjie that Steve Erlank began his gin journey when his favourite grapefruit schnapps was no longer available. After experimenting with distillation, his at first terrible moonshine evolved via a delicious grapefruit schnapps into a wide variety of award-winning spirits. Steve’s newly learnt knowledge is infused with his passion for experimentation and local sourcing. His aim for perfection and continuous experimentations with botanicals surrounding his home lead to beautiful creations.

In his tasting room next to his humble distillery with copper alembic and distillation column, the colour of the Ruby Gin, stands out amongst the neatly arranged bottles. Distilled with juniper, honeybush, citrus, and a hint of cassia, highlighted with steam-infused rose pelargonium and lavender, it is the infusion with hibiscus flowers that give its deep red colour to the gin. Slightly dry neat, it invites bold experimentation with sweet citrus or berry garnishes. Tried with a fever tree rhubarb and raspberry tonic, the spirit develops into a great party-style cocktail with a garnish of orange, mint and strawberry.

It is Steve’s multi-award-winning Cape Dry, a classic dry style gin with botanicals from the Cape Floral Kingdom that has drawn the attention of gin connoisseurs worldwide and pays tribute the best to the gorgeous Cape Peninsula. The floral botanicals can be enjoyed neat, with an ice cube to enhance its juniper flavour, as a base in a Negroni or a gin martini, or simply as a classic Gin and Tonic to best enjoy the floral notes of the fynbos.

Travel tips:

• Make sure to plan for a stop at the Deep South Distillery and book your visit of the distillery and add the generous tasting to it which comes with a wealth of information, wide variety of garnish and ideas to turn the spirit into flamboyant cocktails.
• As Steve is distilling a wide variety of other award-winning spirits as well, different tastings are available.

The welcoming spirit of Cape Town: Pienaar & Son’s innovative gins

Located at the up and coming Makers Landing at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal, just a stone’s throw away from the V&A Waterfront, Pienaar & Son is a must- stop in town for gin and cocktail enthusiasts visiting the Mother City. It is here at Pienaar and Son that science, four decades of experience in distilling, and innovation blend together into beautiful gins, vodkas, whiskies, and cocktails.

Behind the delicate spirits that have drawn the attention of locals and tourists alike is the visionary Andre Pienaar, a chemist and biologist by training, with a deep passion for distilling. Together with his father Pienaar Senior, a seasoned master distiller with over 40 years of experience in the field, they are well-established in the Cape Town gin scene. Pienaar Senior, with his extensive knowledge, has engineered and built the distilling columns through which Andre crafts their spirits.

Our tasting starts by paying homage to the British who introduced Gin & Tonic to South Africa in the first place. The Empire Gin, a vibrant, citrus-forward gin infused with cucumber and cardamom seems perfect for a G&T during these summer evenings. Each spirit has a story and the Orient Gin, evoking warming spices of winter with flavours of coriander, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom is a wink to the very origins of Cape Town during the spice trade.

Innovative as he is-using corn starch as the base for his gins-and sophisticated as his gins are, Andre likes to keep things simple. To make some of his gins more affordable, he created the Ugly Gin, with a hint of grapefruit and goji berries and the black labelled Ugly Gin containing a smoky taste of burnt orange and sage, for extra purification. Both come in a no-nonsense bottle that Pienaar & Son reuses upon return and the gin is stripped off any marketing costs and fancy label designs as it is the content that matters.

Diving deeper into their range of spirits, the Orient Gin gets even bolder when aged in an oak barrel for 12 months. Sold as Dad Gin, the characteristic spirit is best served on the rocks to enjoy all its flavours. It complements the smoother Mom Gin, clearly distilled with love, bringing out notes of toasted coconut, black sesame, watermelon seeds, and sweet vanilla.

Travel tips:

• Bookings are required. Make sure to reserve your gin tasting at Pienaar & Son to secure your spot.
• Check out the innovate perfectly mixed cocktails in little baggies. Ready to serve, they are just perfect for your own private sundowners on your next remote adventure under the African sky.

The journey ends yet continues…

As we conclude our journey through the world of gin, one thing becomes clear: gin is not just a spirit; it is an experience. From its intriguing history to the artistry of today’s craft distilleries, gin offers a captivating blend of tradition and innovation. Whether you’re a seasoned gin drinker or new to it, the world of gin invites you to explore these small-batch craft gins. Raise a glass, toast to the spirit of gin, and explore South Africa’s favourite sundowner. Cheers!

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