South African Craft Gins

South African Craft Gins

South Africa’s craft gins are attracting enormous attention globally, thanks to the country’s diverse endemic vegetation.

South Africa’s Western Cape is home to the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of only six floristic kingdoms in the world. It is the region with the smallest yet richest vegetation per unit of area, boasting over 9,000 plant species. According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Cape Floral Region “represents less than 0.5% of the area of Africa but is home to nearly 20% of the continent’s flora”. These amazing plants have given rise to rare botanicals and unusual recipes that, when combined with the local citrus, infuses the spirit with a South African twist.

hope distillery gin range with hope african botanicals hope london dry and hope mediterranean

There are many types of gins all over the world, from traditional and spicy to fruity and floral. Now, South Africa’s Fynbos botanicals are opening a whole new category; herbaceous gins. These gins pair perfectly with a classic premium tonic or light tonic water, so that the dominant botanicals can be appreciated

We have a vast range of premium Fynbos inspired gins to choose from namely the, Hope Distillery, A Mari, Six Dogs, Autograph Gin, Wilderer, and Hobbs Gin ranges.

Fynbos botanicals work well in gin distillation because it offers many unique and complex aromas and flavours found nowhere else. During distillation, the oils contained in these botanicals form a special molecular bond with the alcohol vapour rendering the libation as truly South African.

image of buchu fynbos

There are numerous Buchu species and all have some unique quality whether black currant, citrus, ginger, garlic, etc. However, they all share a unique flavour profile which is hard to describe; a fresh, almost minty flavour, somewhat zesty, but most of all, probably one of the most quintessential flagship aromas for Fynbos. Kooigoed is another, which delivers a combination of herbal and spicy with notes of saffron and liquorice. Then there is Suurvy packing a distinct acidic sweetness with a woody, earthy character.

Fynbos has been used by South Africans for millennia for its medicinal properties, and the different Fynbos species have been found to have different flavour profiles and functions. There are many other noteworthy flavours to come out of South Africa that further contribute to its burgeoning craft gin scene and international achievements. Rooibos, African ginger, Kalahari truffles and Honeybush are to name but a few. But none have performed as well as the famed Fynbos.

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