Toni Cuenca on Pexels Top 10 Gin Tasting Distilleries in Cape Town
Worldwide, gin is making a comeback. And Cape Town is one of the leading trendsetters in the white spirit world. Local brewers are experimenting with unique gins infused with indigenous flora such as rooibos and fynbos. You won’t find anything quite like it anywhere else in the world. We’ve got the list of top Gin Tasting Cape Town distillers that’s put a “local is lekker” spin on the ancient spirit.
#1 Woodstock Gin Co. | 399 Albert road | Woodstock
Situated in the vibey artistic neighbourhood, The Woodstock Gin Co. operates their distillery from the Salt River Arcade. Some of their ingredients include Rooibos, Honeybush, Buchu, Juniper berries, Cardamom, and Lime. Their flair for indigenous herb infused gins will challenge your preconceived ideas about what gin should taste like. They also produce their own tonics, with herbs and lemon grass.
Tasting times: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00 | Saturday 09:00 – 16:00
Contact to schedule a tasting
Visit woodstockginco.co.za for more information
#2 Pienaar and Son Distilling Company | 1 Roeland Terrace | CBD
Situated close to the parliament buildings in town, this inner-city distiller produces two memorable gins. They are perfect to impress a gin lover. The one is a typical dry London-style gin, made from South African maize. The other is infused with Oriental flavours including orange peel, ginger, mandarin, vanilla, and allspice.
Tasting times: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00 | Saturday 10:00 – 14:00
Contact to schedule a tasting
Visit pienaarandson.co.za for more information
#3 Musgrave | 7 Hopkins Street | Salt River
If you like spicy flavours, this distillery is the ideal place to stop for a gin tasting. They have a strong focus on using indigenous plants such as cardamom, and African ginger. It’s named in remembrance of the owner Simone Musgrave’s grandfather. He travelled to Cape Town via ship in 1949, seeking to build a new life for himself and his family. In honour of his adventurous spirit, they create unique gins, including a pink gin which is infused with rose water.
Tasting times: Saturday 12:00 – 16:00. Special tastings one Wednesday per month. (Contact for more details)
Contact to schedule a tasting
Visit musgravegin.co.za for more information
#4 Hope on Hopkins | 7 Hopkins Street | Salt River
You can create a whole gin tour in the Salt River area! This one shares the premises with Musgrave Gin. They love focusing on citrus notes in their gins, infused with blood orange. The distillery is known for its quirky labels, designed by Lorraine Loots, a local artist who specializes in miniature art. It’s called Paintings for Ants.
Tasting times: Saturday 12:00 – 16:00. Special tastings one Wednesday per month. (Contact for more details)
Contact to schedule a tasting
Visit hopeonhopkins.co.za for more information
#5 New Harbour Distillery | Firgrove Industrial Park Unit 4, 5 Firgrove way | Macassar
This innovative carbon neutral micro-distillery uses state-of-the-art experimental techniques to create unique handcrafted gins. All of their by-products are reused by local farmers as fertiliser. And then these same farmers supply fresh botanicals to the distillery. They have rooibos-infused gin, as well as a unique Spekboom/iGwanitsha gin. If you’re not a big gin fan, but your partner is, not to fear. They also produce vodka.
They have an exciting Make Your Own Gin workshop that you can attend. Check their website for upcoming workshop times.
Visit www.newharbourdistillery.co.za for more information
Related:Top 5 Places to Grab a Cocktail at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
#6 Deep South Distillery | 53 Heron Park, Wildevoëlvlei Road | Kommetjie
South of Oukaapse weg (Old Cape Road) and towards Cape Point Nature Reserve, lies the area Capetonians fondly dubbed “the Deep South”. The fynbos-clad mountains are the inspiration for this distillery. They pride themselves in being an artisanal distillery, producing small batches of premium spirits. It’s a hands-on process, with meticulous attention to detail.
Tasting times: Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 – 15:30
Contact to schedule a tasting
Visit www.deepsouthdistillery.co.za for more information
#7 Cruxland Gin | Kohler St, Southern Paarl | Paarl
Produced by the well-known KWV, you are guaranteed a high quality product. The Cruxland gin is infused with wild Kalahari truffles, creating a rich and complex flavour. The strong earthy taste is balanced perfectly by lighter juniper berries.
Tasting times: Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 16:30 | Sunday 11:00 – 16:00
Visit the Cruxland website for more information
#8 Wilderer Gin | Suid-Agter-Paarl Road | Paarl
This distillery is very hush-hush about their production process, but you can taste their bold gins and grappa’s at the Spice Route. Their smooth gin is a delicious addition to any tonic. The Wilderer range is mostly suited for the diehard gin fans, or for those interested in becoming one, it’s quite strong on the pallet.
Tasting times: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 21:00 | Sunday 10:00 – 17:00
Visit wilderer.co.za for more information
#9 Triple 3 Three | Blaauwklippen Estate, Strand Road, R44 | Stellenbosch
The gin is produced on the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. They use a traditional distilling process which involves the use of a copper pot still. The process produces a 100% juniper berry gin. It is further infused with African herbs such as buchu. The end result is a gin rich in blackberry flavours.
Tasting times: by appointment only
Visit triplethree.co.za for more information
Photo by Into the Trade
#10 Jorgensen’s Gin | Versailles Farm, Regent Street | Wellington
Another gin making good use of the local juniper berries in the area. They use berries sourced from the only juniper plantation in South Africa. The high quality ingredients can be tasted in the delicious gin they produce. It’s a delectable herbaceous spirit. Their small batch distillery process uses copper pot stills, sticking to the traditional methods.
Tasting times: by appointment only
Visit www.jd7.co.za for more information
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