Happy World Gin Day, Cape {town} Etc family. It might be cold out, but we have a Whitley Neill Protea & Hibiscus cocktail recipe that’s really hot.
Sip on this:
Whitley Neill Protea & Hibiscus cocktail
- 50ml Whitley Neill Protea & Hibiscus gin
- 200ml purple tonic
- 2 lemon slices
- Edible flowers (optional)
Cocktail cultured:
Gin’s highly adaptable flavour makes it the perfect infusion for just about any cocktail. But it wasn’t always so.
Monks during the 1100s used it to make medicines by distilling sharp, fiery, alcoholic tonics, one of which was distilled from wine infused with juniper berries. As a medicinal herb, juniper had been an essential part of doctors’ kits for centuries. But its vile taste made it unpalatable until the Dutch tinkered with its flavour in the 17th century, contributing to gin’s massive growth in popularity.
For the next few centuries, new and faster ways were found to improve the distilling process, the G&T was discovered, and gin boomed. But by 1950 vodka had its moment coinciding with the invention of convenience foods and mechanical solutions like soda guns and syrup dispensers. The first pre-mix cocktail eliminated the need to juice fresh citrus or balance it with sugar. By the 1980s bar tending cocktails and gin were at an all-time low.
Then in 2009, everything changed.
The focus on juniper berries for flavour shifted incorporating more botanicals leading to the craft gin movement. Fast-forward to 2023, gin is back on top with more than 5 500 gins on the market. Global revenue in the gin segment currently amounts to US$14.82bn and is expected to grow annually by 7.71%.
Maintaining the essence:
A true gin must be made with juniper berries but thanks to the craft gin trend each producer is allowed to use their own secret formula. Combinations of botanicals used include orris, angelica and liquorice roots, lemon and orange peels, cassia bark, caraway, coriander, cardamom, anise, and fennel.
A big trend now is the demand for premium handcrafted cocktails especially among millennials. Pre-mixed and fresh cocktail recipes are moving away from artificial colourants and flavours in preference for high-quality ingredients with a natural appeal. Gin is valued for its earthy appeal and natural flavour. According to the survey conducted by the Bacardi Cultural Insights Network in 2020, gin was chosen as the top spirit among premium cocktails and other alcoholic drinks by 37% of bartenders worldwide.
So why do we celebrate World Gin Day?
Gin connoisseur Neil Houston wanted to find a way to bring the drink to more people so that they could enjoy it. He and UK blogger, Emma Stokes, a.k.a. Gin Monkey, teamed up to launch the first World Gin Day in Birmingham in 2009. Since then, the event has grown and at last count the organizers reached more than 200 million social media users and ran events in more than 30 countries worldwide.
South Africa is still yet to experience one of their events, but it’s easy to get involved. Experiment with one of Whitley Neill’s flavour variants or try all seven. We recommend Whitley Neill’s Protea & Hibiscus Gin, a handcrafted gin of exceptional quality, inspired by the wild and natural beauty of Africa’s landscape.
Flavours of the Cape:
Protea and hibiscus flavours combine to bring a distinctive floral note to create a smooth gin with a unique and remarkable taste that reflects the majestic beauty of the two flowers. Use it to make this delicious cocktail.
Happy World Gin Day!
DRINK RESPONSIBLY. NOT TO BE SOLD TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
Whitley Neill Gin is available at most leading liquor retailers and online at Takealot and Liquor Drop (www.liquordrop.co.za).
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