Wine and beer have always been popular choices for South Africans. After all, what’s a weekend without a delicious wine tasting, or a braai without a refreshing beer? But the subtle flavours of gin have slowly climbed up the ladder of South Africa’s favourite alcoholic beverages, sparking a host of distilleries and unique tasting experiences around the Western Cape.
If you’re looking to switch things up on the weekend, then look no further than these incredible gin experiences:
The Gin Bar
Nestled in a gorgeous nook lies the Gin Bar, a location that has a range of 118 gins from all over the world, including 52 right here from South Africa. But what’s so unique about the cocktails they serve?
Their signature G&Ts each holds a special name: Hope, Head, Heart, Ambition and Soul. But that’s not all… Each of these cocktails has a ‘cure’ for the stress and worries of life that’s perfectly blended with select ingredients. ‘Hope’ serves as a cure for pessimism, and promotes synchronicity while ‘Heart’ serves as a cure for heartache and helps with matters of love.
This is one cool place worth checking out, so whether you’re feeling ecstatic, or down under, there’s a G&T out there to set the mood!
Details:
- Location: 64A Wale St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
- Website: theginbar.co.za
The Wolf House
Located perfectly in the heart of the CBD, The Wolf House bursts with vibrant energy and this is aligned with the G&Ts that they produce.
This venue serves the classic Bombay Sapphire G&T, with Mango and Passionfruit flavours, a firm gin-lover’s favourite. If you’re looking for the perfect refresher then the Cucumber and Rosemary G&T will be ideal to suit your palate!
Details:
- Location: 62 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
- Website: thewolfhouse.co.za
Classic Cats
If you’re planning a trip to go wine tasting in Stellenbosch, make sure to stop by this local gin bar and savour the South African flavours. While you’re at it, you could check out the classic cars to add even more excitement to your day.
Located inside a vintage auto showroom, this unique bar stocks over 160 different varieties of gin made in the Western Cape, including its own exclusive Quince. This diverse range of gins also includes harder-to-find, small-batch producers like Howling Owl, Sugarbird Gin, and Monks Gin. One of the tastings that piqued our interest is the Triple Three Juniper, Citrus & African Botanicals including tonic in the ‘Featured’ option.
Details:
- Location: Vredenheim Wine Estate, R310, Stellenbosch, 7600
- Website: classic-cats.co.za/craftgintastingstellenbosch
The Willaston Bar @ The Silo Hotel
The unique blends of gin will definitely have you intrigued at this location. Some of the hot choices are the Kalahari Safari (cruxland kalahari truffle infused gin, rooibos syrup and tonic) and Rose Ginvino (musgrave rose gin, chenin blanc, lime, grapefruit, rose syrup and egg white). These concoctions certainly stimulates our curiosity, especially wondering how an egg white would pair with gin. How interesting!
But variety is the spice of life and the proof is in the pudding, so try out these unique mixtures the next time you pop around to the V&A Waterfront.
Details:
- Location: Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
- Website: theroyalportfolio.com
The Leopard’s Bar
Discover the distinctive craft gins of the Cape, paired with a trio of delicious canapés created by the Executive Chef his team. Meander through a tasting of each gin as it showcases the Cape botanicals that make each spirit so unique. Price: R425 per person (make sure to book 24 hours in advance).
If you’re searching for a deeper gin experience, there’s an amazing opportunity to learn about the interplay of botanicals that define the craft gins of the Cape. Create your own unique gin, and walk home feeling like a winner after receiving a mini-bottle of your gin at the end of the evening. The Gin Making Experience is only availabe on Friday evenings at 6pm, and will cost you R595 per person (make sure to book 24 hours in advance)
Details:
- Location: The Twelve Apostles Hotel And Spa, Victoria Rd, Oudekraal (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, 8005
- Website: 12apostleshotel.com/dining-and-drinks/the-leopard-bar
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Picture: Unsplash