Gin Magazine

I’m going to start this column on a slightly soppy, personal note (don’t roll your eyes, I know you love a bit of soul-bearing). I’m lucky enough to have an amazing fiancé. In some ways our relationship has been what you might call unconventional, and it has not been without its stresses and strains, but at the end of the day – and this is each and every day – I am so thankful that I have another person with whom to share my life. He has stuck around when a lot of others would have bolted, has made the worst days bearable and the best days truly magical, and I can only hope that he feels I have enriched his life in the way he has enriched mine. Having a partner,…

The gin market in South Africa, like that of many countries before their local gin renaissance, used to be dominated by a couple of multinational-brand imports and a couple of more affordable, domestic brands. The biggest of these is Old Buck, a gin distilled by Henry, Tayler & Ries, which is part of spirits giant Distell. The second biggest is Stretton’s, which is made in Durban by Edward Snell & Co. Both are dry gins, but have recently expanded their ranges to include fruitier flavoured gins. Things began to change on the South African gin scene in 2011 with the release of Inverroche Gins, but first, let’s look at some of the things that make the country’s market so unique. Firstly, from a regulatory point of view: the minimum ABV of…

It often feels like gin competition results are announced every day, with winners proudly splashing their success across their social media platforms. With so many awards, one might ask, are there too many? Does everyone walk away with a medal? Would it make you choose one gin over another? Not all competitions are created equal. At worst, some are merely a money-making scheme for the organisers; at their best, they can reveal some of the best spirits around, scored by experienced judges. I have to admit that I have some skin in the game. I’ve been judging competitions since 2017 and now judge for the World Gin Awards, Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, and American Distilling Institute Spirits Competition. The San Francisco World Spirits Awards and International Wine and Spirits Competition are…

Renowned gin writers and judges Keli Rivers and David T. Smith are hoping to satisfy to your sweet tooth with their new cocktail book. Dessert Cocktails is a collection of 40 recipes for occasions that call for sweet liquid indulgence, whether as a grown-up alternative to dessert or a cocktail hour treat. From chocolate, caramel and coffee, to fruity flavours, to rich and creamy sippers, there is a dessert cocktail here to suit all tastes. While gin cocktails are a focus, the book also features other spirits including American and Scotch whiskies, vodka and rum. It includes classics such as the White Russian and Gin Alexander alongside original recipes including the Colorado Bulldog, Hot Apple Crumble, and a Rhubarb and Custard Old Fashioned. For the ultimate dessert treat, there are even…

Chefs and distillers have quite a lot in common in their work: they come up with recipes, combine ingredients to create complex flavour profiles, and, ultimately, create delicious things that we want to consume. Below are some examples of gins created in partnership with chefs – you may recognise some of the names! In its Voyager series, Salcombe Distilling Co. has partnered with renowned chefs and drinks creators to bring a fresh twist to its gin. The most recent addition to the series, released in April 2021, is ‘Daring’, created in partnership with chef Paul Ainsworth. It is inspired by his Cornish oyster dish, ‘A Tale of Porthilly’, which is a signature dish at his Michelin-starred Padstow restaurant Paul Ainsworth at No6. British chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White launched his Mr…

The gin industry is one of creativity, building experiences through the senses to convey stories: a place, a time, a snapshot of a moment. Creativity is the life source and collaboration fuels the fire: those sparks of chinking flint, minds working together, sparking ideas and accomplishing something that may not have occurred at otherwise. I mean, what’s more fun than creating something together? There have been some fantastic collaborations in recent years. Four Pillars is certainly deserving of a mention, launching incredible products such as Spice Trade Gin in collaboration with India’s Stranger and Sons. But this article is really focused on That Boutique-y Gin Company (TBGC), which has produced an incredible spectrum of ideas across everything from gins evoking fresh rain, to gins that are an uncanny foreshadowing of events…