South Africa’s best craft gins for 2021 – announced

South Africa’s craft gin category has been growing rapidly since the early 2010s with new gins coming onto the market almost every month. And even though expert bartenders believe that the hype will die down, the South African drinking public still has a penchant for ‘mother’s ruin’.

Now in its 3rd year, the SA Craft Gin Awards represent the first dedicated competition for South African craft gins, and have been founded to celebrate and promote the best craft gins distilled in South Africa.

The gins that entered were judged by a panel who are experts in the field:

• Roger Jorgensen: the original pioneer in the craft spirit industry in South Africa
• Jean Buckham: founder and owner of The Gin Box
• Thierry Lubala: head barman, mixologist and gin connoisseur at Sansibar at Asara Estate
• Pamela Ussher-Koen: owner of Africa Infused, a beverage consulting and training company

Roger says: “The creativity of expression in South African gins continues to pleasantly surprise us. The judging panel looked for authentic flavours that harmoniously deliver on the nose and palate. The broad range of styles did not disappoint.”

ALSO READ: Gin for beginners: all you need to know 

Food24 is a big proponent of supporting local brands, so without further ado, here are the top craft gins in South Africa:

The Double Gold award-winning gins are:

• Benedicts London Dry
• Blackwood Spirits Dry
• Blind Tiger
• Blomendahl
• Bossieveld Inspiration
• Bossieveld Mystique
• Die Droe Rooinek Dry
• Die Mas Kalahari Dry
• Die Mas Kalahari Naartjie
• Dome Lime & Bluebell Vine
• Dullstroom Birch
• Earthbound Crystal
• Ginologist Citrus
• Ginologist Floral
• Ginologist Orient
• Guardian African Gin
• Indlovu Citrus
• KMD Gin
• Mirari Celebration
• New Chapter Gin No.1
• New Chapter Gin No.2
• Nuy Gin
• Old Packhouse Dragonfruit
• Poetic Licence Northern Dry
• Roxi’s Spice
• Zenie Ramos Blueberry

The Single Gold award-winning gins are:

• 10 Oxes Black Pepper and Fig
• 10 Oxes Chocolate & Strawberry
• Autograph Signet
• Cape Fynbos Citrus
• Cape Fynbos Gin
• Chateau de la Haye Artisanal Bathtub
• Clemengold
• De Vry Die Soet Rooinek Cherry
• Die Khoi
• Die Mas Kalahari Pomegranate
• Dome Premium
• Dullstroom Cinna Gin
• Dusk Shiraz
• Earthbound Angel Breath
• FRDM Abantu Gin
• Ginifer
• Ginifer Chilli Pineapple
• Honeybush Premium
• Jin Gin Olive and Honey
• Jin Gin Tomato and Sweet pepper
• Knut Hansen
• Koba Nectarous Cardamon
• Lengana Pure African
• Malachite Fynbos Gin
• Mirari Blue Orient Spiced
• Mirari Pink Damask Rose
• Native Cara Cara Orange
• Poetic Licence Old Tom
• Primos Arandano Blueberry
• Primos Crisp Citron
• Prohibition 2.0 The Bootlegger
• Punters
• Shakas Pride
• Sugarbird Cape Fynbos
• Sugarbird Pino & Pelargonium

Best of Category winners:

London / African Dry: Ginologist Orient

Botanical / Fynbos: Bossieveld Mystique

 Fruit / Citrus: Die Mas Kalahari Naartjie

Spice: Roxi’s Spice

Aged: Poetic Licence Old Tom

Other / Contemporary: Autograph Signet