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From its earliest origins in the Middle Ages, gin has evolved from a herbal medicine to an object of commerce in the spirits industry – and rightfully so.
Whether you’re enjoying it with tonic, on the rocks, or infused with any number of fresh fruits, there’s no denying its ability to hit the spot.
Although gin was developed based on the older Dutch liquor jenever, and became popular as a cheap-and-not-so-cheerful backstreet spirit on the streets of Great Britain (particularly in London), the drink is now being crafted in South Africa to include local ingredients and botanicals that have elevated the tipple to a whole new level of sophistication.
But with so many new brands of locally distilled and crafted gins on the South African market, where does one start? Well, a good place would be the upcoming Gin MayHem Festival taking place in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, on Saturday.
Hosted at Lapeng Hotel Conference and Events Centre, the festival is set to showcase a number of local and micro distilleries as well as well-known international producers.
Lovers of gin will also be able to enjoy a range of artisanal foods from the various food trucks and a variety of gin cocktails while also gaining knowledge from ginsmiths and mixologists about what goes into making their gin cocktails unique.
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