South African spirits

Spektakulärer Blick auf ein von der Sonne beschienenes Bergmassiv in Südafrika mit saftig grünen Weinfeldern davor

South African gin – exciting alternatives from the Cape

Gin and its history: If early accounts of gin are to be believed, it was already found in Italy in the 11th century. Italian monks used juniper berries as a flavoring component in high-proof distillates very early on. It was also known that the Dutch produced juniper berries in distillates for medicinal purposes in the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, gin was then used as a high-proof medicine for gallstones, stomach complaints, and gout. The Dutch administered it to soldiers during the Thirty Years' War, who naturally enjoyed this gin shot. The main ingredients of gin are primarily wheat, barley, corn, or sugar cane, from which a flavorless distillate is produced. Furthermore, juniper is, of course, always a main ingredient of gin. The addition of herbs, spices, seeds, and fruit essences is also permitted and gives gin its own character. The alcohol content of European gins must be 37.5%. The biggest gin fans are Spain, Belgium, Holland, and England. Germany ranks only 10th, in last place (2017).