L-Gin: A little Elgin spirit in every glass

A drink with a good story gives you something to talk about before the ice has begun to melt. For L-Gin, that story starts with three friends, a shared fondness for gin and the fruit growing around them in the Elgin Valley.

Launched in July 2018, this Western Cape craft gin producer draws its inspiration from its surroundings. Locally grown fruit and juniper go into small batches, while water for production comes from a natural spring in the valley. Even the oak trees lining Elgin’s farm roads helped inspire the range.

It is an appealing starting point: make something that tells people where it comes from, then give them several ways to enjoy it.

Classic provides the familiar introduction. Described by the distillery as a London dry style with juniper at its centre, it brings together lemongrass, fresh ginger, coriander and angelica root. The suggested garnish is a slice of lemon. There is something reassuring about a drinks order that does not require a shopping expedition.

For a more direct connection to the valley’s fruit, there is Lush. Granny Smith apples join local juniper, lemon peel, coriander, angelica root and fresh ginger. The producer describes it as crisp and refreshing, and suggests fresh mint with a slice of Granny Smith apple. The garnish neatly echoes what has gone into the still.

Crush takes the blueberry route, with indigenous salvia, lemon peel and African striped pepper among its supporting botanicals. L-Gin is clear that juniper still leads the flavour. Its suggested serve of fresh blueberries and mint offers another straightforward way to introduce the ingredients in the glass.

Strawberry adds a further fruit expression, combining strawberries and Elgin-grown juniper with lemon zest, coriander and pink peppercorns. Taken together, these gins offer a useful way to explore how different ingredients shape a producer’s range.

Then the story takes a turn towards oak and coffee. Plush is matured with oak after distillation, a process the makers credit with its smooth, balanced character. Rush brings organic African coffee beans into the company of juniper, orange zest, coriander and angelica root. The distillery describes the coffee contribution as subtle; it is an intriguing combination for anyone curious about what else gin can do.

For travellers keen to meet the brand on its home ground, L-Gin lists tastings and sales at the Elgin Railway Market on Oak Avenue. Its published weekend hours are 10:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays; confirm arrangements before setting off. The distillery at Valley Green Farm, 41 Viljoenshoop Road, is open by appointment only.

There are also Littles Gift Sets and On-The-Go gin in 500ml and one-litre bag-in-box formats available through the online shop.

The pleasure of discovering a local producer is having a place to connect to the bottle. With L-Gin, the fruit, juniper and oak provide plenty of conversation. Choosing which expression to start with might take a little longer.