Gin is probably the most versatile of all the spirits and I am always excited to find new distilleries and sample their wares. The Juniper Lab Distillery has been my latest discovery and they have a range of robust gins to satisfy every taste requirement from the esteemed palate of a connoisseur to those with a desire for the unusual.
The Juniper Lab Distillery is the product of an entrepreneurial restaurateur and an academic professor. Together they have harnessed their unique skills to produce some excellent gins.
Prof. Andre, the academic, knows the necessity for thorough research, careful experimentation and critical sampling. Grant, the restauranteur, and his team have years of experience and an understanding of what diners and tipplers enjoy.
Together they have produced a delightful range of gins all worth sampling.
Located on the premises of the landmark Bridge Street Brewery, in Gqaberha, the distillery consists of four stills – two pot stills, one fractional still and a small experimental still.
Ingredients
Both Andreand Grant have a love for the Eastern Cape and so it comes as no surprise that much of what goes into the gins is sourced in the Eastern Cape. The water is drawn from a well near St Francis Bay and many of the botanicals come from the veld, farms and even the ocean of this flora rich region.
What all gins have in common is that juniper berries are always the primary botanical and the alcohol content is always 43%. What makes juniper berries special is that that they are high in vitamin C, flavonoid antioxidants, monoterpenes and coumarins, all of which offer various health benefits.
There are three other plants, all carefully selected for their complimentary flavors, and combined through Prof. Andres unique recipe to produce the classic Juniper Lab Dry Gin in the distillation process. They are Angelica Root, Coriander and Cardamom.
The result is a smooth and delicious gin ideal for an archetypal Gin and Tonic. The other gins in the Juniper Lab range are characterized by the plant for which they are named.
The Gins
Juniper Lab Distillery produces an eclectic range of gins with Prof. Andre regularly adding new recipes. Check out some of the most popular gins below.
AROMATIC CITRUS
Smooth on the palate with a fresh citrus nose. A delicious trio of grapefruit, orange and lemon with a total of eight botanicals. This is an easy drinking gin for cocktails or a classic G&T.
HONEYBUSH
One of the most popular gins from this distillery, and my personal favourite, it is a herbal based gin with an amber colour made from a total of nine botanicals. The Honeybush gives a fragrant flavour profile with herbal notes and a smooth finish.
CITRUS & SEAWEED
One of the most unusual gin recipes but it works very well. The freshness of citrus combined with seaweed gives a burst of flavour that is surprising to the palate. The seaweed (Gracilaria) is sustainably sourced from the East Coast of Africa. Gracilaria is a red, mineral and vitamin rich seaweed, used in medicinal and dietary supplementation.
MALTED CITRUS
Full bodied gin that is bold in flavour. Infused with the finest craft beer, brewed on site at the Bridge Street Brewery. It has notes of vanilla, juniper, burnt caramel and finished with a subtle craft character. The citrus is sourced from the Patensie Valley.
ROSE & BERRY
Another very popular gin with an attractive pink hue. Floral based thanks to rose petals and the berries being strawberries. A total of ten botanicals. An elegant and aromatic gin.
