Distilled at Blaauwklippen
Triple Three Gin is distilled on the famous Blaauwklippen Wine Estate by Master Distiller, Rolf Zeitvogel in Ulrich Kothe stills. Indeed, class meets skill meets science and the result is three wonderful gins – Just Juniper berry, Citrus Infusion and, my personal favourite, African Botanicals.
The most amazing feature of gin is that it can be distilled from just about any vegetable matter and the spirit can be infused with natural flavouring provided that the dominant botanical is Juniper.
That being said, it takes a great skill to make a great gin. Anybody can prepare a meal but only a great chef can prepare something that blow the top off your taste buds. Well Triple Three Gin sent my taste buds to the moon and back.
Triple Three’s botanicals
Rolf brings his German Black Forest distilling pedigree to the part of the world with the greatest array of botanicals. He has taken buchu from the local fynbos together with Liquorice, almonds, rooibos, juniper berries, coriander seed and galangal root and artfully blended it into a gin – the result is the African Botanical.
The herbal aromas are strong on the nose and soft on the pallet with a lingering honey and liquice taste.
Natural sun-ripened oranges from the EasternCape, as well as Stellenbosch grown organic lemons lend their flavours to the fullbodied Citrus Infusion. The orange and lemon are obvious on the nose and palatte and this gin has a slightly sweet taste.
The Just Juniper Berry is a classic gin. This is the kind of gin that you want to mix with a tonic and a slice of lemon and sip mindlessly as you watch the sun set over the African veld.
We experiment with a number of different mixes. To be honest the African Botanicals is so flavoursome that I enjoyed it neat or on the rocks. The Citrus Infusion I enjoyed most with a dash of soda water and a stick of cinnamon.
Triple Three distilleries has kindly supplied these wonderful recipes. I suggest the following off their website:
The Grapefruit Sour
This gin cocktail boasts strong citrus flavours of grapefruit and lemon – creating the perfect sunshine-inspired drink to brighten up your day.
Ingredients
50ml Citrus Infusion Gin
1 grapefruit
1 large lemon
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Optional (Woolies Ruby Grapefruit)
Lemon rind roses (optional decor)
Method
Fill shaker with freshly squeezed grapefruit and lemon juice. Add your gin and simple syrup to the shaker and shake well. Strain into either a martini or whiskey glass. Add a lemon rind folded rose to a cocktail skewer and serve.
Cucumber Mint Fizz
The ultimate refresher cocktail for a warm evening, or the perfect palette cleanser between meals – featuring our African Botanicals gin.
Ingredients
50ml African Botanicals Gin
Fresh cucumber
25ml soda water
5 Fresh mint leaves
Crushed Ice
Method
Fill Shaker with ice, gin and crushed mint leaves. Shake until chilled. Strain into a glass with sliced cucumber, top up with soda and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Rasberry & Basil Smash
The evolution of a modern bar classic.
Ingredients
One Table Spoon frozen raspberries
One hand full of basil
50ml Just Juniper Berry Gin
25ml fresh lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
Method
Place basil, some raspberry and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the lemon, raspberries and basil “smashing” the ingredients. Add syrup, gin and top up with ice. Shake. Double strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish.
Find out how to drink responsibly here.
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