The Story

 

South Gin is made by the people behind 42 Below Vodka, in New Zealand, just north of Wellington. Founded by Geoff Ross, in 2001, it took 2 years to create the 1st batch of South Gin, a fresh Gin with roots firmly planted in the south pacific.

The water used to make 42 Below Vodka and South Gin is extremely pure, with low mineral content – this volcanic spring water brings a clean and slightly sweet flavour to their alcohols. South Gin is packaged in a tall and slim clear glass bottle, a perfect counterpoint to most other Gin bottles which tend to being shorter and fatter! It will look pretty on any drinks shelf…

The Gin

In South Gin you will find 9 botanicals…

• Tuscan Junpier Berries
• North African Coriander Seeds
• Spanish Orris Root
• Icelandic Angelica
• Sweet Orange
• Lemon Peel
• Gentian Root
• Manuka Berries
• Kawakawa Leaves

The last 2 are native New Zealand botanicals. Manuka is a tree bush with medicincal properties. Manuka berries have a minty spiciness which adds to this Gin. Kawakawa means ‘very sour’ in Maori and is part of the pepper tree family.

Undoubtedly one of the freshest Gins I’ve tried, less juniper than more traditional London dry gins. It’s smooth with distinctive lemon and citrus with a hint of spice and apple flavourings. South Gin is bottled at 40.2% ABV so it’s relatively light.

The Recipe

A simple cocktail here using elderflower…

Elderflower Gin Cocktail

• South Gin
• Elderflower Cordial
• 1 Lime, cut into wedges
• Soda Water

Fill a highball glass with ice, squeeze in the wedges of lime, ad Gin & cordial and top with soda.

I bought our bottle of South Gin some time ago in O’Briens, however they don’t appear to stock it anymore. So I need to do some research on any stockists here. The Drink Shop online store was listed as a stockist and while I can see the Gin there it shows as ‘currently unavailable’. Should I find it available anywhere I’ll update this post.

 

http://www.southgin.com/