[imagesource: Malachite Fynbos Gin]

There was a time when it was considered acceptable to rock up at a braai or social gathering with a bottle of regular, cheapie gin.

I won’t name a specific brand but what comes to mind is a yellow lid and a raging hangover the following day.

Then you tick over the other side of 30, your friends become wildly successful and develop sophisticated palates, and you slowly but surely up your game.

As with food, half the battle can be won on presentation alone and it’s here that I’ve found a real showstopper. Time after time, without fail, when I whip out a bottle of Malachite Fynbos Gin people comment on how beautiful the bottle is.

Capetonians know their craft gins – we should because they’re everywhere – so you really have to play out of your boots to make an impact.

But look at it – yes, it is beautiful.

Allow me to go full ‘bird nerd’ for a second and point out the malachite sunbirds on the bottle, which feed on and pollinate many of the species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest yet most diverse of the world’s six floral kingdoms.

The bottle’s green hue is inspired by the stunning plumage of the male:

Image: Dietmar Petrausch

Fun fact – malachite sunbirds are relatively common around the Western Cape in most fynbos areas so strap on your walking shoes and get out there.

You could even take a bottle of the good stuff up Chapman’s Peak if that’s your style:

 

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Let’s return to everyone ogling your bottle and the aesthetics title in the bag. Now you’re pouring a few toots for willing recipients and on that front, too, it ticks all of the boxes.

If you want to sound fancy, mention how the infused fynbos works in perfect harmony with the classic gin botanicals. You’ll taste subtle juniper mingling with hints of elderflower and chamomile, spring blooms, and delicate spice.

I don’t really bother with any of that and I still get comments regarding how damn tasty it is. Once again, the bottle laid the groundwork and the distilling masters did the rest.

Kinship Spirits, the company behind Malachite Fynbos Gin, also create the stunning Elephantom Rum, Karo Brandy, and Albatross Vodka.

Each is steeped in South African symbolism and crafted to perfection using flavours rooted in the soil of the continent’s southern tip.

No more cheap gin. No more cheap brandy. Rum with a story that doesn’t involve a pirate. Well done – you are a person of great class and refinement now.

You’ll find Kinship’s full range in most bottle shops and you can also order online.