A drink isn’t just the liquid in the glass.

In Cape Town, ‘grabbing a drink’ is that thing you keep saying you’re going to do with a friend you haven’t seen in ages, but never actually get around to having.

Let’s be better.

A drink is a chance to catch up, to chat, to share. In the case of a tasting, it’s also a chance to have a conversation with the crafter, and share a dialogue that makes you part of an immersive experience of enjoyment coupled with learning.

Alternatively, you just really like gin and want to taste a range of the good stuff in a beautiful setting.

Enter Kinship Spirits’ Distillery in Stellenbosch and a unique gin tasting tour.

Located on Distillery Road in Stellenbosch, you’ll sip on their range of premium spirits in the presence of the Master Distiller, Matt Beech.

He’ll share the story behind every ingredient and each spirit’s taste inspiration. The award-winning gin line-up includes the beautifully bottled and much revered Malachite Fynbos Gin, as well as Autograph Gin, and Distillery Road Gin.

Here are the basics:

• Tour and tasting: R175 per person
• Tasting times: 10AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday
• To book tastings or private events, email info@kinshipspirits.co.za  

No harm in taking a look behind the curtain at how premium spirits are concocted, is there?

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Drunk Parrot Society Bar (located inside the distillery) stays open from 4PM until late.

On Thursdays, a featured DJ will be on the decks to keep the good vibes going.

You came, you tasted, you liked what you tasted, and you jolled.

Along with the superb gin range, you can also enjoy the multi-award-winning Elephantom African Dark Rum, Albatross Cape Grape Vodka, and Karo Cape Brandy XO.

The rum, triple distilled from pure fermented cane molasses in a copper pot still and aged in bourbon casks, is created in honour of a fabled lone bull elephant that roamed the Knysna forest.

Karo Cape Brandy XO, distilled in copper pot stills and matured in French oak barrels for 13 years, under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Kobus Gelderblom at Oude Molen Distillery, is also well worth sinking your teeth into.

You can read more about the Kinship range, as well as order online, via www.kinshipspirits.co.za.