Just when South Africans started to wonder if the modern-day gin craze is fading, the powers that control consumer trends said: “Hold My Gin!”

An exciting new independent small-batch gin distillery has opened its doors on the Cape West Coast in Port Owen, Velddrif. “Poetic License Distillery” has already made its mark in England and is now launching in South Africa – bringing its bold-flavored gins to the local market.

Gin is not a passing fad in South Africa and it doesn’t seem as if it will be ditched any time soon as the latest fashionable drink of choice. It is still a huge trend in the UK, and here in SA, we have exploded onto the market with exciting variations of this alcoholic beverage that has been around for centuries.

Here’s to the Wild Spirits

The Poetic License gins, which include Northern Dry, Old Tom, Strawberries & Cream, and Fireside Spiced Gin, are botanical-heavy to make sure the flavors come through undiluted – with hand-crushed “wild” botanicals making the distilling process a true craft.

In addition to the regular range of gins, Russell Foster, owner of Poetic License Distillery South Africa, says that the distillery will be producing limited batches of gin “rarities” on occasions. “In the UK Poetic License periodically produces a new batch of limited release gins liqueurs in a unique flavor, with only 1000 bottles available. These usually sell out within a week due to tremendous demand and no further batches are ever produced in that same flavor. At Poetic License Distillery South Africa, we will also produce rarities using the unique botanicals found in this diverse country.”

Foster, who also has various other business interests in the area – including a craft brewery, two restaurants, a luxury boutique hotel and is currently busy with the construction of a new medical centre in Velddrif, which will open on April 2020 – advises that the distillery team will be made up of Renaldo Fourie, the Head Distiller, assisted by Wilhelmina Fourie as Junior Distiller. The front of the house will be managed by Thys Stander with a staff complement of six workings in the bar and retail sections. Richard Laing will head things up at Poetic License as the General Manager.

Head Distiller, Renaldo Fourie, who spent time in England at the UK based Poetic License Distillery in order to learn the ropes, explains that he fell in love with the process of distilling during his years at an agricultural school in Jan Kempdorp, and was soon distilling anything that had the potential to yield alcohol. He followed this with his BSc from Stellenbosch University with a focus on Specialised Oenology. After graduating he worked at Gentleman Spirits (Triple Three distillery) in Stellenbosch before taking up a position as a Distillation Technologist for Distell. During his time with Distell Fourie completed his Diploma in Distilling through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, and was a content author for the Brandy module for the IBD. He is currently busy with my Master’s degree in Distilling through the IBD.

Fourie says that South Africa’s gins can compete on the global stage, with Poetic License standing tall amongst them. The Poetic License gins offer a flavourful, bold, fragrant and balanced gin.”

Did Someone Say Gin Cocktails?

The double-story distillery with its covered verandah is situated in the beautiful waterside Marina Centre in Port Owen and will offer distillery tours, gin tastings, gin pairing experiences, a retail area with all the gins available for sale – as well as related merchandise, and a bar which will serve a huge array of gin cocktails and light snacks. For heartier meals, visitors can pop into neighboring Charlie’s Brewhouse to enjoy its extensive menu.

When visiting the distillery, Foster and Fourie recommend trying the Poetic License Strawberry and Cream Gin, perfectly mixed with Elderflower Tonic and garnished with fresh strawberries over ice – a welcome treat on a warm evening.

Poetic License is opening its doors to the public from 12 October 2019 and will be open every day seven days a week from 10 am – 10 pm. (There will be no retail sales of gin available after 19h00 weekdays or on Sundays) For more information contact +27(0)22 125 0568 (ext.3) or email [email protected]. You can also follow them on Social Media @PoeticLicenseZA.

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Explore the Cape West Coast by planning a self-drive trip or book a guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast holiday.

Find a 101+ things to see and do on the West Coast Way: Enjoy wine, craft beer, olives and Rooibos tea tastings, Weskus cuisine and braaivleis (barbecue), swing into Citrusdal with a zipline, go Cederberg bouldering, jump into natural (warm) pools, step onto cruises of lagoons and rivers, trek through nature reserves and a National Park, hop onto game drives, try the skill of archery and angling, get your adrenaline pumping with sand-boarding and quad-biking, go horse riding, learn about the San culture and Riel-dancing, do kite- and windsurfing, chill in your flip flops and do surfing, book a kayaking trip, go beach hopping, learn about bees, whales and listen to our birds in a twitcher’s paradise – all in South Africa’s wildflower reserve. For more information on the West Coast’s top places to go, road tripping, hikes, tours and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on @WestCoastWaySA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.