Giniper Citrus and Fynbos gin
EXCEPTIONAL! Rich, smooth and boldly aromatic. This delicious fynbos gin from Incendo Distillery is the perfect mix of tradition, innovation and hard work. Juniper Berries are the quintessential ingredient in Gin and this is celebrated! A complex gin which balance piney juniper with 11 other botanicals. A light and bright Citrus & Fynbos Gin. The fragrant Cape Snowbush and African Wormwood supply the herbaceous fynbos flavours. The bold but elusive Bergamot Orange provides the citrus notes. Cassia Bark, Angelica Root and other traditional botanicals completes the gin.
Multi-Award Winning Gin
Locally Giniper won a Double Gold Medal and was consequently awarded as Best in the Fynbos Gin Category at the SA Craft Gin Awards 2020. One of the top 4 gins out of 125 entries! Internationally it performed exceptional on the London Spirit Awards competition (2021). This competition has an all encompassing evaluation of a product based on price, branding and quality/flavour. Incendo’s Giniper gin was the best scoring South African product at the competition. With a final score of 87/100 securing a Silver medal. Giniper citrus and fynbos gin continues to impress… 2022 International wine and spirits competition honored it with a score of 90, bringing home yet another Silver Spirit award.
Main Flavours and Botanicals Used
Juniper Berries
The cones from the Juniper conifer is called a Juniper Berry, as a result of it’s berry-like appearance. A taste you’ll certainly not forget. It’s the primary flavourant of gin and it’s very strong. So what does it taste like? Juniper berries taste a lot like the way pine smells. In other words: fresh, woodsy and very green. You may also detect a fruity citrus flavour and a hint of spice. Overall, the flavour of the juniper berry is pungent, but pleasantly so. Juniper berries are required by legal statute, to be present and perceptible, in order for a spirit to be called gin.
Bergamot Orange
Bergamot, unlike other Oranges, is used for its fragrant skin. The inside of it is very sour and mostly inedible. However, the fresh and floral notes mixed with bright citrus undertones it lends is superb! It is the size of an orange with a lime green or yellow coloured skin depending on the ripeness of the fruit. The fragrant citrus fruit from the tropical, Citrus bergamia plant is primarily used as the main flavour component of Earl Grey Tea. Anyone who is familiar with Earl Grey tea knows the fragrant, citrusy scent and distinct flavor of bergamot.
Wild rosemary
One of the shrubs that most people in the Cape know because it is so common in the veld and easy to identify with its thin, grey leaves. It has a wide distribution in the Western and Eastern Cape, and in Namaqualand. The plant has several common names in various languages, but is mostly known as the Kapokbossie, Cape Snowbush or Wild Rosemary, referring to its fancied resemblance to rosemary. Used traditionally as a medicinal plant to cure ailments it can further be used in cooking. For our Giniper Citrus and Fynbos Gin distillation of stems and leaves harvested sustainably from wild crafted plants takes place. It produces a unique flavour combination of bitter, spiced and aromatic notes and most importantly an attractive fruity/flowery and pepper note.
In Conclusion
Giniper is an ode to Juniper. In short it is the botanical that makes all Gin, Gin. A perfect mix of old and new, Giniper starts off by maceration of juniper in a neutral spirit, where after 11 other botanicals are added. On the nose you’ll get a whiff of bergamot citrus as a result smelling almost like marmalade. With the piney freshness of juniper and in addition a slight spiciness of cassia in the background. Spices on the palate are from African Wild Rosemary and smoked paprika. The Giniper range will expand and include more variants in the future.
Main Botanicals: Juniper, African Wild Rosemary (also know as Cape Snowbush), Bergamot Orange and Smoked Paprika
Supporting Botanicals: Smoked Paprika, Cassia Bark and African Wormwood
Notes: Sweet orange and spice on the nose. Herbal notes from fynbos and juniper on the palate, followed by citrus.
2022 IWSC Judges Tasting Notes: A juniper-led nose with hints of delicate spice and lemon zest. Light, bright and vibrant with a nice mouthfeel. Baking spices on the finish with gingerbread notes.
Serving Suggestion: Pairs well with indian / grapefruit tonic and ginger ale. Garnish with lemon, grapefruit, lemongrass or ginger.
