South African Gin & Distilleries in South Africa
On This Page: South African Gin and Distillery directory, reviews and tasting notes, distillery tours in South Africa, interviews with South African distillers, and G&T garnishes for gins from South Africa.
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Gin has been prevalent in South Africa since the Anglo-Boer War and the Second Boer War, during which the British army produced gin for the soldiers in towns like Stellenbosch. And with stunning coastlines and mountains, and incredible biodiversity, there's inspiration everywhere and an abundance of gorgeous wild botanicals to be foraged. From urban micro-distilleries through to rural estate distilleries, there are gins and distilleries for everyone to enjoy in South Africa. Discover the best gins South Africa has to offer!
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South African Gin Reviews - A to Z
Cape Craft Lab Gin (Cape Town)
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Cape Craft Lab was launched in Cape Town in 2023 by Alex Walker and Matthew Beech with the aim to establish a distillery and sensory lab dedicated to capturing and showcasing the essences of the region, from the botanicals to the culture and stories. The distillery is home to a 500L stainless steel boiler with copper column, operated by Head Distiller Muneeb Johnson. In 2025, Cape Craft Lab's African Dry Gin was named 'Best in Africa 2025' in The Gin Guide Awards.
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Unit 43 Gin (Cape Town)
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Based in Cape Town, Unit 43 Distillery launched in 2019 after two years of experimenting with different recipes. The Unit 43 team built their own equipment, including the still, using mostly recycled materials. Five of the fifteen botanicals are gathered in the Fynbos, a belt of natural shrub and heath found in South Africa's Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. In 2022, Unit 43 Gin was named 'Best in Africa 2022' in The Gin Guide Awards.
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For more South African Gins gins try A Mari Gin, Bloedlemoen Gin, Cape Fynbos Gin, Clemengold Gin, Empire Gin, Flowstone Gin, Ginologist Gin, Hope on Hopkins Gin, Inverroche Gin, Monate Fela Gin, Musgrave Gin, Muti Gin, Six Dogs Gin, Wild Rose Gin, and Wilderer Gin. And for more gins from other countries in Africa, try Procera Gin from Kenya and Kianda Gin from Angola.
TOP FACT: Did you know, South Africa is also home to Indlovu Gin, made with botanicals extracted from elephant dung! 15% of profits from sales go towards elephant conservation efforts at the Phinda Game Reserve.
TOP FACT: Did you know, South Africa is also home to Indlovu Gin, made with botanicals extracted from elephant dung! 15% of profits from sales go towards elephant conservation efforts at the Phinda Game Reserve.
Distilleries & Tours in South Africa
South Africa is becoming an ideal location to explore distilleries and local gins. The distilleries below offer tours and/or gin tasting:
- Cape Craft Lab - Cape Town: Book Online
- Distillery 031 - Durban
- Deep South Distillery - Cape Town
- Hope on Hopkins - Cape Town
- Inverroche Distillery - Still Bay
- Knysna Distillery - Knysna
- Summerfields Distillery (Duke Gin) - Hazyview
- Time Anchor Distillery - Johannesburg
- Wilderer Distillery - Paarl
Meet the Makers
Get to know some of South Africa's finest gin creators and distillers in our 'Meet the Maker' interviews. Find out how they created and launched their gin, how it's made, what botanicals are used, what you can experience if you visit their distilleries, how best to serve their gins and what they have planned for the future:
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Matthew Beech & Muneeb Johnson
Cape Craft Lab Interview Coming Soon |
Industry Insights | With Matthew Beech of Cape Craft Lab
We caught up with Matthew Beech, the Cape Town-based founder Cape Craft Lab, to find out more about the South African gin industry, how it has evolved in recent years and where it could be going next:
What is the history of gin in South Africa?
Gin has always been prevalent in South Africa due to the Anglo-Boer War and the Second Boer War, during which the British army produced gin for the soldiers in towns like Stellenbosch. That's enough history - I can only shine light on the most recent history of gin in South Africa as I’ve only been of legal drinking age for 6 years!
What is the South African gin industry like now?
Gin has really taken off in the last five years in South Africa, following the global trend. A couple of core distilleries were around before the gin boom, such as Distell, but more crafty guys like Inverroche and Jorgenson’s made it seem possible to the little guy - now it has taken off in a big way.
Do South African gins have a distinctive style?
South African gins definitely have their own style due to our plant kingdom. There are more plant species from the Fynbos family on the top of Table Mountain than there are in the entirety of England. The trend is definitely Fynbos styled gin. From asking and looking around I believe the two most common styles of distillation are straight infusion and steep & soak.
How to people like to serve gin in South Africa?
South Africans love a big glass with lots of ice and tons of garnish – from strawberries to candy floss, it’s all been done. Thankfully there is a trend to get back to basics with clean fresh citrus zest G&T’s
Where do you see the South African gin industry going next?
The industry in South Africa follows the global trends slowly. Traditionally SA is a wine and beer drinking nation and the popularity of spirits is only starting to grow. Some say that rum is the next big thing, although I find it hard to believe as South Africans have got a bad association with rum. I’d like to see more growth in the gin category and lower ABV spirits such as vermouth.
What is the history of gin in South Africa?
Gin has always been prevalent in South Africa due to the Anglo-Boer War and the Second Boer War, during which the British army produced gin for the soldiers in towns like Stellenbosch. That's enough history - I can only shine light on the most recent history of gin in South Africa as I’ve only been of legal drinking age for 6 years!
What is the South African gin industry like now?
Gin has really taken off in the last five years in South Africa, following the global trend. A couple of core distilleries were around before the gin boom, such as Distell, but more crafty guys like Inverroche and Jorgenson’s made it seem possible to the little guy - now it has taken off in a big way.
Do South African gins have a distinctive style?
South African gins definitely have their own style due to our plant kingdom. There are more plant species from the Fynbos family on the top of Table Mountain than there are in the entirety of England. The trend is definitely Fynbos styled gin. From asking and looking around I believe the two most common styles of distillation are straight infusion and steep & soak.
How to people like to serve gin in South Africa?
South Africans love a big glass with lots of ice and tons of garnish – from strawberries to candy floss, it’s all been done. Thankfully there is a trend to get back to basics with clean fresh citrus zest G&T’s
Where do you see the South African gin industry going next?
The industry in South Africa follows the global trends slowly. Traditionally SA is a wine and beer drinking nation and the popularity of spirits is only starting to grow. Some say that rum is the next big thing, although I find it hard to believe as South Africans have got a bad association with rum. I’d like to see more growth in the gin category and lower ABV spirits such as vermouth.
