We entered the 2022 SA Craft Gin Awards. Before we’d officially launched, BFUK Fynbos Gin won double gold!
The SA Craft Gin Awards is Africa’s largest gin competition, founded to celebrate and promote the finest gins distilled in South Africa. The competition was judged by a panel that blind-tasted – only the outstanding gins received double and gold awards.
The 2022 SA Craft Gin Awards judging panel
The judging panel included a cross-section of industry specialists, each with an in-depth knowledge of gin and the drinks industry. Pieter de Bod, the Panel Chair for the 2022 awards, has 25 years in the distilling industry. He joined KWV as general manager in 2011, where he was responsible for the production of white and brown spirits, liqueurs and the R&D function. He has been the general manager of spirits since 2020.
Jean Buckham, founder and owner of The Gin Box, has one of the most experienced gin-judging palates in South Africa. Thierry Lubala is the head barman at Sansibar at Asara Estate, which has Africa’s largest gin collection with more than 500 varieties. Danielle Schoeman is one of a few female distillers in South Africa and founded Dona distillery.
“Gin drinkers prefer more authentic, natural, subtle juniper-forward gins.”
According to SA Craft Gin Awards, “This year we were pleased to discover that the overall quality of SA gins has definitely improved. Contrary to previous years, South African producers are finally realising that gin drinkers can identify synthetic flavours and actually prefer the more authentic, natural, subtle juniper-forward gins. The London Dry type gin category has definitely increased in volume. We found less colourful, ‘candy-flavoured’ gins this year which is a good thing.”
They added that South African gin producers are still highly innovative. “This year we had a number of litchi gins, a mint gin, a saffron gin, a lemongrass gin and even a coffee-flavoured gin – with most respecting the need for juniper dominance and restrained flavours.”
We’re incredibly proud to be able to call BFUK Fynbos Gin award-winning. You can buy a bottle here.
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