Fynbos is synonymous with South Africa – and we believe with gin. A fynbos gin and tonic is the perfect sundowner.
There’s a pretty long list of South African craft gins made with fynbos. And for good reason. “I’ve found that there are many interesting flavours in fynbos, which is really exciting to experiment with,” says Benedikt Blomendahl. “Living in the Western Cape, you often smell fynbos and using it in gin instead of imported botanicals is just unique – and matches with the atmosphere somehow. To me, drinking a fynbos gin makes you feel at home.”
According to Jan van De Vynck, Inverroche botanist, fynbos botanicals work well in gin distillation because it offers many unique and complex aromas and flavours found nowhere else. “During distillation, the oils contained in these botanicals form a special molecular bond with the alcohol vapour rendering the liquid truly Cape, distinctly ours,” he says. “There are numerous Buchu species and all have some unique quality whether black currant, citrus, ginger, garlic, etc. However, they all share a unique flavour profile which is hard to describe; a fresh, almost minty flavour, somewhat zesty, but most of all, probably one of the most quintessential flagship aromas for fynbos.”
What is fynbos?
Fynbos is derived from the Dutch word Fijnboch, which translated means ‘fine bush’ and is the collective name for the vegetation found along our South African coast. This vegetation thrives in poor soils under tough conditions and hot dry summers. Three vegetation types make up the fynbos biome:
- Ericas: heath-like shrubs that make up the majority of species in fynbos
- Restios: wiry, reed-like plants that belong to the Cape Reed Family
- Proteas: large-leaved plants that make up the taller species of fynbos
Where is fynbos found?
It only grows along a 200km (covering about 90,000km2) stretch of coast that runs from Clanwilliam on the west coast to Port Elizabeth on the southeast coast. Fynbos makes up about 80% of the Cape floral kingdom; of the more than 8,500 fynbos species, nearly 6,000 are endemic.
Some of the fynbos you’ll find in BFUK Fynbos Gin
BFUK Fynbos Gin infuses a balance of fynbos, including imphepho, confetti bush, kapokbos and honeybush. You’ll also pick up a subtle hint of rooibos.
- Rooibos: natural sweetness and a slightly nutty taste, with warm woody, notes
- Honeybush: less earthy than rooibos, with a honey-like aroma and taste you can taste and smell honey
- Kapokbos: also known as wild rosemary, tastes similar to Italian rosemary with subtle spicy notes
- Confetti bush: a sweet-smelling herb sweetish fruity, herby, nutmeg aroma with peppery notes
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