Whether you like yours shaken in a martini or mixed with a tonic, here in Cape Town, we have certainly enjoyed the fruits of the craft gin revolution. Take a look at the shelves of your favorite liquor store (Liquor City in Claremont is my go-to, and hard to beat) and you'll find dozens of options. From Karoo-inspired infusions to fynbos-forward flavor bombs, distillers are pushing boundaries each and every day.
But, with choice comes a dilemma: which of them is any good? Well, here's a good place to start.
At the recent 2025 World Drinks Awards , KWV walked away with two top honors in the gin category. KWV? The people who make brandy and wine? Yes, the very same.
At the awards KWV's XXO 20-Year-Old Brandy was also named the world's highest-scoring aged wine brandy. But let's keep our eyes on the juniper-infused prize, as it turns out that KWV's Master Distiller, Pieter de Bod, is a dab hand at gin too.
So much so that the KWV Imagin Classic London Dry Gin was crowned South Africa's best gin in the Classic category. Crafted in small batches, this citrus-bright, juniper-forward gin is as classic as you could hope for. It's no stranger to the podium, either: this is its sixth international gold in three years.
Not content with just one award, the Cruxland Black Winter Truffle Gin won the same for the Contemporary Style Gin category. This bold and earthy statement gin is made with Périgord truffles grown in South Africa. It's a modern favorite and an eight-time international gold medalist.
Both gins bagged 'Gold – Country Winner' titles.
"These awards reflect a brand that honors its history while continuously evolving," says Pieter de Bod. "It shows our ability to blend tradition with relevance - and create spirits that speak to both heritage and today's global palate."
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