GINgle bells, GINgle bells, sipping all the way, oh what fun it is to receive gin on Christmas Day, sip, sip hooray! Without a doubt, gin has been one of the Mother City’s most-loved alcohol options of the year, causing a boom in the industry and inspiring many to become GINuinely interested in this juniper creation.
So if there’s a gin-lover in your life and you are looking for the perfect gift for them ahead of the festive season or just for yourself, have no fear, our GINgle bells gift guide is here.
1. Roku Gin – Festive Pack
Gin can often be a pricey gift, but it truly doesn’t have to be.
Roku Gin by Suntory is one of the newest gins on the block, making its debut in South Africa this year.
You can grab a festive pack complete with two measuring glasses and a gin for just R299 at all major liquor stores.
This gin has delightful cherry blossom and green tea notes with floral flavours and is best enjoyed with ginger sticks and tonic.
2. Hope on Hopkins – Christmas Collection
Hope on Hopkins Distillery is getting into the Christmas spirit with their latest collection of festive-themed gin.
Perfect for the holiday season, their Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh gins are the perfect gift for your festive GINthusiast.
The gift pack consists of a 200ml bottle of each gin. ‘Gold’ has a gold-tinged colour as a result of gentle aging and is infused with festive orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond. A slice of orange is best as a garnish. The ‘Frankincense’ has smoky nots as resin is its signature botanical with cinnamon, coriander and cumin to complement the flavour. Best garnished with orange zest. Lastly, the ‘Myrrh’ gin is flavoured with myrrh and paired with cloves, allspice, star anise and nutmeg. Rosemary is the best garnish for this unique gin creation.
In total, the gift pack will cost you R420 and is available in store and at selected liquor stores.
3. Sugarbird Gin Advent Calendar
This one is definitely for the gin connoisseur so make sure you’ve got someone with a real gin passion in mind.
Sugarbird Gin has collaborated with a number of their gin friends this year to bring us the Gin Advent Calendar.
For a total of 25 days, they have put together a selection of different gins that will treat you to a new flavour and infusion every day.
This option is more on the pricey side, retailing for R699 at Pick n Pay but it is definitely worth every penny.
4. New Harbour Distillery Holiday Cocktail Kits
If you’re looking to gift yourself or another gin-crazed individual something special this festive season, the cocktail kits from New Harbour Distillery are gin goals.
Try out any of their two remaining options, from the Pink Kit which comes with their sweet Maroela gin, Grapefruit Bitters and Hibiscus & Ginger Simple Syrup, to their Yellow Kit which comes with a Rooibos-infused, Orange Bitters and Burnt Cassia & Fig Simple Syrup. Both kits also come with four Barker and Quintillion’s tonics.
This is the perfect gift for the gin-lover who likes to mix things up and try new things. The packs retail for R650, but are currently on sale for R450.
5. Pienaar & Son Distilling Co Giftpacks
Because ’tis the season of giving, Pienaar & Son is doing just that with their latest Christmas gift pack.
Buy the gift pack of any of their thirst-quenching gin options and get a bottle of gin for free.
Pienaar & Son is a great Capetonian distillery that offers experimental flavours, and we have to say our favourite is the Oriental Gin, packed with a spice and mandarin citrus.
A bottle will cost you R380 and the gift pack just R4o0 and will be available at Norman Goodfellows and Select Tops. You can also grab these at the distillery in 1 Roeland Terrace, Cape Town.
6. Bloedlemoen Christmas GiftPacks
Treat your favourite gin-lover to a selection of the world’s first blood orange gin with Bloedlemoen’s Christmas giftpacks.
Enjoy three flavours including their Amber gin, classic gin and a Christmas gin infusion that is perfect for the holidays.
As you probably guessed, this gin is best paired with orange flavours and anything from a slice of orange to grapefruit will finish these gin flavours off to perfection.
These are available at YuppieChef and online and will cost you roughly R149 so this is a great money-saver option for the festive season.
7. The Gin Box Mini Gin Tasting Box
If you’re not sure what gin to get or which garnishes to choose, why not opt for a Mini Gin Tasting box from The Gin Box?
This handy subscription and gifting service allows you to experience a variety of gins neatly prepared for you in a box each month or for a special occasion.
The Mini Gin Tasting Box allows for days of gin-drinking fun and is conveniently packaged for easy gifting. Each box includes a Woodstock Beer Gin 50ml, Woodstock High Tea Gin 50ml, Woodstock Wine Gin 50ml, Fox Street Fine Gin 50ml, Morality Amber Gin 50ml, Gin Box – Tot Measurer, Garnish – Dried Orange & Pineapple. You can pop this one in your cart for just R399.
8. Monks Mary Jane Gin
If your GINthusiast happens to be a CANNAsseur as well, you’re in luck because we know just the gin for that.
Monk’s Mary Jane Gin offers the novelty of its delightful cannabis infusion paired with a beautiful bottle and a flavourful drinking experience. This is definitely one for that someone special and you won’t regret joining them for a drink or two. Monks has also just released a CBD tonic which pairs well with this gin, so why not try them both.
The gin will cost you between R429 and R499 depending on where you buy it and it is widely available at most liquor stores.
9. Cape Town Gin Company Gift Pack
Savour the flavour of the Mother City gin with Cape Town Gin Company’s latest gift packs.
Each pack includes a different, and FREE, 50ml Cape Town Gin flavour along with a bigger 700ml bottle. To get you started, they have also included a cocktail recommendation on the back of the gift pack.
A gift pack will cost you roughly R349 and is available from November 1 online or at leading retailers nationwide.
10. Gin School
Become a GINius! If you want to get really fancy with your gift this Christmas, treat yourself and your loved-one to a gin school experience.
Protea Hotel by Marriott Mossel Bay and Inverroche Distillery have come together to open Mossel Bay’s very first “gin school”, an experience set to delight both guests booked into the hotel and locals across the Garden Route.
“Students” can concoct their very own craft gins along with learning the ins and outs of the process, as well as taste superb gins from top artisanal labels.
It’s the perfect experience for two or even a group of friends over the festive season.
For more information or to book visit www.cafegannet.co.za or email [email protected]
Pictures: Supplied/Facebook