Something different this week; I capture my tasting notes for the Capital Gin Small Batch gin. A gin selected and bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother&Co. Last week I got the opportunity to visit my favourite local gin distillery, the Capital Gin in Silvertondale in Pretoria. I went to visit my friend Kelly to see what she has been up to now that the SA Government has lifted the Covid alcohol restrictions.
Craft distilleries and breweries in South Africa have been through a rough year with three alcohol bans and sales limitations. But restrictions have been lifted, and distilling can start again.
The Capital Gin tasting rooms are also open, and more people can get the opportunity to experience the distillery and taste their excellent gin. It makes for a great weekend outing when you grab a snack platter and get to taste various gins.
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These past couple of months, Kelly has been busy experimenting with and testing recipes for gin and rhum-agricole. I was fortunate to taste some of her rhum-agricole experiments, but I will write about that later.
What sets Kelly apart is her quest to make her gin as perfect as possible. She distils her own gin, which allows her the opportunity to start with the best possible ingredients. Right from the start, she uses locally sourced ingredients as far as possible and can ensure quality throughout the whole process.
I love tasting the new make spirit as it comes off Kelly’s still. At 90% ABV, you can get a feel for the base spirit’s quality and taste. The Capital Gin is triple distilled, and vapour infusion is used to instil the flavours.
The Exclusive WhiskyBrother&Co Gin
In 2020, WhiskyBrother&Co asked them to experiment with some recipes for an exclusive Capital Gin Small Batch WB release gin. The brief was it needs to be predominantly citrus in flavour and aroma and be navy strength! Gin at 57% ABV.
Navy strength refers to a spirit that is bottled at 57% alcohol by volume. Gin at 57% is fantastic for cocktails as the gin characteristics can stand up to the other flavours. At a higher ABV, the botanicals and their respective ratios need to be robust enough to shine through regardless of the spirit strength.
Kelly created nine different recipes and then narrowed it down to six options. The last six recipes were macerated for 48hrs with either lemon or orange rind in 90%ABV before distillation.
Whisky Brother ended up with five samples for a blind tasting at 57%. Once they made their choice regarding botanicals, Kelly started distilling and bottling the Whisky Brother exclusive release. The recipe chosen in the end had citrus notes together with juniper, coriander, ginger, cassia bark and lavender. The result is an ultra-smooth and balanced gin with plenty of citrus notes.
It is the first gin bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother&Co. Truly small-batch, with only 60 bottles produced. Bottled at the authentic “navy strength” of 57%. (Bottle size 750ml)
Review and Tasting Notes for the Capital Gin Small Batch Gin
ABV: 57%
NOSE: Juniper and citrus
PALATE: It has notes of citrus and warming ginger spice. It reminded me of a pomander ball (a citrus fruit studded with cloves and dusted with other spices). There are notes of aniseed, cinnamon and nutmeg, balanced with hints of coriander and a flowery freshness.
RATING: EXCELLENT
The Capital Gin small batch WB release is a smooth, delicious gin. Even at the “navy strength” that I tasted it at, it is drinkable with no alcohol heat. The Capital Gin is perfect for drinking neat. Or add a few blocks of ice, and it is the perfect sipper on a warm day. After tasting the Small Batch gin, my friend Roelia suggested that it is ideal for a Tom Collins cocktail.
You can order it from WhiskyBrother&Co online, and it retails at R 780. Don’t wait too long; there was only a limited number of bottles left.
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