Observant shoppers may have noticed more “made in South Africa” labels in liquor stores in recent years — vodka from Woodstock, gin from Stilbaai, tequila from the Karoo. A new collaboration between a group of spirits fanatics is hoping to take locally crafted liquors to another level. You can now #GetYourShineOn with an all-new range of unaged American-style moonshines.
Silver Creek Craft Distillery, based in Johannesburg, hosted a launch party for its exciting new range of Moonshine at Dust & Dynamite in Cape Town.
“The flavoured whiskey category grew by 40% in the US in 2016. It remains one of the fastest growing segments in the market and, as they say, when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches the cold. As with craft beer and gin, we believe moonshine could be the next big thing in South Africa!” says Silver Creek Craft Distillery founder and chief distiller Mark Taverner.
Distiller Mark Taverner at the launch, held at Dust and Dynamite on Cape Town.
What is Moonshine?
Moonshine purists define the spirit as a homemade, unaged whiskey, marked by its clear colour, corn base and high alcohol content. Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar. Moonshine might be one of America’s greatest spirits, but it’s in fact Scottish and Irish immigrants who first brought moonshine to the United States in the 18th century. The spirit quickly became a mainstay of Southern culture.
It’s by no means easy to produce. With aged spirits, oak barrels are used to correct flavour notes. It gets tricky to make moonshine that stands on its own, without the dominant oak characteristics that we usually think of when drinking a whiskey. When you can find the good stuff, you’ll know why people love it.
About the good stuff
After tasting through the Southern Moonshine range I knew I found the “good stuff” that everyone is talking about. The unique collection of high-quality sipping drinks is led by the flagship Clear Shine, a smooth and genuine, pure spirit that is diluted to 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) – in American terms, 100% proof. It is a complex, mercurial spirit, alluring with a grain character without the influence of oak barrel maturation and is as authentically American as it gets.
Joining this new kid on the craft block is the Charred Shine (also diluted to 50% ABV). Similar in flavour to a good bourbon, it is made from Clear Shine and flavoured with an oak barrel essence.
Along with original Clear Shine and Charred Shine, flavours include Apple Pie Moonshine, Bon Fire Moonshine, Salted Caramel Moonshine, and Chocolate Moonshine. These are flavoured with genuine American flavours made exclusively for the distillery in the American state of Louisville, Kentucky.
How to #GetYourShineOn
Silver Creek Southern Moonshine is available in a bespoke moonshine jug with a nifty finger hole that emulates the easy-going spirit of the American South. Appealing to young and old, it is a versatile spirit that is far more than just a party-in-a-bottle.
Southern Moonshine is available at selected bars, restaurants and retailers around the country. The Clear and Charred Shines retail at around R370 per 750ml bottle and the flavoured moonshines for R260.
For online orders and more information about Silver Creek Craft Distillery and its Southern Moonshine range visit: www.silvercreekdistillery.com
