On the evening of the 21st of August 2019 at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town the inaugural SA Craft Gin Awards were held in partnership with Checkers LiquorShop and Barker & Quin Tonic Water. The awards acknowledge and celebrate the finest craft gins that our country has to offer with over 110 entries this year.

The gins were blind-tasted by a leading panel of judges with a vast knowledge of the drinks industry:

Roger Jorgensen – the father of South African gin Dr. Anna Trapido – wine and spirits judge and food anthropologist

Thierry Lubala – mixologist at South Africa’s largest gin bar at Asara Estate

Jean Buckham – owner of The Gin Box, a craft gin club showcasing different SA craft gins

Hanneli van der Merwe – oenologist and co-owner of Barker & Quin Mixers

Tammy Frazer – perfumer and owner of Frazer Parfum

The founders of Phantom Gin: “We were incredibly thrilled and humbled to find out that we were awarded a gold at the SA Craft Gin Awards this year. 

We would like to congratulate everyone who entered and the winners! The competition shows how South Africa is truly an inspirational gin destination offering a unique array of gins with wonderful passionate people behind each product. The industry is alive with creativity and it is a celebration of our country. We are privileged to be a part of this industry.

We would especially like to thank Hope Distillery and our dear friend and illustrator, Lea Du Plessis. Thank-you for helping us reach this milestone. ”