SA’s best gin festival - join us at PureGin!

We’re so excited to be part of the first annual PureGin Festival hosted by Asara’s Sansibar Gin Lounge on 16 December. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet we suggest you put them to the top of your Christmas list as they are starting to sell out! Whether you are a gin fanatic or just looking for a good time with friends and family, we promise that this will be a day to remember.

All of the top artisanal gin brands in South Africa will be joining us at the festival, including Hope on Hopkins, Trouvaille: Blossom and Hops, Mayine Premium Gin, Ginologist, Boplaas, Monks and Stellenbosch Distilling Co. So you’ll be able to meet everyone who matters in the SA gin world, and find your new favourite bottle, in one day! For the non-drinkers, Barker and Quin will also have a stand to share their fine tonic water with you, which makes the most refined and delicate summer refreshers. There will also be a stand with soft drinks and a limited selection of Asara wine.

Included with your ticket for R375 is a branded festival glass, two gin cocktails and a delicious picnic box filled with amazing goodies. Throughout the day, there’ll be live music and R35 000 worth of prizes to be won – all while you enjoy the breath-taking vineyards of the Stellenbosch Valley. Prizes available on the day include a night’s stay at the Asara Wine Estate, Southern Cross Gin Baubles and a box of Asara wine every month for a year.

For the most elegant and sociable of dining, the meat, fish or vegetable picnic boxes can be enjoyed on the grass with your G&T. Each box will include some delicious snacks to, and there will be a table of fresh breads to enjoy with the contents of your hamper. For those with a sweet tooth, there will also be an ice-cream stand to help cool you down.

While you’re there, don’t forget to come chat to us at the Southern Cross Gin stand to see our Christmas baubles and buy some festive decorations for your tree this year! Plus, we have a really special gin and tonic planned for the event, so you won’t want to miss out on a taste of that.

 Tickets are available on Quicket for R375 each, and there’s a Facebook event page to join for more updates. We hope to see you there! 

Let the festive fun be-GIN with baubles of booze!

What could fill you with more festive cheer than decorating for Christmas? A sip from the decorations! This year, your tree or mantle can be decked out with a difference, thanks to Southern Cross Gin. We’ve created beautifully tempting gin baubles, the first of their kind in South Africa.

They will add exquisite flavour to your glass, and to your tree…? A touch of class!

These baubles are sure to rekindle in adults the joy of childhood hours decorating the house. They make a magical addition, and could perhaps start a new tradition in your home – why shouldn’t Christmas Eve be about a bauble before bed? The Americans have eggnog, Europeans are obsessed with mulled wine, but with our warmer climate a gin and tonic is far more suitable! Simply add a splash of your favourite tonic, and enjoy the ultimate treat this silly season.

With so much hosting over Christmas, these little beauties give you a unique offering for special guests. They’ll be bowled over by this entertaining presentation of small batch gin, and then blown away by the soft floral notes, hints of fresh citrus, aromatic spices and subtle flavours of Southern Cross Gin.

For the best Christmas drinks party with close friends, why not host a DIY cocktail night? Simply give each guest a bauble, and provide a selection of mixers and glasses. Our current favourite is a Bauble-lini…

Pour one bauble of Southern Cross Gin over crushed ice into your favourite cocktail glass. Add fresh mint and top it up with soda water or tonic for a gin mojito.

If you have a gin lover in your life, these baubles make a decadent gift they’re sure to remember. Inside each intricately shaped bauble is a delicate combination of 21 botanicals, triple distilled with Pinotage Grape Spirit, artesian well water and a little of each ocean. We can’t think of anything better to find in your stocking, at your Christmas table place setting, or on the tree… 

Buy Gin Baubles & Southern Cross Gin at our website.

Marine Month: Southern Cross Gin salutes the ocean

The Southern Cross Gin dream started with a big love for the ocean, and a little boy that sailed across the seas with his father pointing out the Southern Cross. At the southernmost tip of Africa, where two beautiful oceans meet at L’Agulhas and an undeniable love for our oceans exists, Southern Cross Gin was born. It should be no surprise then that the ocean lies really close to our heart.

In the light of national Marine Month, we’d like to share not only the Southern Cross Gin story, but also our commitment to protecting our natural marine resources. Marine Month creates awareness of the benefits that our oceans bring to the nation and is celebrated every October. It’s not just about the oceans, but also about the marine environment, and the rest of the fresh water system that we depend on. 

To ensure the future health of our marine ecosystems, the maintenance of Marine Protected Systems, or MPAs are vital. These are areas on the coastline that are protected by law, prohibits consumption with designated boundaries and makes sure that vulnerable or threatened species are protected.

Two very important ingredients in Southern Cross Gin include water from the Atlantic and Indian oceans, which conveniently meet at L’Agulhas, where our gin originates from. This makes it even more important for us to help maintain and protect our oceans, and to encourage others to do the same. Here are five things you might not know about the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and L’Agulhas:

• The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was the third lighthouse to be built in South Africa, and is the second-oldest one still operating after Green Point.
• The Atlantic Ocean covers roughly 20% of the earth’s surface.
• The waters of the Indian Ocean provide the largest breeding grounds for the humpback whale.
• The range of the lantern in the Cape Agulhas lighthouse is 30 nautical miles (56km).
• The name "Agulhas" is Portuguese for "needles", and was given to the cape because the compass-needle was seen to point due north.

Keep in mind that many species, as well as local entrepreneurs and brands such as Southern Cross Gin, are dependant on the ocean’s resources, making the sustainability of our ocean crucial for everyone. Please help us look after our oceans and let us know which initiatives you’re aware of that can help with that.