Beneath the bevy of artisanal spirits screaming out for attention on the shelves of upmarket cocktail bars, drink trollies and most liquor stores, there is one brand that has earned its place for being at the forefront of South Africa’s Artisan Spirit revolution. Musgrave Crafted Spirits has been leading the way since they launched with their Musgrave Original Gin in 2015, since then they have spearheaded international trends setting South Africa’s own pink drink pandemonium in motion with their award-winning Musgrave Pink Gin.
Musgrave Original Gin
Musgrave Original Gin was born out of the African explorations of the Musgrave Family at the turn of the 19th Century. The family’s tale is one of adventure and discovery, embodied in the tenacious spirit of patriarch Maurice Boon Musgrave. This pioneering spirit inspired Boon Musgrave’s grand-daughter, Simone Musgrave, to look to Africa’s rich land of flavour and aromas to create the truly African expression of spirit in the Musgrave Gin. The Original Musgrave Gin is made up of a selection of 11 botanicals, each reflecting some aspect of the African Spice Route of yesteryear. The Musgrave Gin has expressive top notes of Cardamom, African Ginger, and Grains of Paradise, whilst the citrus and other spices marry together a tale of flavour spanning a continent.
Six years on, and it’s just received its first packaging makeover to celebrate the hero notes as well as the ancient African Spice Route it embodies. The reimagined design is clean and contemporary and features the leaves and beautiful flowers of the cardamom plant. This new design brings it into line with Musgrave Pink which has become synonymous with South African gin lovers
Musgrave Pink Gin
Musgrave Pink Gin is bedazzled with botanical finery. Known to gracefully seduce even the purist of gin drinkers, it’s as pretty as a picture with its youthful play on pink. Distilled with Musgrave’s signature 11 botanicals, Rose hips are added during the distillery process, accentuating the distinct top notes of Cardamom, African Ginger and Grains of Paradise sourced from exotic locations across the African continent.
These heights are then tamed slightly with a dash of perfume and a splash of romance. The gin is further infused with Rosewater adding a slight exotic perfume and depth of flavour. The expressive Cardamom and obligatory Juniper contributions are softened so as not to mask the gentle perfume of the roses. Since its launch in 2016, Musgrave Pink has appealed to enthusiastic new audiences and has wildly invigorated the gin industry. At the heart of this creation is the femininity of the Rose as an expression of a bygone era and a nod to the founder, Simone Musgrave’s, kindred spirit and thirst for adventure.
Both gins boast an impressive collection of awards. These include:
Musgrave Original Gin
· Michelangelo Silver (2016, 2017), Gold (2018)
· IWSC Silver (2019)
· SA Craft Gin Awards Single Gold (2019)
Musgrave Pink Gin
· Michelangelo Gold (2016), Double Gold (2018)
· SA Craft Gin Awards Gold (2019)
· IWSC Silver (2017)
· SA Women’s Wine and Spirit Awards Gold (2018)
· Cape Town Experiences Awards Best Floral Gin (2019)
· Fifty Best Gin Awards Silver (2020)
Try these delicious Musgrave Christmas recipes:
Fruit Cake Martini
A traditional Gin Sour with a swirl of Honey & Nut syrup, kissed with a soft orange foam and garnished with a subtle nutmeg crunch. A Musgrave Gin Sour with Honey and Nut Syrup.
Ingredients:
● 50 ml Musgrave Original Gin
● 25 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
● 25ml Honey and Nut syrup
● 3 dashes of Orange bitters
● 3 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: Nutmeg Grate and chopped nuts
Glass: Rocks glass / Coupe Glass
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain over big block of ice or into chilled coupe glass
Special Prep:
Honey and Nut Syrup:
Roast a cup of raw mixed nuts on a hot pan with 10 cardamom pods, add one cup of raw honey and bring to boil, add a cup of water and simmer on low heat. Allow to cool and bottle.
Christmas Spiced Tea Negroni
A hot aperitif that will fill the air with aromas of mulled spices, hibiscus and deep citrus. A warmed negroni with spice and classic orange notes and a delicate Hibiscus tart.
Ingredients:
● 35 ml Musgrave Pink Gin
● 25 ml rosso vermouth (Martini)
● Orange bitter
● Aromatic bitters
● 1 orange slice
● Half cinnamon quill
● 2 cloves
● 1 star anise
● Sweet hibiscus tea
● Garnish: Cinnamon Stick and a slice of orange
Glass: Brandy balloon
Method:
Add all ingredients to a heatproof balloon glass. Heat glass with chef’s torch and set alight while swirling (be careful).
Suspend on a tumbler glass and serve first 2 ingredients to mug and fill with hot coffee and stir. Layer an orange oil infused whipped cream on top.
Special Prep:
Sweet Hibiscus Tea: make 400ml hibiscus tea (about 2 teaspoon loose leaf tea) Add 100 ml sugar syrup.
Festive Gin Shake
Something rosey, lemony, creamy and cheeky extremely fun & frivolous for the ginthusiast ; this grown-up take on a roadhouse shake is a chilled creme-based gin fizz that sings with blackberry and rosewater flavours.
Ingredients:
● 50 ml Musgrave Pink Gin
● 2 barspoons of Blackberry jam
● 10 ml sugar syrup
● 15 ml Fresh lemon Juice
● 1 rosemary sprig
● 25 ml fresh cream
● Fill Tonic
Garnish: Rosemary sprig and 1 winterberry
Method:
Add all ingredients except for Tonic to a shaker, stir and add lots of ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into chilled glass and top with chilled tonic water.
Special prep:
Glass: Collins or highball glass
For information about Musgrave visit:
Website: www.musgravegin.co.za
Twitter: @MusgraveGin
Instagram: @Musgrave_Gin
Facebook: Musgrave Gin
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