Unusual Alcohol Tastings and Experiences in Cape Town

Gin Tasting Experiences

Cape Town’s gin scene has flourished in recent years, with distilleries crafting unique botanical blends inspired by the Cape’s natural flora.

• Inverroche Distillery (Still Bay) – One of South Africa’s most well-known gin brands, Inverroche offers immersive distillery tours and gin tastings, featuring their signature fynbos-infused gins.
• Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company (Cape Town) – With flavors inspired by local ingredients such as rooibos and pink grapefruit, their tastings offer a true taste of the Cape.
• Hope Distillery (Salt River, Cape Town) – A small-batch distillery offering hands-on gin blending experiences and tastings of their award-winning gins.
• Pienaar & Son Distilling Co. (Cape Town City Centre) – A family-run distillery with unique gin tastings that showcase a modern approach to spirit-making.

Craft Beer Breweries

For beer lovers, Cape Town’s vibrant craft beer scene offers a wide range of breweries to explore, each with its own distinctive style and flavours.

• Devil’s Peak Brewing Company (Woodstock, Cape Town) – One of the pioneers of craft beer in South Africa, offering a great selection of IPAs, lagers, and stouts, along with brewery tours.
• Aegir Project (Noordhoek and Constantia) – A must-visit for craft beer enthusiasts, known for its bold flavors and laid-back vibe.
• Jack Black’s Brewing Co. (Diep River, Cape Town) – A well-known brand with a lively taproom, offering guided tastings of their signature brews.
• Woodstock Brewery (Woodstock, Cape Town) – A trendy brewery offering innovative beers, including their famous Hazy Daze New England IPA.

Brandy and Cognac Tastings

South Africa has a long tradition of brandy-making, with some estates offering exceptional tasting experiences.

• Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery (Stellenbosch) – One of the finest brandy distilleries in the country, known for its premium-aged brandies and guided tours through the cellar.
• KWV House of Brandy (Paarl) – Offers brandy tastings and pairings, including chocolate and cheese pairings to enhance the flavors of their aged spirits.
• Wilderer Distillery (Franschhoek & Paarl) – A renowned craft distillery producing high-quality brandy and grappa, with an on-site restaurant.

Rum and Whiskey Tastings

For those who prefer dark spirits, Cape Town has several fantastic venues offering whiskey and rum tastings.

• The Cape Town Whisky Club (Cape Town City Centre) – A dedicated space for whiskey lovers to explore rare and premium selections from around the world.
• Boplaas Family Vineyards (Calitzdorp) – Known for its fine Portuguese-style fortified wines, Boplaas also produces award-winning whiskey and brandy.
• Distillery 031 (Durban, available in Cape Town) – While based in Durban, this distillery’s rums and whiskeys can be found in select Cape Town tasting venues.
• Cape of Storms Distillery (Maitland, Cape Town) – A boutique rum distillery offering tastings and cocktails made from their signature small-batch rums.

Alternative Tasting Experiences

If you’re looking for options, consider these specialty tasting experiences:

• Lourensford Estate (Somerset West) – Offers a unique coffee and chocolate pairing, as well as tea tastings for non-drinkers.
• Babylonstoren (Franschhoek) – While known for its wines, the estate also has a herbaceous tea-tasting experience.
• Hazendal (Stellenbosch) – Known for its Russian heritage, the estate offers a refined Russian tea ceremony complete with samovars and traditional sweets.
• Honeywood Farm Meadery (Heidelberg, WC) – One of the few places in South Africa producing mead (honey wine), offering tastings of this ancient beverage.

Wine may be the highlight of Cape Town’s tasting scene, but there are plenty of other alcoholic and alternative tasting experiences to enjoy. Next time you’re in the region, consider stepping beyond the vineyards and indulging in some of these unique tasting experiences.