FlyWestair February 2020

Page 15

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CRAFT GIN From Walvis Bay

aving shed its well known grimy industrial look to grow a beard and sport a pipe, Walvis Bay is now rolling with the cool kids on their fixies and wearing ironic T-shirts. The change in appearance is thanks to the harbour town’s very own distillery that places it firmly on the bandwagon of the worldwide gin craze. Copper and Coal Distillery, founded in 2017, has quickly become the best-known of Namibia’s (three) gin distilleries.

With that said, Copper and Coal doesn’t subscribe to the above-mentioned methodology but rather aims to create well-rounded gins devoid of gimmicks. Crafted to be enjoyed for what it is, namely gin. Recipes fine-tuned and lovingly brought to life.

Desolate Classic 7 was the first to be released. Based on a recipe that includes a balance of seven selected botanicals to create a light, yet intricate easy-drinking gin. The Desolate Devil’s Claw Crystal Clear gin, as the name indicates, is centred around the Based on a recipe Namibian devil’s claw plant. Mustard, walnut leaves, black pepper and star anise add to that includes the distillery’s Namibian interpretation of a balance of gin. Lastly, the Desolate Devil’s Claw Oak Rested gin is the Crystal Clear matured in seven selected French oak casks to somewhat soften the harsher character of the devil’s claw. Newest botanicals to to the range is the Marula gin. Potstilled and create a light, infused with marula fruit hand-harvested from the Outjo region which gives tangyyet intricate sweet and sour flavours to this refreshing gin.

While gin, humble in origin, started as a spirit with juniper, its main ingredient, perfectly complemented by botanicals such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, it has recently evolved into a melting pot for experimentation. It is no wonder that gin has become the most diverse liquor found on the market. Juniper is the only ingredient required for the spirit to be called a gin, after which distillers easy-drinking are free to add any botanicals or nonbotanicals they please. All in the name of Husband and wife team, Andries and gin. crafting the perfect gin, right? But as any Marizaan van Schalkwyk are the driving force hipster, i.e. non-conforming conformist behind Copper and Coal. With a focus on knows: you constantly need to overstep the boundaries of quality over quantity, every step of the production process what is considered the norm in order to be respected by from fermenting and distilling down to bottling and labelling your peers. The same peers who, just like you, tread on - is lovingly completed at the distillery in Walvis Bay. The the wrong side of the “normal” barrier. Thanks to these Copper and Coal range of gins can be found at most liquor absolute visionaries we are blessed with gins that contain outlets throughout Namibia. ants, asparagus, cannabis (damn hippies), beef, oysters, elephant dung, and thanks to some Australian genius Vegemite gin. Le Roux van Schalkwyk

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