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The best distilleries in Johannesburg can lift your spirits!
- Primal Spirits Distillery
- Johannesburg Distilling Company
- Rocket Distillery
- Black Horse Brewery & Distillery
- The Helden Distillery & Premier Outdoor Venue Restaurant
- The Noble Experiment
- Incendo Distillery
- Time Anchor Distillery / Mirari Gin
- Drysdales Distillery
- Earthbound Distillery
- The African Spirit Distillery
- Van Ryn’s Distillery and Brandy Cellar
Few pleasures top sipping a perfectly aged whiskey on your sofa while bingeing on Netflix after a gruelling day at work.
As much as we love that ritual, though, it’s not the only way to do dram justice. In our case, we prefer heading straight to distilleries to see the craftsmanship up close, sniff a few casks, and most importantly, taste the goods where they’re distilled.
That’s only made all the sweeter by Jozi’s growing distillery scene. Curious about which joints are worthy of your time and palate? They’re waiting below.
Primal Spirits Distillery
From primalspiritsdistillery
Address: Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville
Contact Details: +27 71 904 3304
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 10 am to 6 pm
- Tue to Fri – 9:30 am to 6 pm
- Sat – 10 am to 3 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
Every drop at Primal Spirits Distillery is made from scratch and fermented in-house. That’s a mint bonus for folks like us who prefer local booze over imports.
Their vodka-forward gins undergo a threefold distillation process. The effects of that can be savoured in their smoother, fruitier sips, available in-store and via taster boxes or tours.
“Complex” is the bottle to try, in our opinion. Though smoky, it doesn’t overpower the light herbs and roots whose flavours stay in your palate.
Tip: Tastings and tours are announced on their Insta, not the website.
Johannesburg Distilling Company
From joburgdistillingco
Address: Shop 1, 102 Corlett Dr, Birnam
Contact Details: +27 83 628 1023
Website
Our mad love for artisanal spirits blossomed at the Johannesburg Distilling Company. See, they keep it organic without disregarding the perks of steel and copper stills, ticking both the purity and flavour boxes.
Their award-winning Cloudburst Artisanal Gin proved that to us. The drink’s fragrance is reminiscent of jacaranda, while the profile swings between earthy and woody, which we reckon would be a fine base for a cocktail.
Tip: Check out their cocktail ideas.
Rocket Distillery
From rocketdistillery
Address: 79 Shad Rd, Wadeville, Germiston
Contact Details: +27 82 579 9648
Website
The best way to describe Rocket Distillery is that they ‘pour experiences.’ Most of their tours are built around mingling, with gin and bubbles fuelling the party.
They also toss in easy-going events. By that, we mean tastings where you match botanicals with the proper artisanal chocolate, as well as sip-and-paint functions for cocktail and art lovers.
That said, we fancied ‘Make Your Own Experience’ more. Not a bad move since we brought home a ‘signature bottle’ after a day of touring, tasting, and blending.
Tip: They offer mobile tastings. Call the number or email them at [email protected] for the deets.
Black Horse Brewery & Distillery
From blackhorser98
Address: 32 Zeekoeihoek Road, Magaliesburg
Contact Details: +27 82 453 5295
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 8 am to 8 pm
- Sun – 8 am to 5 pm
It’s safe to say that Magaliesburg’s distilling scene wouldn’t be the same if the multi-awarded Black Horse hadn’t set up shop in 2012. These pioneers have artisanal spirits and craft beer down to a fine pour.
The BTS tour we booked last July hammered that home pretty clearly. It was 45 minutes of brewing and distilling magic, capped off in the tasting room where we had to make a difficult call: beer or gin?
I ended up going with their Morality Gin. The full-bodied and nutty drink has been sitting on my booze rack ever since.
Tip: Book before the weekend to get a quicker response.
The Helden Distillery & Premier Outdoor Venue Restaurant
From theheldendistillery
Address: Helden Distillery, Kopjeskraal Rd, Parys
Contact Details: +27 72 335 7779
Operating Hours:
- Sat – 10 am to 6 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
The Helden Distillery is among the top spots in Jozi for dipping into African-style whiskey. Specifically, you have two options on how to savour it here: the Tour and Paired Tasting and Deductive Tasting.
Our crew decided on the first one, as it starts with a tour of the distillery and concludes with a sampling of four Helden staples. The snack pairings sealed the deal.
Deductive Tasting has its pros, too, primarily learning how to correctly deduce the profile of a spirit (as the name denotes).
Tip: You’ll enjoy free shipping with orders beyond R1,000.
The Noble Experiment
From prisonbreakmarket
Address: Prison Break Market, 10 MacMillan Rd, Glenferness AH, Midrand
Contact Details: +27 82 896 3906
Operating Hours:
- Wed – 11 am to 7 pm
- Thu to Sat – 11 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 7 pm
One distinct trait of The Noble Experiment is that they reveal both the process and the story behind it. It makes the first taste of their flagship gins extra special.
When it comes to defining flavours, their catalogue leans on the floral and the fruity. My personal faves, Rhubarb and Baobao and Elixir of Lion’s Tail, embody that well, with their citrusy and nectar-ish nuances.
Other than that, you can book a 3-hour masterclass, which is the right move if you’d rather craft your own blend and take it home afterwards.
Tip: Since they’re a working distillery, you must book. Call the digits above or email [email protected] to do so.
Incendo Distillery
From incendodistillery
Address: Unnamed Road, Hartbeespoort
Contact Details: +27 71 896 2563
Operating Hours: Sat – 11 am to 5 pm
Website
I wonder if Francois Joubert saw the accolades coming when he opened Incendo Distillery in 2017. Can’t say for sure, but I’d say the joint’s wins in the London International Spirits Awards and the SA Rum Awards are well-earned.
I’m basing that on their A-tier tastings and gin ranges, particularly the Magalies one. Harvested by hand and locally sourced, the collection satisfied my yearning for juniper- and lime-forward spirits.
The other experiences are also lekker. Most even add chocolates, macarons, brandy, rum, and cocktails to the mix.
Tip: You can score special deals online.
Time Anchor Distillery / Mirari Gin
From mirarigin
Address: 16 Dartfield Rd, Sandown, Sandton
Contact Details: +27 67 369 4842
Operating Hours: Tue to Fri – 9 am to 4 pm
Website
If you’re not a fan of tours where only the guide can yap about spirits, Time Anchor Distillery could be your spot. Just look at their tasting setup: it encourages firing off questions once the glasses are empty.
There’s also a gin and cocktail crafting experience, handy for learning new blends and impressing your mates at the next bash.
To top it all off, Time Anchor’s ethically-sourced Mirari Range hits all the right notes. Juniper is what anchors the lineup, with an assortment of citrus and spices rounding it out.
Tip: If you need new cocktail recipes, they offer some for free.
Drysdales Distillery
From ohfortheloveofcraft
Address: House 3, 31 High Street, Founders Hill, Modderfontein
Contact Details: +27 82 414 9838
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 8 am to 4 pm
- Fri – 8 am to 6 pm
- Sat – 12 pm to 6 pm
Every time someone asks why I get down to Drysdales Distillery, I just say one word: Shekeela. It’s an herby and delicately sweet South African spirit that’s distilled from Karoo agave and hard to find elsewhere.
The gin lineup also plays a part in that, chiefly the acclaimed Chilli Gin, bearing a distinctly red shade and a fiery character. If you’re worried about the kick, ginger and cinnamon tone down the heat a bit, and the lingering taste is herb-leaning.
Drinks aside, the distillery is a laid-back nook. Live music mellows the whole setting, and food trucks slinging burgers and Mexican treats are on site.
Tip: Consider hosting a private event here. They have plenty of space for that.
Earthbound Distillery
From earthbounddistillerysa
Address: Uitzicht Office Park, One Highveld, 5 Bellingham St, Highveld, Centurion
Contact Details: +27 12 665 1483
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 8 am to 3:30 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 2:30 pm
Earthbound Distillery’s sunny style clicks with people who enjoy tours led by cheerful hosts. The prize-winning rum and gin don’t hurt either.
As admirers of woody essences and molasses-heavy flavours, we’re specifically partial to their Earthbound Amber Rum. Personally, I down it chilled and with a splash of citrus, but a rum mixer works just as well.
Should you favour gin more, Angel Breath is a tasty number. The light drink smells of strawberries and tastes like them, too.
Tip: Discounts or special bundles are posted first on their Insta.
The African Spirit Distillery
From theafricanspiritdistillery
Address: Unit 14, 15 Top Rd, Anderbolt, Boksburg
Contact Details: +27 82 311 0520
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 am to 4:30 pm
Website
Only first-rate molasses and raw ingredients make the cut at The African Spirit Distillery. That careful selection can be tasted in their rum, spirits, gin, and aperitifs.
To do so, you can hop into a guided tour or tasting, or if you’re quite loaded, book a private experience. Honestly, any option is solid, as long as you get a sip of their staples.
By staples, we’re talking about the Madagascan Vanilla aperitif, Classic Gin, and Classic Rum, the foundations of their extra playful blends.
Tip: They broadcast rugby matches, with the schedule posted on Insta.
Van Ryn’s Distillery and Brandy Cellar
From vanrynsbrandy
Address: Vlottenburg 7604, Van Ryn Road, Stellenbosch NU, Stellenbosch
Contact Details: +27 21 881 3875
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
Website
Van Ryn has been in the brandy-making scene since 1845, and if that’s not proof of quality, I don’t know what is.
Luckily, the spirited crowd can be the judge of that through the distillery’s brandy, featuring vintages of up to 20 years old, coupled with espresso/fynbos chocolates or pistachio truffles.
Tours are also open for visitors who like their distilling history with a side of demonstration. The best bit? You’ll get to look at their Savalle and John Doore copper poststills.
Tip: You can bring the kiddos. They have non-alcoholic options.
