Hobbyist finds calling in crafting gin
In 2020, at the foothills of Magoebaskloof, an inspired hobbyist, Grant Shulman, set out to create the finest of spirits which led to the birth of the Grandis Distillery.
He says during the pandemic, with the gift of time in isolation, he was able to craft a gin that reflects the subtropical forest that the gin was created in. “Most of our botanicals are specifically locally sourced to convey the taste of Mother Nature herself in the bliss of Magoebaskloof,” Shulman says. The name of the distillery was inspired by the Eucalyptus Grandis tree which is prominent in the Magoebaskloof area.
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“When I started making spirits, it was just for fun, and at the time I was not licenced. After seeing that something great was coming out of my hobby, I applied for my licence which I obtained in January this year.” His gin was followed by a second spirit, Air-Born Rum. “Our process starts with fermentation, followed by triple distilling, we then blend and the final product is ready to be bottled.” He says the feedback on their products has been very good.
“At first I struggled to keep up with demand but have now come up with a solution to address the challenge,” he says. He is currently working on two more products, Pinkberry Gin and Rooibos Gin. “We have a mobile bar at events, weddings, and festivals serving our crafted spirit cocktails.” Visit www.grandis. co.za or their Facebook, Grandis Distillery for more information.