The Diamond Works has ongoing experience with working alongside goldsmiths to create jewellery masterpieces from raw natural materials.
This Spring The Diamond Works introduces a new fresh partner, GINSMITHS – the collaboration with this premium gin brand rings true to The Diamond Works values as GINSMITH shares their process secrets in creating exquisite botanically infused gin.
The home of GINSMITH is Tygerkloof, here handcrafted gins are created in a traditional manner, using a 300l copper alembic still over flames. The team then harvest botanicals from their immediate terroir such as Kapok (wild rosemary), mpephu (African sage) and buchu (Agathosma Betulina). Their other products used to create these gins would be sourced from neighbouring farms.
Ginsmith has been around for over 4 years and has hit the alcohol industry by storm. They have already won Gold for the South African Craft Gin Awards for all three gin’s they have created in the year 2020. Ginsmith, a power women driven company owner by Colleen and Lesley, their background doesn’t have your traditional “gin-makers” background as both ladies come from Psychotherapy practices. They then retired in the beauty of the mountains bordering on Groot Winterhoek Wilderness where on summers evening the two ladies were “sitting on the stoep, gin in hand” and they thought their surroundings presented them with such great opportunity. With unique fynbos botanicals, a pristine source of mountain water and a love for gin – their idea was born.
Two years later, after training in the art of distillation followed by extensive experimentation and recipe development their moment of inspiration turned into the arrival of GINSMITH Gins. There have been a few rare spotting’s of the Shy Cape Leopard which inspired the imagery of their bottles which then lead to their partnership to The Cape Leopard Trust with a variety of initiatives including donating R10 for every bottle sold to contribute to their conservations and educational efforts.
Their distilled three exquisite blends of nature come from many inspired stories such as the Navy 57%, forward with pink peppercorn, followed by piney notes of juniper with wild Rosemary and sage. NAVY Strength gin originated during the Napoleonic Wars, when officers in the Royal Navy were given rations of gin. As gin and gunpowder were both stored in the hold of the ship, any spillage of gin could potentially wet the gunpowder and render it useless. It was found that with gin at 57% the gunpowder would still ignite, hence Navy Strength gin came into being. There are also two other gins such as Pink and The Stepchild, with some more inspired stories.
Colleen and Lesley will reveal their stories first hand and share the details behind creating gin master pieces on the 18th of September 2021 at The Diamond Works. GINSMITH joins our Spring Jewellery Making Workshop where you are guided to create your very own Fresh Water Pearl piece and enjoy the latest GINSMITH creations.
To purchase your very own GINSMITH:
