Introducing Guardian African Gin; A Double Gold Guardian Of Nature (Custos Naturae)

Guardian African Gin, a new distinctly African interpretation of craft gin, has been honoured with Double Gold at the 2021 SA Craft Gin Awards which celebrate and promote the finest craft gins distilled in South Africa. This prestigious accolade followed hot on the heels of a Highly Commended award at The Gin Guide Awards, the world’s largest dedicated gin competition.

Guardian African Gin is not only a craft gin of exceptional class and character but also a gin with a mission, a Guardian of Nature, that gives back to make the world a better place. With every sip of Guardian African Gin, you are protecting South Africa’s natural resources and taking a stand for conservation.

Guardian African Gin is crafted in small batches in a boutique distillery Gin & Co in White River, a mere 30 minutes drive from the world-famous Kruger National Park. Driven by a quest for authenticity and provenance, only botanicals local to the Lowveld distillery, such as juniper, baobab, spekboom, orange and lemon zest, are wild-harvested to craft a most flavourful gin in a “London Dry Gin” style.

Master distiller, Tanya Cruse, who grew up in Kruger National Park’s Skukuza camp, and her business partner Patrick Siebel, a safari man originally from White River, share a deep passion for conservation of our natural resources. This passion led them to form a strategic partnership with South African National Parks. 10% of each Guardian Gin purchase helps SANParks protect our endangered rhino, lions, elephants, wild dogs as well as abalone along our coastlines. This donation also goes a long way to help activate local communities, educate our youth, and preserve our rich cultural heritage.

SANParks conservation initiatives that benefit from the purchase of Guardian African Gin include the K-9 Unit: the rangers’ dogs that are very often the first respondents to incidents of suspected poaching, the SANParks Air-wing unit: which is responsible for wildlife management and conservation activities, most notably dedicated aerial anti-poaching support, and the Greening and Management Plan: which has been introduced to local communities to encourage a clean, green, safe and healthy environment which includes planting of indigenous plants, waste and wetlands management, combating land degradation and encouragement of small scale farming.

Guardian African Gin’s mission and story is creatively and authentically captured in evocative packaging designed in collaboration with Tag8 agency. The green colour of nature pays tribute to SANParks conservation initiatives, the gold logo depicts kudu horns and foliage, the Latin motto Custos Naturae translates as Guardian of Nature, and the striking imagery enveloping the box, beautifully sketched by a local Lowveld artist, Libby Bell, showcases majestic African wildlife and the mighty baobab tree. In addition to a 750ml bottle of Guardian African Gin, a surprise package of botanical salts is also enclosed in the box, containing the Gin’s raw botanicals, in the same ratio as the Gin. An easy garnish, sprinkle the botanicals in your Gin and intensify the flavours of the Gin.

As you break the seal of each bottle of Guardian African Gin and sip from the gifts of the abundant earth, delight in knowing that this act alone allows you to join the ranks of Nature’s Guardians. “To explore, to savour, and to protect. That’s what it is to be human on this earth. That’s what it is to be a Guardian of Nature.”

There is so much to love about Guardian African Gin, a handcrafted award-winning gin with a purpose – a dedication to conservation, a gin with provenance – one sip or one glance at the packaging and you are immediately transported to the heart of the African bush.

Learn a little more on how Guardian African Gin was created, by watching this IGTV interview between Dean Horwitz of @instaeatscapetown and Patrick Siebel of @guardiangin at https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkZvx2nGIt/

Purchase Guardian African Gin:

Available from the Gin & Co Distillery in White River, Mpumalanga
Online at https://guardiangin.co.za/shop/ – and free delivery

Guardian African Gin 750ml R455

Guardian African Gin 750ml with box and https://guardiangin.co.za/shop/ botanical salts R495

Takealot.com – https://www.takealot.com/guardian-african-gin-750ml/PLID70842343 – Guardian African Gin 750ml with box and botanical salts for R450 – and free delivery
Available at select liquor retailers nationwide
Also available at select SANParks Rest Camp Stores

GUARDIAN AFRICAN GIN

Handcrafted at Gin & Co in support of SANParks conservation
Address: Casterbridge Centre, Corner R40 & Numbi Gate Road, White River, 1240, Mpumalanga
Tel: 013 750 1696

Gin & Co encompasses a Distillery, shop and tasting room.