South Gin

After hearing about South Gin I was excited to try it. I don't think they update the distributor list on their website very often because I had to call probably a dozen liquor stores before I was able to locate one that had even heard of it, much less a store that was in business. Finally I located a store with one bottle in stock near my father’s house and I had him rush over to purchase it for me. Price: Approx. £22.

The bottle is quite distinctive and looks very nice on my shelf.
I opened the bottle and took a whiff. South has a very faint nose to it.

I poured a little into read more...a glass to taste it; frankly I was very disappointed given its "world champion" status. I'm more of a Bombay Sapphire man myself, and I felt this had very little to commend it. I poured it into a gin & tonic and I was quite frankly not certain whether I had in fact poured myself a “well” gin.

To solve this riddle, next time at the store I purchased a single-serving bottle of Seagram's gin.

Next, I poured some South into one glass and the Seagram's into another. I *will* say that the well gin has much more "bite" to it; the South is very smooth. Regarding the flavours, however, South does have a distinctive "medicine" taste to it. That may be the local botanicals, but it doesn't make me want to spend thousands to go walk through a New Zealand rain forest, either.

I have some Vya vermouth on the way; hopefully South makes a better martini than it does a gin & tonic.

Meanwhile, I’d spend your money elsewhere if I were you.    (hide)

August 2009

Note : Only available in 7 to 14 days from date of order. In true 42 BELOW style- SOUTH is produced from a GE free wheat- pristine grain spirit and distilled four times with New Zealand's outrageously clean water to create a premium- smooth botanical styled Gin. Any Gin with class has at least 8 botanicals. SOUTH has nine. Juniper berries mingle with Coriander seeds and the citrus essence of lemon and orange to linger on the tongue. Angelica leaves- Gentian and Orris Root add a touch of muskiness. Lastly- Manuka berries and Kawa Kawa leaves are blended in to create a unique- New Zealand flavor. read more...The hedonistic blend of sweet- sour- crisp- fragrant and citrus all frolic together to create the freshest- smoothest Gin. 42 BELOW's chief vodka bloke Geoff Ross believes SOUTH will bring a decadent- new taste sensation to the US Market ôSOUTH is much fresher than the traditional heavy- Juniper tang of other gins and is being sipped by a younger group of discerning palates in London- Australia and New Zealandö. The common strength for Gin lies between 40 and 45% alc/vol. SOUTH sits serenely at 48.2%.    (hide)

October 2008

What a wonderful and unique gin. It is not too sweet and a bit dry with a fantastic fragrance. Very smooth and with a very pleasant and slightly spicy finish. Highly recommended. It's such a shame that it is so hard to find in the US.

April 2009

A superb gin, amply described in the Cellarbrations vendor review below (New Zealand's water is clean, helping the quality; nine botanicals; overproof). I'll add that, on my tongue anyway, it has a wonderful spiciness that's less assertive than Hendrick's cucumber, but similarly and pleasantly unexpected.

November 2008

Note : Only available in 7 to 14 days from date of order. In true 42 BELOW style- SOUTH is produced from a GE free wheat- pristine grain spirit and distilled four times with New Zealand's outrageously clean water to create a premium- smooth botanical styled Gin. Any Gin with class has at least 8 botanicals. SOUTH has nine. Juniper berries mingle with Coriander seeds and the citrus essence of lemon and orange to linger on the tongue. Angelica leaves- Gentian and Orris Root add a touch of muskiness. Lastly- Manuka berries and Kawa Kawa leaves are blended in to create a unique- New Zealand flavor. read more...The hedonistic blend of sweet- sour- crisp- fragrant and citrus all frolic together to create the freshest- smoothest Gin. 42 BELOW's chief vodka bloke Geoff Ross believes SOUTH will bring a decadent- new taste sensation to the US Market ôSOUTH is much fresher than the traditional heavy- Juniper tang of other gins and is being sipped by a younger group of discerning palates in London- Australia and New Zealandö. The common strength for Gin lies between 40 and 45% alc/vol. SOUTH sits serenely at 48.2%.    (hide)

March 2009

Rating: 78.3/100 - As reviewed by Int'l Wine & Spirits Comp. on 11/01/06