FEELING GOOD

Nourish the body, mind, and soul during troubled times with these ingenious offerings

Zhen Gin

Conceived as “Asia’s first climate-positive sipping gin,” the ricebased Zhen Gin was created by Terence Loh and Min Teo after their surfing trip to eastern Taiwan more than two years ago, where they encountered the environmental and social damage wrought by typhoons. It was named after the Chinese character meaning “true, genuine”. This gin is concocted using rice grains collected from affected local farmers along the eastern board of Taiwan — damaged rice crops would release methane (a greenhouse gas more harmful than carbon dioxide) during decomposition — together with distillers in Yilan. The result is a heady blend of Bhutanese juniper, Thai coriander seeds, orris root, and other Eastern botanical ingredients, with a nose of Yunnan osmanthus, pomegranate, seeds and oranges.

Zhen Gin’s co-founders went beyond creating an oriental beverage when they launched the #BarTabSG Relief Fund in May to offer financial support to Singapore-based bartenders and barbacks affected by the business downturn brought about by COVID-19. Twenty per cent of the sale proceeds of Zhen Gin bottles went into the community fund that was shared equally with all eligible applicants, while another 20 per cent went directly to the bartenders through sales they made. And on the occasion of World Gin Day (June 13), Zhen Gin dedicated 40 per cent of Zhen Gin bottle sale proceeds between June 12 and 14 to the #Bartabsg Relief Fund. The Loh Foundation, co-founded by Terence, made a matching contribution after the campaign on June 30. zhengin.com