LOCK, STOCK AND WINE BARREL

If you visited the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair at Hyde Park Corner in Johannesburg at the weekend, chances are good you stumbled upon a bit of an anomaly at the department of trade and industry stall – Qualito Distillery.

When the friendly purveyor Loumarie Raubenheimer offered a taste of their gin and whiskey, my first reaction was: urgh! Another craft distiller.

But then she mentioned something that made me spend more time than I planned at her stall – the distillery is based in Limpopo and everything is made there.

It’s their whisky called Heimer that was a clear knockout.

Made from mielies, the whiskey has a sweeter note than most whiskies, with pops of vanilla and hazelnut.

Although it sounds desserty – it’s not clawingly so.

With the gin boom still causing a ring, Qualito’s Grey Hawk Classic doesn’t feel forced to capitalise on its popularity – because it’s not the sort of gin that’s lightweight.

With bold juniper on the palate, it also delivers some floral and citrus notes with a lingering finish – perfect to mix with tonic, or even soda water, ice and orange rind.

But Qualito Distillery doesn’t stop there – it also dabbles with producing vodka, starting with its premium vodka called Skadi. Vodka, neat, certainly has a long way to go before it satisfies the South African palette as much as whisky, or even potstill brandy.

Just when you thought craft distillers have run out of tricks – Limpopo serves up a storm.

For more information visit qualito.co.za