The City of Gold’s first artisan distillery is nestled in the heart of Johannesburg’s trendy Maboneng precinct, and was established in 2013 – now they are instantly recognisable by their beautiful and creatively designed bottles of Mirari Gin.
Time Anchor Distillery is a place where creativity and science merge into the harmonious, delicate creation of hand-made and distinctly artisanal spirits – including their unique and fragrant Mirari Gin Range, created by Chief Distiller Shanna-Rae Wilby.
While spirits have a masculine image, Wilby is one of the significant women who are changing this up a bit – she heads up a distillery that has progressed from a 100 litre holding capacity to 100 000 litres since its founding, an unparalleled growth.
In a recent trend reveal consumers with discerning palettes are turning towards the artisanal – seeking hand-made craft beer, coffee and spirits, created using traditional methods and enlivened by modern creativity. Locally, consumers are moving over to luxurious artisan gins infused with a range of fragrant botanicals and made in South African micro-distilleries.
The Latin roots of the word ‘Mirari’ are based in a sense of wonder – rooted in the miraculous and describing the act of observation and admiration. It is an apt descriptor for a range of gin that presents a unique and explosively sensory experience.
The Mirari Gin range has three variants, each with their own unique signature. TAD’s Amber African Botanical Gin bears the mark of 13 botanicals that includes multiple botanicals that are indigenous to South Africa, including, Honeybush, Rose Geranium, Sour Figs and Boekenhout Honey.
Each 500l litre batch of their Pink Damask Rose Gin, on the other hand, is distilled with over 1000 damask roses, chamomile, grapefruit, cubeb berries, green cardamom, and subsequently infused with rose water. The Blue Orient Gin counterpart represents a traditional spiced gin, bearing the flavours of Cardamom, Grapefruit, Grains of Paradise, Ginger and Cassia Bark. Naturally coloured through the subtle infusion of blue pea flowers, the gin magically transforms from blue to pink when tonic is added.
It is evident that with each variant of Mirari Gin, Wilby has focused on the creation of unique and innovative flavours, with captivating personal signatures and striking sensory narratives at their heart.
This is bespoke artisanal gin that tells a story: created with passion and memorable to all, from their very first sip. It is artisanal and artistic, with bottles that bear a hand-written batch number as a testament to their handmade conception.
Serving a fragrant taste symphony, Mirari Gin is destined to become an international brand that transcends its local shores, but remains firmly South African in its flavours and roots: focused on innovation, inspired by curiosity and founded on the spirit of craftsmanship.
Not for Sale to Persons under the Age of 18. Enjoy Responsibly. Find out more here…
