Product Description
The Botanicals
Wixworth is firmly committed to protecting our rhino. Renosterbos, meaning ‘rhino bush’, gets its name from these majestic creatures that once roamed freely across Southern Africa. It is said that the thin leaves of the shrub, which go grey when dried in the sun, are similar in colour to a Black rhino’s hide. Wixworth believes that saving endangered rhinos from extinction is something we can all collectively raise a glass to. For every bottle sold, you raise a glass, Wixworth contribute!
RENOSTERBOS
Why Renosterbos, you might ask. Well, historically in southern Africa, the dried leaves of this small, grey-green indigenous South African shrub were added to brackish water to mask its taste. This little piece of history gave us our inspiration. We use the sundried leaves to give Wixworth its fresh, herbaceous heart and refreshing floral pininess, and add a warm, African welcome to its unique flavour profile. Because each leaf is packed with flavour, a little goes a long way.
HOW IT GOT ITS NAME
Believe it or not, Black Rhino (along with other members of Africa’s Big Five) once roamed freely in the area now occupied by the Cape’s renowned winelands. This plentiful shrub was one of the rhinos’ favourite foods. Renosterbos gave its name to the fynbos family known as Renosterveld. Today, while Renosterbos grows abundantly throughout the southern and western parts of South Africa, there are few areas of Renosterveld left.
6 botanicals.
JUNIPER BERRY
Juniper is a small conifer that grows predominantly in the colder climates of the northern hemisphere. The ripe, dried berries of this unprepossessing shrub, frequently used in cooking, provide the signature note of every gin. In fact, the word gin evolved from the Dutch word for juniper, ‘jenever’. Only the very best berries are used in making Wixworth to give it its fruity/piny, somewhat peppery backbone and to add subtle herbal notes.
The CORIANDER
Well known to anyone who cooks Indian, Middle Eastern or North African dishes, coriander seeds add spicy, fragrant, citrusy notes.
CASSIA BARK
Sometimes referred to as ‘bastard cinnamon’, the bark of this tree is harvested from young shoots and sun dried. These delicate curls impart a warm, sweet-spicy flavour similar to cinnamon.
ORANGE PEEL
Probably the first note you’ll notice with your first sip of Wixworth, and what gives it its refreshing lightness, is the bright, sunshiny scent of the sundried peel of Valencia and navel oranges.
ANGELICA ROOT
Angelica root provides woody-nutty base notes. There are many stories of how this ancient plant, used historically as a ‘cure’ for many infectious illnesses, got its name. We like to think that it adds a heavenly accent to Wixworth.
The Distillery
Like all classic London Dry Gins, the process of making Wixworth begins with neutral spirit alcohol. The magic happens with the addition of a variety of carefully selected natural ingredients – the botanicals. It takes an exceptional craftsman with years of experience to create the unique blend of botanicals that give Wixworth its decidedly distinctive, delicious flavour.
