City: Western Cape
Top Things to do in Western Cape
What to do and see in Western Cape, South Africa: The Best Distilleries
South Africa’s most popular tourist destination offers the urban thrills of Cape Town, its adjacent wine country and an aura of the rich political history of South Africa. The Overberg's perfect whale-watching perches provide excitement of a different nature. The Garden Route's lakes and forests and the Klein Karoo's ostrich-farming towns and vineyards present another take on the Cape. For extra kicks, try bungee jumping or cage-diving among Great Whites.
Restaurants in Western Cape
1. Hope Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Hope Distillery is a small South African distillery in the heart of urban Cape Town. Set up by two ex-lawyers who followed their hearts and turned their hands to distilling, they produce small batch gins and other spirits.
2. James Sedgwick Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Hein_Wagner
I live in the Boland and has done countless tastings, food pairings and tours...this one stands head and shoulders above the rest! Simon is fantastic as a host and his knowledge and passion of the brand and industry as a whole is contagious...10 out of 10! Keep on doing what you are doing! This is a must for anyone visiting our lovely valley!
3. RPRX - Real People Real Xperiences
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
We understand that you are hungry for something real and authentic in every place you visit across the globe. We at RPRX want you to truly Xperience and enjoy your time in the Garden Route, and want you to leave with a special piece of this amazing place we call home. What better way to do this than distilling your very own bottle of Craft Gin under the expert guidance of a local distiller, and to infuse it with the Garden Route's indigenous Fynbos botanicals. This is an Xperience like none other, and one we trust will live on in your memory for many years to come!
4. Knysna Gin Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Knysna Gin Distillery creates traditional small batch Spirits. Our first gin recently scored 91 points at the IWSC in London. Visit any day for tastings and an informal tour. Try the new Blueberry Gin. Enjoy the creative cocktail menu. The Buffels baai is our best seller: an unusual combination of gin, elderflower syrup and litchi juice.
Reviewed By patriciawf2015 - Greater Johannesburg, South Africa
What an amazing find! So unique and absolutely awesome! Highly recommend a visit. Even though in an industrial area, there are thi gs to keep the little ones (and big ones!) amused! The beer is great as are the gin tasters.
5. Stillman Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Stillman Distillery creates small batch spirits. This hidden gem, in an old wine cellar, offers gin tastings paired with cheese boards. This immersive experience provides a glimpse into the creative world of distilling. A must see for all those visiting the Cape Winelands.
Reviewed By CMCWaldo
Very enjoyable and informative afternoon tasting a variety of excellent gins. Diverse and high quality product range. Wish we could have taken more home with us.
6. Cape Of Storms Distilling Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Come try Cape Town's very own Craft Rum in a hidden courtyard. Taste three completely different Rums and get a free Distillery tour. We are a family owned and run Craft Rum distillery and tasting room based in Salt River, Cape Town. Our Rum is made entirely by us using African blackstrap molasses and a modernized version of a centuries old Caribbean process.
Reviewed By blubbsie - Johannesburg, South Africa
Came to Cape of Storms Distillery for a distillery tour and rum tasting with a bunch of friends. It was absolutely fantastic!!! Very informative, great service and everything was super delicious! Highly recommend it...
7. Distillers & Union
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By bearsnotebook - Cape Town Central, South Africa
Distillers Union is fresh on the Woodstock distillery scene. We landed at the Distillers & Union for a gin and snack pairing which was offered on Hyperli at the time. The gins all have completely different flavour profiles which are perfectly paired with delicious local garnish. Simon was a lovely host to us ladies out for the tipple and answered all our silly questions happily. He is a true gin enthusiast who took the time to show us the process they use to make their gin along with all the machinery.
8. Tanagra Winery & Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
TANAGRA is an idyllic wine farm close to McGregor and part of the Robertson Wine Route and Route 62. We offer comfortable Self Catering farm accommodation in well appointed guest cottages, and produce handcrafted wines (with focus on certified Single Vineyard wines) and stylish Grappa, Eau de Vie and Fruit liqueurs in our boutique distillery.
Reviewed By bfirnrohr - Munich, Germany
We had a very delightful and relaxing stay at Tanagra Garden Cottage. Hosts are great and accomodating with everything. Wines are excellent too.
9. Oude Molen Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Our distillery in the Elgin Valley is a place of absolute balance. Wines are dashed from the vineyards and distilled immediately to preserve the fruity freshness. In our maturation cellars, time stands still as the spirit rests for years and years and years… While we wait for our brandies reach perfection, we like having folks pop around and we’d like to welcome you to Oude Molen. It’s something completely different, and the Elgin Valley is a great day out.
Reviewed By thekikkister
I'd like to thank Chanell for the wonderful tour. The tour focuses on both how brandy is made as well as the long history of the company, in particular the founder of the Oude Molen. You get to see the behind the scenes of how the brandy is made, and the smell of the stores are amazing! I could stay in stores for hours just taking in the aroma of the brandy stores!
10. Inverroche Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 157 reviews
THE SOUTHERNMOST DISTILLERY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT From the sleepy coastal town of Still Bay, mother and son team Lorna and Rohan Scott produce a fine range of unique spirits with the help of nature's bounty of aromatic, medicinal and culinary herbs. Famous for their handcrafted gins, rum and liqueur, their products are pot-distilled from indigenous Fynbos grown on their property and surrounds. Their gins, of which three varieties are produced, are made in small, individually numbered batches of 750 bottles at a time.
Reviewed By jackov2019
In early 2019, we were talking about our favourite alcoholic drinks. A colleague recommended we drive out to Stilbay for the Inverroche gin experience. I thought it was a crazy idea at first. However, I got the opportunity to drive to Stilbay and decided to check out the place. I am not a big gin drinker and only discovered the gin by accident as I signed up for GinBox club. We introduced the gin to our friends, we love the taste of the gin, and it went suited to most occasions. Let me start by saying the visit to "Inverroche Distillery" blew my mind away. I do a lot of wine and gin tasting around the Western Cape and on travels. This has been the best gin tasting, education and making experience we've ever been to in the whole world! When traveling, I make an effort to taste foods and wines and document the experiencing and journey on my social media presence so that I can share my experience with my friends and family. The presenters "Nicole" and assistant "Filicia" was amazing, explaining the details of the gin, the ingredients, the history. We got the opportunity to distil our own gin. It isn't just about tasting gin: it a whole experience: the staff is exceptionally polite and wants to fulfil every wish. The gin tour and tasting experience is indescribable! The interior of this distillery and tasting rooms is very cozy and you really get the feeling of being in a different world! I love the whole experience. I also love the story behind the Inverroche Distillery and the founders' vision, "It's not about taking advantage of economies of scale – we are about empowering people". We need more companies like this in our country. Be responsible with your money and spend it on businesses that want to make a difference in our communities. I would highly recommend the gin tasting and distilling experience. Keep it up and thank you for sharing your experience with the world! Make South Africa proud… We are looking forward to coming back every time we're in the surrounding area! Without a doubt, Inverroche Distillery is a must-do bucket list item for any traveller and local alike. If you want to learn something new about the South African handcrafted gin industry, this activity ranks high on most of the things on my travel bucket list. Make an effort and drive out to Stilbaai; you will not regret it.
