Triple Three Gin comes in three delectable variants. I’ve had the privilege to taste all three, in combination with three of the most popular tonics of the moment.

First, some distiller’s note on the gin.

Triple Three Gin: African Botanicals Gin

This gin is the perfect blend of seven botanicals, including the flora of the Western Cape. Herbs, dried and fresh tea leaves of buchu and rooibos, cloves, cedar wood shavings and pine are adjoined by delicate lemon peel, menthol, dark berries, moss and earthiness. Experience flavours of forest-honey, maple and almonds deliver sweet and toasty notes.

Botanicals
Liquorice, almonds, rooibos, juniper berries, coriander seed, buchu, galangal root.

The mixers

I decided to use the extremely popular and bespoke Fitch & Leedes tonics to tease out the flavours of each gin. Fitch & Leedes mixers are crafted in small batches, using quadruple filtered water. These products are “delicately carbonated, finely balanced and infused with the world’s finest flavours.”

Fitch & Leedes Indian Tonic

The delicate combination of bitter and sweet, derived from the essence of the ‘Cinchona’ tree is just what your finest gin needs for a truly satisfying G&T moment.

Fitch & Leedes Pink Tonic

Pretty in pink with whiffs of rose petals and fresh cucumber, this tonic is poised to be the perfect accompaniment to fine gins and adds a delightful twist to your classic G&T.

Fitch & Leedes Blue Tonic

This blue-blooded mixer transforms every G&T into a sensory indulgence. Let whiffs of juicy blueberry and hints of cardamom entice you, while the vivid blue colour adds a captivating twist to your gin cocktail.

My method and verdict

I approached my tasting in a very scientific way: 15 ml gin with 60 ml chilled tonic, starting with the Indian tonic, followed by the pink tonic, and wrapping up with blue tonic.

I expected to like this gin a lot more than what I actually did. Maybe it’s the liquorice, maybe I’m just fussy (it’s a fact I’ve long ago stopped debating). It wasn’t unpleasant, but of the three variants, I would rank this one in third place. The sweeter tonics didn’t compliment the botanicals at all, and despite being a great fan of the pink tonic, the best match for Triple Three Gin African Botanicals is without a doubt the Indian tonic.

To be honest, for me this is a gin that I’ll encourage guests to try, while I hide away my favourites.