IN-DEPTH Food
Like most Xhosa folk from the Eastern Cape, my first encounter with gin was in a traditional context The clear spirit is a medium for connecting to your ancestors, and traditional healers tend to use it. Often - for those who care and are well-versed in all things concerning gin, at least — the types of gin used gets a bad rap because of the price tag and the medicinal taste. But Old Buck, for example, is an award-winning and revered gin proudly made in South Africa. I was never a fan; not even tonic could make me enjoy it. I'd always grouped it with the alcohol the elders drink at traditional gatherings, such as brandy and umqombothi, so it never felt appropriate for me in my younger years.
This changed when I attended my first gin tasting. I was 25 years old and working for a men's magazine. Being at events was necessary for networking and living the brand's ethos. Drinking pricey whiskies and attending fashion shows were
