J’Something, SA’s much loved muso and foodie, is set to delight palates again, but this time it’s in the gin industry, with the launch of his latest venture and new craft gin, Jin Gin. He originally hit the stage as a member of the band, Mi Casa, but has more recently been known for his love of food. He was a judge on My Kitchen Rules South Africa as well as local cooking shows such as What’s for Dinner and Something’s Cooking(he’s just brought out a book of the same name). To top it all off, there’s also his restaurant, Something’s Cooking by J.
For Jin Gin, J’Something teamed up with local craft gin experts, Craft Link the makers of the award-winning Ginologist Gin, and the result is not only a gin that has great flavour but that has a personality too.
Rooibos, Orange and Honey Jin Gin. Picture supplied.
With so many local and international gin brands available in a fiercely competitive market, J’Something’s thinking was simple: “I wanted to do something that I love. I’ve never been much of a drinker, but a good G&T always hit the spot. The team at Craft Link helped me create a gin that not only suits my audience and their palates but that also represents something different in the market; ultimately it represents my story. I mean it’s still a gin, it’s just ‘something different’,” he explains.
Honey and Olives Jin Gin. Picture supplied.
Jin Gin is locally produced and inspired by J’Something’s Portuguese and South African heritage. The variants within the Jin Gin Collection include Rooibos, Orange and Honey; Tomato and Sweet Piquante Peppers and Honey and Olives. The Orange, Rooibos and Honey is a contemporary gin with strong rooibos and honey notes that wash over the palate, finished off with an underlying caramel sweetness. The Tomato and Sweet Piquante Pepper is a twist on the classic London dry gin with a slightly dry, yet sweet finish. Infused with savoury notes from the tomato and sweet piquanté peppers with subtle fruity hints. The Olive and Honey is a Mediterranean-inspired gin with fresh, green flavours coming through strongly at first, followed by soft olive and honey notes with a lingering, pleasantly savoury finish.
All the flavours tie into his career and passion for food and music and each variant has its own story to tell. The Rooibos, Orange and Honey, J’Somethings’ favourite, expertly blends the flavours of world-famous oranges from the South of Portugal with South African Rooibos and Honey - his favourite pre-gig drink.
Tomato and Sweet Piquante Peppers. Picture supplied.
“The craft of pairing food with gin is also gaining momentum”, says J’Something. “In the kitchen, food needs to tell a story and Jin Gin is no different. We have created delicious recipes to accompany your Jin Gin G&T. Food is personal to me and reflects my home… the place where I grew in leaps and bounds as a chef. Home was where I could experiment with flavours and techniques,” he says. “My spicy, authentic Portuguese heritage combined with hearty, homegrown South African food have become my trademark,” he concludes.
Simply put, Jin Gin is a superb tasting gin inspired by a lifestyle that is deeply rooted in culture, fun, happiness, and good times. Jin Gin, It’s still Gin, just something different. Jin Gin is available from selected Pick ‘n Pay and Ultra Bottle Stores, and it retails for approximately R390 per bottle.