South African Alcohol- 12 Drinks You Must Taste Before Leaving The Country

Globally, South African alcohol has become one of the most important and daring things the country has to offer. The country is known to be among the world’s renowned producers of the best drinks of several types. This is largely due to the effects of colonialism which brought into the country a mixture of different cultures and races. These cultures and races in turn have a great influence on what South Africans eat and drink.

It won’t be a bad idea as a tourist touring the various beautiful cities of the country, to have a taste of some of the amazing drinks the country offers. Whenever you get invited to parties or any form of social gathering, you are surely going to get a taste of the following drinks before leaving the country.

12 Fascinating South African Alcohol You Must Taste Before Leaving The Country

1. Umqombothi

This is a local South African beer brewed traditionally from maize (corn), maize malt, sorghum malt, yeast, and water. With usually low alcohol content, which doesn’t go beyond 3%, the local beer is rich in vitamin B and it is cheaper compared to larger beers. For lovers of local booze, Umqombothi is the drink for you. Don’t leave that country without a sip.

2. Witblits

Nicknamed “fire lightning” is a distilled spirit that is made in the Western Cape region of South Africa for over 200 hundred years. The Brandy is produced from grapes and it is diluted, which makes it high quality. With an alcoholic content of 50%, it is Ideal for consumption in social gatherings and recreation.

3. Mampoer

Among South African alcohol is the fruity version of witblits. It contains an alcoholic percentage ranging from 50 to 80%. This drink made it on the list of the 21 strongest drinks in the world in 2018. It is consumed in the northern region of South Africa and produced using peace, apricot, litchi, and other fruits.

4. Wine

As much as there are good affordable wines in South Africa, you’ll also have to break the bank to get some of the best made South African wines such as; ramnasgras cinsault Swartland, black bream pinot noir walker bay, beeslaar pinotage Stellenbosch, and Klein Constatia among others.

5. Van der Hum Liqueur

With a 25% alcoholic content, the liqueur is made using a combination of spices, herbs, sugar, tangerine, pot-still brandy, and diluted wine. It is available in most liqueur stores in South Africa.

6. Amarula

This South African alcohol is also a creamy liqueur produced from sugar, cream, and African marula tree, also known as elephant tree or the marriage tree. It has a 17% alcohol volume and other things such as ice cream, or Irish coffee can be added to it for a taste of a different flavour.

7. Beer

For lovers of beer, there are popular beer brands made in South African. The most popular of the beer brand is the Castle Lager, followed by others such as Black Label, Amstel, and Carlsberg among others.

8. Springbokkies

Is a popular cocktail drink in South Africa. It is made up of crème de mente and amarula. The drink is mostly consumed during the sporting season.

9. Mainstay International Cane Spirit Rum

This rum is so much loved by South Africans as Tequila is by Mexicans. The gavine or mystery liquor as it is originally called came from the cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. It is produced from the fermentation of molasses, through the continuous column still method. The volume of alcohol in the rum is 43%.

10. Copeland Rum

The traditional South African white is permeated with steamy aromas and has diverse spicy notes based on the flavor notes of fynbos. With an alcoholic volume of 43%, the rum is fully flavored with no additives.

11. Bantu Beer

It’s a local South African beer. Traditionally, it is made through the fermentation of water and malted kafficorn mixed. The legally accepted alcoholic percentage for local beer ranges from 3 to 4%. Once you find yourself in the Bantu region of South Africa, give this local booze try.

12. Vachellia Premium Vodka

Made from premium grains in the coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa, Vachellia Premium Vodka is produced to celebrate African excellence in a classy manner. With a 43% alcohol content, the vodka is uniquely impeccable for relaxation on any occasion. It is best enjoyed neat or when blended as a cocktail.

Having a taste of the greatness of these South African drinks will not only make you enjoy your visit to the country, but it will also make you wish to come back after leaving.