JOHANNESBURG, 20 August 2018 – South Africa’s very own home-grown Silver Creek Craft Distillery has claimed its first prize – Gold at the 2018 SA Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards (SAWWA).
New Margarita Moonshine is the latest innovation in Silver Creek’s Southern Moonshine range of unaged, small-batch American-style moonshines and follows the launch earlier this year of Silver Creek’s popular Prohibition Craft Gins. And yessiree, the Prohibition Pink Gin was picked as a señorita Gold favourite at this year’s SAWWA too!
Margarita Moonshine is no mixer, amigo. It’s the all-in-one party-in-a-bottle, served up in a bespoke moonshine jug with nifty finger loop that emulates the easy-going spirit of Mexico – the spiritual home of the Margarita.
“In making the Margarita Moonshine, we wanted to create something laid-back and fun-loving. The classic Margarita, said to have first originated in a 1930s bar in Tijuana, was the inspiration,” says Silver Creek Craft Distillery founder and chief distiller Mark Taverner. “When you’re drinking our Margarita Moonshine, you’ll feel right there on an endless beach in Cancún or partying in one of the city’s most vibey nightclubs.”
Margarita Moonshine can be served the typical way, with crushed ice in a salt-rimmed glass and lime-wheel garnish (with a splash of quality soda for added zest); or, as a straight shooter.
A mouth-watering lime-green in colour, it’s a drink with fresh lime zing. Plus, at 24% alcohol, this will be almost anybody’s solution for a good time.
In fact, Silver Creek has been crafting good time-juice since 2016. Just last year its Southern Moonshines scored a massive five-medal victory at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards.
The range comprises Clear Shine, a smooth and genuine spirit with grain character and as authentically American as it gets; Charred Shine, which is similar in flavour to a good bourbon; and, Flavoured ‘Shines with essence made exclusively for the distillery, in the American state of Kentucky. The latter include Apple Pie Moonshine; Bon Fire Moonshine, with a zip of hot cinnamon; Salted Caramel Moonshine; Chocolate Moonshine; and now, the new Margarita Moonshine.
Distilled in the traditional way, moonshine got its name during America’s Prohibition era when fiercely independent distillers could only ply their art under the cover of darkness, by the light of the moon. These days, however, moonshine is not illegal if it is produced by a licensed distillery.
The same era, however, provided the inspiration for Silver Creek’s versatile Prohibition Gins, made in tribute to those heroic souls who fought the 1920s ban on liquor. Prohibition Craft Gin is ideally suited to be further enhanced with garnishes of fresh fruit and herbs, and good quality craft tonics. It’s Pink Gin side-kick is Silver Creek’s Craft Gin infused with raspberries and blueberries, with a touch of hibiscus flowers and rose water.
Located in Gauteng’s Randfontein, the state-of-the-art Silver Creek Craft Distillery does everything by hand – from mashing and fermentation to distillation and bottling. This process allows for extra special care, which is why every bottle is signed by the distiller.
The new Margarita Moonshine is available online at takealot.com and selected bars, restaurants and liquor outlets around the country.
More about Silver Creek’s Mark Taverner
Silver Creek Craft Distillery founder and chief distiller Mark Taverner knows how to have a good time. Much of his working life has been dedicated to hospitality and it was on this journey that he fell in love with American iconography. During a Harley-Davidson motorcycle tour to the USA in 2014, he noted the rise of craft distilleries and the legal production of moonshine. After two and a half years of study and research – including a stint at Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky – Mark decided to set up his own craft distillery in Gauteng. And so Silver Creek, its Southern Moonshine and Prohibition Gins was born.
