Nina van der Velde has arranged for us to visit and enjoy a gin-tasting experience at Pienaar & Son Distilling Company, which is a small, craft distillery located within Makers Landing, at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal in the Silo District of Cape Town Harbour. Pa Pienaar, with his more than 40 years of distilling experience, and his son, hand-craft spirits with science and art. Their equipment is hand-built and their processes are based upon cutting-edge, nerdy engineering principles.

We’ll taste three different gins and hear a short explanation about the distilling, producing and bottling of gin. Whisky and brandy tastings will also be available: additional charges will apply.

TIME AND PLACE TO MEET: We’ll meet at at 11:15 at Pienaar & Son, Makers Landing. Our gin tasting tour starts at 11:30 sharp.

LUNCH: Lunch will be at the Tasca Mozambique Portuguese Restaurant, which is in the same building; so we’ll not need to travel anywhere. On offer will be chicken, prawns, crayfish, burgers and wraps. The restaurant has salt in small sachets, but no pepper. It is an Halaal establishment, but do not fear, as we will be sitting in the Wine Emporium next door, to which the owners have very kindly agreed. Weather permitting, we may be able to sit outside under umbrellas, so you might want to bring a hat. For dessert, you might like to visit the Chocolate Shop near the exit. As always, lunch will be for your own account.