First Impressions
The ClemenGold is a prized South African mandarin variety — smaller and more intensely aromatic than regular clementines, grown in the Western Cape's Mediterranean climate. Hope Distillery in Cape Town takes these mandarins, sun-dries the peels to concentrate their oils, then distils them into a sugar cane base spirit alongside seven other botanicals. The combination of maceration and vapour infusion — peels steeped in the pot while delicate botanicals sit in baskets above — extracts both deep and volatile aromatics from the mandarin.
Tasting
Eight botanicals: sun-dried ClemenGold mandarin peel, orange peel, cinnamon, ground almond, juniper, angelica, orris root and coriander. The nose is powerfully citrus-forward — sweet, juicy mandarin with subtle spice. On the palate, juniper meets bold citrus with honeyed sweetness, almond adding depth and smoothness, cinnamon warmth, coriander spice. The sugar cane base provides clean sweetness. The finish is citrus and honey fading with almond smoothness lingering.
The Bottom Line
ClemenGold earns a 7 for showcasing one of South Africa's most distinctive fruits in a well-crafted gin. The sun-dried mandarin peels provide an intensity that fresh peels cannot match — concentrated sunshine in every sip. Classic gin purists may find the citrus overwhelming, but for those who love their gin citrus-forward, this is one of the best available. Best with a premium Indian tonic and a mandarin wedge.
