First Impressions
Six Dogs Distillery sits on a farm at the intersection of two biomes — the Fynbos of the coastal Cape and the Karoo of the interior. This botanical crossroads provides unique sourcing opportunities. Their Blue gin was South Africa's first blue gin, and the colour is entirely natural: the blue pea flower (Clitoria Ternatea), an antioxidant used in traditional medicine, infuses the spirit with a striking azure that transforms to pink when the pH changes — which is to say, when you add tonic. It is alchemy from a real botanical, not food colouring.
Tasting
Six botanicals: juniper, blue pea flower, rose pelargonium (hand-picked and morning-harvested for maximum oil content), naartjie (South African mandarin), angelica and coriander. The nose is herbaceous coriander with floral complexity and tart mandarin. On the palate, a classic dry gin with slightly floral character — freshly-cut lucerne over rose pelargonium, juniper and coriander maintaining structure, naartjie adding South African citrus brightness. The finish is clean and refreshing, rose pelargonium lightness lingering with juniper.
The Bottom Line
Six Dogs Blue earns a 7 — a colour-changing gin where the gimmick is actually genuine botany. The blue pea flower is a real ingredient with real flavour (earthy, grassy), and the colour change is simple pH chemistry, not magic. The gin underneath is well-made and distinctly South African, with naartjie providing citrus character that lemons cannot. Best with a premium Indian tonic and a slice of naartjie — watch the blue become pink as you pour.
