OUR STORY
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The Knysna Distillery was launched on the 30th of November, 2018 by Rion, Kay & Bob Merryweather. A family-run partnership between a father and son & a husband and wife.
When buying a bottle of gin as a gift for his father, Rion noticed that there was quite a lot of South African Gin on the shelf but no Knysna Gin. After a long chat and a few gin and tonics, the family decided to make it happen.
The distillery takes great pride in its shiny Alembic Copper Pot Stills. The 5 Litre is used for recipe development, the other is 200 Litre and is used for production. Since opening, the distillery has quickly morphed into a thriving cocktail bar.
There are plans for a rum, tequila and bourbon to be released. Vermouth is already made and available to buy.
ABOUT RION
& KAY
Rion and Kay Merryweather moved from New York to Knysna, as successful entrepreneurs when they were expecting their first son, Rowan in 2013. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement became a permanent relocation as Knysna’s slow pace of life and beautiful surroundings won the Merryweathers over. They focused their time and energy to a new business venture – starting Knysna’s first distillery! Today, they are a family of four and their creativity and determination is evident in the success that is the Knysna Distillery.
Rion and Kay’s ethos can be summed up in three words: quality, value and authenticity.
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