There's not a South African - at least not a South African drinker - who hasn't delighted in the very superior wines produced over many decades by Jordan Wines.
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| Mouse of Mousehall |
The estate, having made wine for over 300 years, was bought by the Jordans in 1982 who started producing their iconic wines in 1993. Now under the stewardship of Gary Jordan (G, 1978) the Jordans have just launched themselves into a new adventure with the acquisition and development of Mousehall in East Sussex where having redeveloped the land they have planted their vineyards with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. But vines take time to produce the sort of quality grapes to produce the sort of quality wines Jordan is famous for. And for which Mousehall will, in time be equally well-known. So what do you do in the meantime?
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| Gary and Kathy Jordan |
Well, what you do in the meantime, if you're Gary and wife Kathy and daughter Christy, is build a distillery and start producing worldclass gin faster than ODs can drink it.On Saturday 16th July, ODs and their wives leapt at the opportunity to visit Mousehall and marvel firsthand at what the Jordans have achieved in such a short time.
The vines, thanks to the current heatwave, are growing as if they're on steroids (they're not), the estate buildings and the distillery itself have been refurbished. The guest cottage (house to most) is beautiful beyond words.
But most importantly - at least to us - is the incredible gin coming out of the still and, last Saturday, straight down our throats. But before that, Christy and Gary took us through the process of gin-making itself. The use and combination of botanicals, the technical separation of what needs to be kept and what isn't. And then, miraculously, or so it seemed to us, the gin. 
There is not a single detail of either the gin-making or the design of the entire Mousehall package which hasn't received meticulous thought. The distillery is powered off solar energy, the bottles from recycled glass, the packaging — and how beautiful is it — all recyclable too.
After the talk, the tasting which was accompanied with some homemade (obviously) pates and bread (using poppy seeds from the garden).
Then a quick look at the gardens and the incredibly beautiful and spacious three double-bedroomed guest lodge (soon to be available to the public).
The Rose & Crown, just down the road, took us in for lunch and then, sated with good food, great gin and overwhelming Jordan generosity and hospitality, we made our way home, carrying parcels of Mousehall gin.
The Branch presented Gary, Kathy and Christy with, appropriately, crystal gin goblets, personalised with their names and the ODU badge engraved.
Thank you Gary, Kathy and Christy.
Click on the photos to enlarge
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| This is where it all starts. Almost like something from the industrial revolution, but producing some very modern gin. |
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| Christy Jordan (centre) taking us through the process |
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| Gary Jordan, Joy and Richard Montgomery |
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| Kathy and Gary Jordan nd Joy Montgomery |
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| Rob Campbell and Christy Jordan |
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| Margit and Rob Campbell, Christy, Kathy and Gary Jordan and Joy and Richard Montgomery |
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| Margit and Rob Campbell |
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| John Wyatt, Tim Loughton, Steve and Nicole Suckling, Margit and Rob Campbell hanging onto Christy's every word |
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| Those all important botanicals and spices |
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| Kathy, Peter Arthur, John Wyatt, Tim and Renee Loughton |
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| John Wyatt, Renee Loughton, Steve and Nicole Suckling, Margit and Rob Campbell, Gary and Peter Arthur |
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| Steve and Nicole Suckling and Margit and Rob Campbell |
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| Cathy, Peter Arthur, Richard and Joy Montgomery and Gary |
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| Margit and Rob Campbell and Nicole and Steve Suckling |
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| Peter Arthur, Waine Lawton, Margit Campbell, Liz Lawton and Rob Campbell |
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| Gary talking tonic: and the very best is ... Folkingtons made in Sussex. John Wyatt, Tim and Renee Loughton not yet entirely convinced |
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| Joy Montgomery, Liz Lawton, John Wyatt and Waine Lawton |
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| In an English Country Garden |
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Well not quite an English Country Garden: with braai
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| Renee and Tim Loughton, Peter Arthur, Nicole Suckling, Kathy, Steve Suckling, John Wyatt and Margit Campbell |
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| To lunch |
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| Waine and Liz Lawton, Tom Campbell, Gary, Richard Montgomery and Kathy |
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| Kathy, Cathy, Cathy's Nick, Steve Suckling, John Wyatt, Peter Arthur, Waine and Liz Lawton |
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| Margit and Rob Campbell, Gary and Richard Montgomery |
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| Thank you presents ... opening and opened .... |
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| Designer Mouse; designer gin; designer hall, designer vineyards and designer honey. A brand to watch! |
But most importantly - at least to us - is the incredible gin coming out of the still and, last Saturday, straight down our throats. But before that, Christy and Gary took us through the process of gin-making itself. The use and combination of botanicals, the technical separation of what needs to be kept and what isn't. And then, miraculously, or so it seemed to us, the gin. 
