PROSPERA THEY HAVE

All Three Procera Dots...

​Vodka with juniper (and maybe other aromatics). That’s pretty much the standard, cut and dry definition of gin. Not when you are talking about Procera…
This brand has managed to innovate and reinvent gin in almost every way imaginable and at every major step. Guy Brennan and his partners are super passionate about every aspect of their product.

Guy Brennan, co founder, standing against a backdrop of Procera.

​Mid May, I was invited to a gin tasting at their craft distillery that houses their Muller 230L Aromat pot distiller (a shiny copper work of art) and I showed up with bells on. I had tried their flagship ‘Blue Dot’ line and was excited to try their two other productions. I was greeted by Jane and Cecille, the liaisons for the Kenyan Procera distributor- Under The Influence.

From left, Kioko from Procera, Jane and Cecille from Under The Influence.

​There are two broad categories of gin: London Dry and Distilled gin. The latter involves taking finished neutral spirit and adding the aromatic flavours. The former, usually regarded as the better of the two, is made by actually putting in the botanicals into the distillation pot. Now, imagine taking the preferred method and polishing it up. This is exactly what Procera has done. They macerate the gin with the aromatics during the distillation process, but they use their ‘Pillowcase’ technique, a method championed by their distillation Yoda- Roger Jorgensen. Botanicals enclosed in a case and soaked in the spirit base at a warm 40 degrees centigrade bath. No organic matter placed into the pot during distillation. This ensures that the fresh flavours are extracted in their purest form. The heat from distillation doesn’t cook, burn or otherwise alter the botanicals. Why the extra involving process of preserving aromatic purity? Well, I’m glad you asked…

Procera harvests their aromatics from all over Africa and without careful handling and processing, the painstaking work would be all in vain.
BLUE DOT:
12 botanicals. Great as a sipping gin. Spicy when neat, but turns more floral on the rocks.






RED DOT:
Viscous with a long finish. Quite round on the nose and is best for cocktails.









GREEN DOT:
True representation of juniper. All aromatic come only from the juniper tree. Very fresh.

The People, The Environment and The Craftmanship:
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At Procera, they have a tight team of staff who are passionate about their respective jobs. From the distiller, to the accountant, to the engraver; yes, you read that right, engraver. Can you spot my name on the bottle below? The botanicals- whether Juniper from Kijabe, oysters from Kilifi or Mukombero from Western Kenya- are all harvested by Kenyans and this represents a source of livelihood for all the families involved.

​See that tag around the neck of the bottle, it’s made of hyacinth paper. Made out of hyacinth harvested from Lake Victoria. So are the business cards. This not only helps reduce the weed in this great lake increasing the oxygen in the water, but provides work for even more Kenyans across the country.
 
It is only fair that the gin, being a work of art, is contained in a vessel worthy of it. A beautiful hand-blown bottle carefully crafted by artisans in Kitengela, from recycled glass. Each bottle unique and one of a kind. Capped with palm, coconut or procera wood and tagged with the aforementioned hyacinth paper tag on a leather ribbon. Who wouldn’t want that?
Procera is the perfect gift for a loved one, or to yourself.
The next time you have a hankering for a Negroni, make one with Procera. And as you enjoy it, please think of me, your wine (gin) friend. Maisha Marefu!!