The first non-alcoholic spirit out of South Africa, Mahala Botanical, works so well with mixers that there is no time of year when you won’t want to reach for a Mahala cocktail.
Mahala is the Zulu word meaning free. It was as if it were made for it – Mahala is free from sugar, color, and alcohol. A great choice for those seeking an adult non-alcoholic choice.
When the pandemic hit and South Africa banned the sale of alcoholic spirits, Danielle Schoeman, owner of Doña Distillery in Cape Town, knew she had to change direction. She began experimenting with local botanicals and Mahala was born. Now that she had the liquid, she needed a partner who had the vision as well.
Enter Paul Scanlon. He had previously been at a large drinks company and was looking for something different. He had just completed his first Dry January and was looking to do something different. They were a perfect match. Fast forward and Mahala Botanical has left the Southern Hemisphere and is taking the non-alc world by storm.
Top Tip(ple)🍸: Listen to the entire Mahala story on their episode of Lush Life podcast!
What is Mahala Botanical
Overseen by Danielle, Mahala is made with 100% natural botanicals, both imported and local. Clove, orange, cinnamon, peppercorn, and cardamon are all pretty well known. Angelica root and cassia bark are used commonly in gin production, while pelargonium citronella, honeybush and buchu are purely South African.
The liquid is triple-distilled with the botanicals in custom-built vacuum stills at their craft distillery. This allows them to make the liquid faster, cutting down the time it takes for the entire process, without losing the flavor.
How does Mahala Botanical taste
- Color: Crystal Clear
- Nose: Fragrant clove and spices!
- Taste: A lovely mix of spice and citrus. The cardamom and peppercorn fall into place after the clove, orange and Pelargonium Citronella.
- Finish: The spice remains and leaves a warm tingle in the back of the mouth.
- Alcohol: 0.00%, 750ml
Why Lush Life loves it
I am always happy to see a new non-alcoholic spirit on the market, especially one that matches so well with soda water, tonic water, and ginger beer and ale. I am a clove lover, so they had me at the first sniff!
How you drink Mahala Botanical
Mahala can definitely be used in cocktails! Here are a few ideas below:
Top Tip(ple)🍸: If you love Mahala Botanical, try other non-alcoholic spirits! Here is a list of my favorites!
More Lush Guides to Liquor!
Want to know more about the spirits that go into your cocktails? Check out my Lush Guides to Liquor!
- Lush Guide to Grenadine – the syrup that’s in almost all your favorite cocktails
- Lush Guide to Avallen – the new calvados that is so fabulous in cocktails
- Lush Guide to Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky – the premier Indian whisky
- Lush Guide to Starward Left-Field Whisky – Australia’s whisky that is fantastic in cocktails
- Lush Guide to Jägermeister – more than just J-bombs!
- Lush Guide to Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin – Tanqueray makes all sorts of different gins – this one is a blackberry lover’s dream