Black Current Spirits Pushes the Boundaries of Spirit Aging with “The400”: A Gin Forged 400 Meters Beneath the Atlantic
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – [07/12/2024] – Black Current Spirits, the revered artisan distillery operating along South Africa’s dramatic coastline, today announced the unveiling of “The400”, a 20-year-aged gin that underwent a revolutionary 400-day maturation period 400 meters beneath the Atlantic Ocean. This limited-edition spirit represents a monumental leap in the art and science of distillation, blending South African botanical heritage with extreme deep-sea engineering.
“For too long, the ocean has only been a barrier or a transport route for spirits,” states Elara Vance, Master Distiller at Black Current Spirits. “With The400, we have transformed it into an active participant in the aging process. The immense pressure and profound stillness at 400 meters have forged a gin unlike anything the world has ever tasted.”
The genesis of The400 began two decades ago with a meticulously crafted gin, distilled from the purest Cape fynbos botanicals and aged in select French oak barrels. This extensive terrestrial maturation imparted a complex, mellow character, laying the foundation for its extraordinary next phase.
The pivotal moment arrived with the creation of the “Agulhas Sphere”—a custom-engineered, Grade-316 stainless-steel submersible vessel equipped with proprietary hydrostatic regulation valves. These valves allowed the sphere to equalize pressure with its environment, protecting the 400 precious bottles within while subjecting them to approximately 40 atmospheres of unrelenting oceanic force.
For 400 days, the sphere rested in absolute darkness and near-freezing temperatures off the dramatic coast of Cape Point, at the confluence of the Benguela and Agulhas currents. This process—known internally as Oceanic Compression—refined the gin at a molecular level, integrating oak tannins and botanical oils to an unprecedented density and smoothness.
“This isn’t just about aging; it’s about transformation,” explains Johannes de Beer, Lead Engineer for the project. “The pressure forces an intimate molecular marriage, resulting in a spirit with an almost velvety viscosity and a flavor profile that resonates with the depths from which it emerged.”
Each of the 400 individually numbered bottles of The400 bears a unique oceanic patina—a delicate crystallization of salt and marine minerals, carefully preserved beneath a protective resin—making each bottle a tangible artifact of its journey. The presentation is completed by a custom-built Atmospheric Vault, crafted from reclaimed shipwreck timber and fitted with a permanently set barometer at 40 Bar.
Release & Availability
Following retrieval from the ocean floor, The400 will undergo 300 days of post-submersion stabilization, certification, and preparation for global distribution.
Official worldwide release will take place 300 days after the sphere’s recovery.
Due to its extreme rarity, bottles will be allocated via a private ballot system.
However, Black Current Spirits has officially opened pre-order applications for collectors and connoisseurs worldwide via:
Key Features of “The400”
- Aged: 20 years in French Oak + 400 days submerged in the Atlantic
- Submersion Depth: 400 meters, off the coast of Cape Point
- Vessel: Proprietary pressure-equalizing “Agulhas Sphere”
- Yield: Exactly 400 individually numbered, hand-finished bottles
- Flavor Profile: Notes of aged juniper, fynbos botanicals, salted caramel, slight citrusy, luxurious, earthy, floral, touch of sweetness and marine minerality.
About Black Current Spirits
Black Current Spirits is a small, independent South African artisan distillery dedicated to crafting spirits shaped by time, pressure, and place. Drawing inspiration from the Cape’s wild fynbos kingdom and the raw forces of the Atlantic Ocean, the distillery’s philosophy centers on patience, precision, and experimental maturation techniques that challenge convention.