A Gin Forged 400 Meters Beneath the Atlantic Ocean
Cape Town, South Africa — Black Current Spirits today announces “The400”, an ultra-limited gin matured for 20 years in French oak and then submerged 400 meters beneath the Atlantic Ocean for 400 days in a custom-engineered stainless-steel sphere.
Lowered off the coast of Cape Point—where the Benguela and Agulhas currents collide—the spirit endured 40 atmospheres of pressure, near-freezing temperatures, and absolute darkness. The result is a gin shaped not only by time, but by the physical force of the ocean itself.
At the center of the experiment is the Agulhas Sphere, a Grade-316 stainless-steel vessel equipped with hydrostatic pressure-equalization valves. Rather than resisting the ocean’s force, the system allows pressure to enter gradually, compressing the 400 bottles inside without fracture and fundamentally transforming the liquid at a molecular level.
Each of the 400 individually numbered bottles carries a natural oceanic patina—salt and mineral crystallization acquired during submersion and preserved beneath clear resin. Presentation is completed in a custom Atmospheric Vault crafted from reclaimed shipwreck timber and set with a fixed 40-bar barometer.
Following retrieval, The400 will undergo 300 days of post-submersion stabilization and preparation before worldwide release.
Pre-order applications are now open at:
🌐 www.The400.co.za
Key Facts
- Maturation: 20 Years (French Oak) + 400 Days (Ocean)
- Depth: 400 meters
- Yield: 400 bottles
- ABV: 44%
- Availability: Private ballot only
The400 is not simply aged — it is compressed, tempered, and forged.
