(For Decanter, The Spirits Business, Drinks International, Whisky Advocate)
BLACK CURRENT SPIRITS INTRODUCES “THE400” — A DEEP-SEA–MATURED GIN FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Black Current Spirits, an independent South African distillery, has announced “The400”, a limited-edition gin combining 20 years of oak maturation with a 400-day deep-sea aging phase at 400 meters below sea level.
The project centers on the Agulhas Sphere, a pressure-equalizing stainless-steel vessel designed to allow ambient ocean pressure to compress the bottles inside. Submerged off Cape Point—where cold and warm ocean currents converge—the gin matured under constant pressure, darkness, and low temperature.
According to the distillery, the process results in:
- Increased molecular integration
- A denser mouthfeel
- Reduced ethanol sharpness despite a 44% ABV
- Enhanced expression of aged juniper and Cape fynbos botanicals
The release consists of exactly 400 bottles, each bearing natural marine mineralization acquired during submersion. Bottles will be released 300 days after recovery, following stabilization and export preparation.
Distribution will be handled exclusively through a private ballot system, with pre-order applications now live.
With The400, Black Current Spirits joins a growing category of experimental ocean-aged spirits—while pushing the concept further than any project to date in terms of depth, duration, and pressure exposure.
