Koba Craft Gin is a Gqeberha distilled gin by Maurice Oduor Nyerere, a Kenyan from Nakuru. This serial entrepreneur grew up in Nairobi, currently residing in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, South Africa – and his roots stem from Ugenya in Siaya County, Kenya. "Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be allowed to venture into different activities, be it extracurricular activities from drama clubs, school-driven enterprises, or sports. I have always been a go-getter, and I am notorious for not settling down, always busy doing something. If anything makes me glad right now, it's the fact that my parents allowed me to redirect all that energy into the activities mentioned above, thus curbing a naughty nature", he added.
When did you commence with KOBA CRAFT, and what inspired you to go for it? "We started during the lockdown in 2020, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in DIY brewing. We wanted to do it better and under conditions approved by the liquor license boards. We started researching the different distilling methods and how we could make a Craft Gin that was soothing to the consumer. It was time to play around with different tastes, investigate what elements of alcohol have certain effects and what could be improved while still striking a balance of flavors to excite the consumer's taste buds. We wanted a gin that stood out and was different from what was already in the market without vying off the fundamentals of gin."
Challenges you faced while trying to get KOBA CRAFT off the ground? "The first challenge was trying to get the necessary registration to do research and development work required to develop Koba CRAFT from conceptual idea to final product. This is the most rigorous stage when getting into the liquor industry. The second challenge: it is difficult to almost impossible for a business to be funded if it is a start-up that is less than a year in operation or not owned by a South African citizen. KOBA CRAFT could fulfill all other requirements for funding but would still be ruled out because it did not have a South African citizen owning 51% share. We learned to understand this rule is to safeguard the economy and the citizens of South Africa, and we have accepted it. Lastly, the major hurdle we are facing now is that the demand has surpassed what we can supply. Liquor is a fast-moving product, and we need more resources to keep up with the demand as this will grow our business".
So, what make your GIN stand out from those that are in the market already? "Our gin is carefully crafted from beginning to end. We have tended to the detail that delivers the smooth and lingering flavored taste to the taste buds. We wanted to make a gin that is easy for everyone to partake in without dialing down on the juniper but adding a "wow" factor in terms of scent, the taste of the first drop, and subsequent sips. So far, it is going well, and our Nectarous Cardamom gin seems to be a bit more popular".
Highlights of your business thus far? "Winning a Single Gold Medal at the S.A Craft Gin Awards 2021 as a new kid on the block. Voted amongst the top 12 Gins on @instaeatscapetown by consumers and invited to showcase our gin at the Mantra Café in Camps Bay. We have also managed to get to East Africa in both Uganda and Kenya and received a welcoming response and orders being discussed".