Under the Influence of Lusaka Beverage Experience

One of our missions when launching in Zambia was to bring wine experiences and wine education to the country, in a way that hadn't been seen before. We are passionate about bringing better beverages into the continent, and these deserve a platform to be experienced and learnt about.

To this end, last year, we partnered with long time clients and friends, Lilayi Lodge and invited about 150 guests to their beautiful grounds for a day of smelling, tasting, commenting and feasting which gave rise to an idea we are now launching in February, on the 16th. The Under the Influence Beverage Experience will be the first trade show of its kind in Zambia. It’s happening in February due to tourism in Africa beginning in earnest in March/April as the safari season begins. So although the show is primarily focused on trade, every single one of you is welcome. You all deserve a celebratory, beautiful beverage and food paired, start to the year! Your entrance to this ensemble of quality will be graced with a complimentary glass of Andiamo, our delicious new Italian Spritz.

We’re also bringing a curated selection of Women in the Gin Industry powerhouses - Shane Douglas Evans of Ginny Fowl Gin, alongside Simone Musgrave of the Musgrave spirit company - with a selection of international spirit awards between them. These include 4 Michaelangelos in 2018 alone: two Double Golds, one Gold and the Distillique Trophy for Most Innovative Craft Spirit. These power ladies have successfully imprinted their brands, values and flavours in a huge and growing industry. They’ll be pouring their frankly, incredible selection of gins with mixers kindly donated by yet another amazing power woman, co-founder of Africa’s premium mixer brand: Barker & Quin. Hanneli van de Merwe (a qualified oenologist - the science and study of wine and winemaking) decided that Africa needed a natural, high-quality tonic water to complement its emerging gin industry - one that wasn’t present at the time – so she decided to change this with her show-stopping selection of premium Indian tonics and wow are we so glad she did!

Our friends and new partners in beer, Drifter Brewing Company will also be joining us. Attendees will therefore be able to taste a selection of their exceptional, multi South African National Beer Trophy award winning beers on draught. If you haven’t sipped an ice cold El Capitan Mexican Lager with a wedge of fresh lime whilst gazing out over Lilayi’s unspoilt wilderness, you aren’t living!

We’re partnering all of this with over 50 wines from some of our very favourite independent wine makers. You can look forward to a range that includes prestigious names such as Neil Ellis, Kaapzicht, Cederberg, Rickety Bridge, Foothills, Gravel Junction, Painted Wolf, MAN Family Wines, Thelema, Paul Cluver, and so, so much more!