HS Winehouse in Namiwawa, one of Blantyre’s upmarket social joints, has unveiled a local brand of liquor spirits, CapeStars.
The alcoholic drink is being produced in partnership with Ethanol Company Limited of Malawi (EthCo) and was unveiled at the weekend during the two-day Sand Arts Festival event in Mangochi, where the brand was one of the prime sponsors of the event.
HS Winehouse director Wilkins Mijiga said the product is designed to counter the proliferation of illicit alcohol in Malawi.
“To make sure that we fight those contraband we have to provide a variety of solutions. The process started last year in April and through a lot of research, going back and forth and testing we have come up with this product, finally,” he said.
Mijiga said the CapeStars is a result of combined efforts between HS Winehouse and EthCo and he believes the product is of export quality.
The CapeStars spirit brand has gin, brandy and vodka which are in two variants; Frenzo which is for the youth and Camaradas for the older generation.
Mijiga said: “This is not about getting drunk, it is about people having fun at an elevated level. Frenzo is for the youth who still have the energy to party hard.
“The Camaradas is for the older generation who just want to chill and just hang out with friends. Along the way we will also bring a cane whisky. In total we will have eight products under CapeStars.”
He said the unveiling at Sand Arts Festival was meant to excite the market so that when the product is made available in supermarkets, pubs, clubs and hotels there should be a steady demand for it.
Mijiga said the product will be on the market in two weeks time and they will be selling it through distributors. He hinted that ballpark prices may range in the region of K12 000 for gin and vodka while brandy will go at K15 000.
“The brand is inspired by the spirit of Cape Maclear, hence, the name CapeStars. The product is purely Malawian. It was distilled perfectly such that it does not leave anyone with a hangover if taken with water or ice and not sweet additives,” he said.
Some of the imbibers who tested the alcohol in Mangochi were full of praise for it.
During the festival Lilongwe-based Joyce Chiwelu said: “The branding is perfect. The flavour and smoothness of the spirits are so natural. The drink can suit many occasions.”
Patrick Langwe from Mangochi said: “I can comfortably say the alcohol is good. Above its best qualities is the lack of hangover effect no matter whether you are taking shots or with ice. It is a brilliant breakthrough.”
The product is being produced by EthCo and HS Winehouse will market, distribute and create the hype around it.
