Cape Town’s new watering hole, Mother’s Ruin Gin Bar, opened less than a month ago, but is quickly becoming the place to be (or be seen) for foodies and gin lovers alike.

Set just two houses down from popular cocktail bar, Orphanage on Bree Street, Mother’s Ruin Gin Bar is the brainchild of brothers Rob and Mark Mulholland. The menu features a choice of 60 different types of gin (with another 15 arriving this week) and a small food selection featuring a Spanish charcuterie platter (R115), Italian charcuterie platter (R115), and a South African cheese platter (R95).

It is all about the gin though. Expect everything from classic and reinvented gin-based cocktails to gin and tonics made with local and imported gins flown over from Germany, France, England, Belgium, Germany, Scotland and Madagascar. Choose from a selection of tonic waters, including homemade elderflower-infused tonic water, and garnishes like orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime cucumber, mango, apple, olive and mint.

If you’re ordering a cocktail, try the Lawrence of Arabia with gin, dates, honey and tonic water (R62); the klein slaaitjie with gin, homemade elderflower tonic, mint and cucumber (R64); the marmalade tea with gin, home-brewed green tea, marmalade and bitters (R58); or the Casino Royale 1953 (R58). The Casino Royale 1953 – one of co-founder, Mark Mulholland’s, personal favourites – is a replica of what they imagine James Bond’s vesper martini would taste like in the original 1953 Casino Royale film. Though the focus is on gin, a decent wine list and a selection of beer, cider and spirits is on offer.

The brothers have also been hard at work making their own bottle-aged infused gins, including a savoury gin with rosemary, thyme and olive; a citrus bomb with grapefruit, lime, lemon, orange and homemade orange bitters; and ginger gin cured in a vintage ginger beer bottle. Mark, who is actively involved in the food and flavour industry, has also designed the first gin perfume which is used to scent the glasses.

But why gin?

“Gin is the most exciting alcoholic beverage at the moment,” says Mark Mulholland. This was something that came to light during his recent trips to New York and Barcelona where he spotted gin bars on every trendy corner. “I saw a place for it in South Africa,” he says, adding that the popularity is skyrocketing and “we’re at the top of the wave.”

And finally, the name: “From 1720 to 1750, gin was the most widely used and abused alcohol in the world – it was also known as the mother’s ruin,” says Mark. “Being positioned right next to Orphanage also makes the name quite appropriate,” he jokes.

You can find Mother’s Ruin Gin Bar at 219 Bree Street, Cape Town. The venue is open Monday to Saturday from 4pm to 1am.