Two families, one shared spirit

The story behind this collaboration brings together two families with a deep and enduring connection to the land.

The Jordan family, Gary and Kathy Jordan, established Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, building a family business rooted in wine, hospitality, conservation and a respect for the natural environment. Today, Gary and Kathy continue to work alongside the next generation. Their son Alex is an integral part of Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa, while their daughter Christy has taken the family’s spirit to England, establishing Mousehall, a distillery and winery in the Sussex countryside.

The Varty family have been at the heart of Londolozi for a century. Founded in 1926 on the banks of the Sand River, Londolozi has grown from a remote wilderness camp into one of South Africa’s most renowned private safari lodges, built around a deep connection to nature, conservation and exceptional hospitality.

Today, Dave and Shan Varty continue that legacy alongside their children, Bronwyn and Boyd, each playing their own part in the ongoing story of Londolozi. Together, they are custodians of the land, carrying forward generations of connection to its wilderness, wildlife and people, while helping shape its future for generations to come.

It was through Londolozi that these two family stories first crossed paths.

Where it began

In January 2017, Alex and Christy Jordan arrived at Londolozi Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands, South Africa. Christy joined as a Camp Manager, while Alex became a Guide.

Over the following years, Londolozi became much more than a place of work.

It was a place where their shared love of nature and the outdoors found a deeper meaning. Where hospitality was inseparable from the landscape around them. Where every day brought a greater appreciation for the delicate relationship between people, wildlife and the land.

And perhaps most importantly, it was a place where they experienced the meaning of family in a way that went beyond blood.

Londolozi has a unique sense of family. It is built through generations of people who have shared the same landscape, the same values and the same responsibility to protect it. It is found in the relationships between guests and staff, between generations of the family, and in the enduring connection to the land itself.

That sense of family spirit stayed with Alex and Christy long after they left Londolozi.

Family Spirit

Londolozi was born over a game of tennis and a G&T. What began as a conversation would eventually grow into the Londolozi of today: a place built around wilderness, hospitality, family and a deep connection to the land.

Almost a century later, gin has once again brought these stories together. A story that began with a G&T comes full circle, bringing the spirit of Londolozi together with the heritage of Jordan and the craft of Mousehall.

As Londolozi approached its 100th anniversary, the idea emerged to create a gin to mark the occasion, something that could celebrate its history, its people and the spirit of the place.

The gin was created at Mousehall in Sussex, bringing together Christy’s distilling expertise and the Jordan family’s connection to Londolozi. Jordan Wine Estate brought the spirit back to South Africa, while Londolozi made it part of its centenary celebrations.

The result is a gin that connects three places, two families and two continents.