One could argue that Africa is already in the midst of a minor gin boom, as small distilleries on the continent have sparked interest amongst drinkers across the Western world. Consider South Africa’s thriving craft gin movement, with brands like Six Dog and A Mari Ocean showcasing unique, indigenous botanicals such as fynbos. Then there’s Procera from Kenya, which is making a significant impact in the U.S. due to the use of fresh African juniper as its main botanical, which imparts a distinctive flavor to the gin. And Bayab African Gin, which is infused with baobab fruit, is finding its way to the back shelves of bars in the UK and the U.S. 

More recently, African rum and agave spirits have begun to make a mark. Building on this wave, Sango African Agave has come up with a contemporary take on a tradition more associated with Mexico. Made from 100 percent African agave, it is one of the few available in both the United States and South Africa.

The Rise of African Agave

Spearhead Spirits, producer of Bayab Gin and Vusa Vodka, launched Sango in 2024. According to co‑founder Damola Timeyin, growing curiosity about agave is encouraging consumers to look beyond traditional regions and discover new expressions from different parts of the world.

“There’s just an overall curiosity, and people are recognizing that Africa has a lot to offer,” he said. “People are becoming more exploratory, and finding brands like ours along that journey. Producers across [different] spirits are drawing attention to what Africa has to offer.”

Another example is Rho, an agave spirit from Kenya made from Agave sisalana (sisal), a plant introduced to the country over a century ago. Other notable examples include Leonista and Inzalo Agave Spirit, both produced in South Africa.

Although these agave spirits cannot be labeled as mezcal or tequila, which have legally defined geographical indications, consumers are embracing them despite their limited market availability. Sango, for example, has begun appearing in cities such as Atlanta and Chicago, as well as in bars and restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando, Florida.

Inzalo, another South African agave spirit, was founded by Sebastian O’Keefe and Diego Avila. It is made from red agave rather than blue weber agave, which is  used for tequila, or the various agave species commonly used in mezcal production. Red agave is a descendant of Mexican agaves introduced to South Africa more than 300 years ago. Over centuries, it has adapted to one of the most extreme environments on earth, find a way to thrive in ancient seabed soil despite intense UV exposure and as little as 200 millimeters of rainfall per year.

O’Keefe believes Inzalo differs from other African agave spirits because of its focus on plant and place. The founders spent nearly a year driving across South Africa and documenting agave species before identifying the ideal terroir in the Western Cape.

“We’re building Africa’s first commercial agave spirits farm specifically around red agave,” said O’Keefe. “We’re not trying to compete with Mexico. South Africa’s terroir is fundamentally different. Mexican spirits are shaped by volcanic soils, cultivated agaves, and centuries of inherited processes. Inzalo is shaped by ancient seabed, wild agaves, and a production process built from scratch. The result exists in its own space—not tequila or mezcal, but a new class of agave spirit that could only come from here.”

The New Wave of African Rum 

Rum is also emerging as a diverse category in Africa. Made from both molasses and cane juice, African rum offers unique flavor profiles that come from the use of indigenous ingredients, as well as aging the spirit in used wine barrels instead of the bourbon barrels that are typically used.

Rum has been produced on the continent since the 18th century, but countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Cape Verde, and Kenya have embraced the category more actively over the past decade. Notable producers include Takamaka in Seychelles, Dodo Plantain‑Infused Rum in Nigeria, and MIM Distiller and Reign Rum in Ghana.

Pierra Ntayombya and Rohan Shah founded IMIZI Forest Rum in 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. This country is traditionally not known for rum production, as sugarcane cultivation is only about a century old. “What intrigued us was whether we could make a spirit from Rwanda that was truly unique and captured the essence of the country,” said Ntayombya. “We looked at sugarcane as something different both locally and regionally. Rwanda doesn’t carry the dark history of slavery and exploitation associated with many traditional rum‑producing countries. That gave us an opportunity to create something with a completely new story, one that felt culturally appropriate and meaningful.”

As the story of IMIZI unfolds, the brand has found a home behind the bar at venues like the Pinnacle Kigali Hotel and Imizi Residency, a Kigali cocktail and listening bar that features the rum in unique drinks. While the spirit is currently only available in Rwanda, the opening of a new distillery will allow exports to begin across the continent within the next year. Ntayombya ultimately hopes to reach Europe and North America, but for now the focus remains on growing its African footprint. 

While most of the African agave and rum brands would love to have global availability in the future, for now they are focused on finding success n their home countries and on the continent. But keep a look out for these brands, because you never know when they might make it to a bar or restaurant near you, or even start showing up at auction.