Venture into the concrete lowlands of Cape Town’s favourite Kloof Street for the Ajabu Cocktail Festival’s latest experiential tour, the titular Ajabu Cocktail Festival’s Safari! You’ll find the tour turns into the vibrant masterclass at Mexican-inspired Batanga, an elusive lounge of leopards that lie within the sexy walls of Asoka, with a final stop at the local favourite watering hole savouring drinks with a spiritual twist, Kloof Street House. I would like to thank Lume Agency for the fantastic arrangement of activities and the most fun I’ve had in a while after the streets of Cape Town started defrosting from the winter!
I went into this afternoon-to-evening tour with high spirits (excuse the pun) favouring the teaser details of a masterclass led by the mastermind in mixology, Cassandra Eichhoff from the European Bartender School. Eichhoff’s background is a curated arsenal of classic cocktails mingled with a flair for contemporary mixology. Witnessing the attention to detail and atmosphere through playful storytelling and experimental expertise was already a magical element to the first stop in our tour, the newly opened Batanga on Kloof Street.
Here, we were guided by Eichhoff’s insightful tips to making the signature cocktails of the reopened bar; a Mexican batanga with Sango tequila, an espresso martini with Vusa vodka, and a sultry negroni with Bayab gin. And my, oh my, were the drinks flowing with quick-working hands and adept measuring of ingredients once our turn as spectators came to create our very own cocktails!
This initial leg of the tour reminded me of a curious moment when I first discovered the endearing Afrikaans term, “skemerkelkie.” It’s a term that basically translates to “nightcap“, but in my opinion, it means so much more. It brings a curious yet unique feeling to a hand-stirred recipe with clear ice. Home to a cooling pool of flavours in one refreshingly crisp glass. It tells a tale of someone unwinding over a shared curiosity of the day’s events, which was exactly what Batanga’s next chapter holds in store.
Our safari masterclasses were separated into groups guided by Dimitri Jansen, whose charming energy and wealth of knowledge kept spirits (and spirits) high. Under his guidance, we tasted our way through Vusa, Sango, and Bayab, each representing Africa’s homegrown brilliance in distilling. Dimitri shared not just recipes, but the heart behind the craft? The story of ingredients sourced from the continent’s own soil, shaped by bold flavour and cultural rhythm.
From there, we slipped into the seductive hum of Asoka, where the air was thick with jasmine, laughter, and that distinct Kloof Street buzz. The mixologists there were pure showmen, sjoh! Shaking, stirring, and serving cocktails worthy of the gods, while guests had their caricatures sketched live between sips. The combination of art, sound, and sweet intoxication was, quite frankly, peak Cape Town flavah.
And finally, Kloof Street House (our last stop) wrapped up the evening with tarot readings, candlelight, and a toast that felt more like a ritual than a cheers. The night’s surprise twist came with the launch of PATCH, a new single-serving cocktail brand that’s about to make our lazy nights-in a lot more exciting (and yes, they’ll be available soon on Checkers Sixty60, because of course they will).
The Ajabu Cocktail Safari was an ode to local craftsmanship, storytelling, and the art of slow sipping. It’s an invitation to discover Cape Town’s cocktail culture through a lens of creativity and connection.
Whether you’re a tourist looking to explore beyond the beaches, or a local who thinks they’ve seen it all, this safari proves there’s still plenty of adventure left in our city’s glass.
Here’s to spring days ahead, to the sound of shakers and laughter, and to the kind of Saturday that starts with curiosity and ends with a perfectly poured negroni amongst friends.