Ochre Barn
Where the Land Meets the Bottle

Tucked among the fynbos, Ochre Barn is where Cape Saint Blaize's story really begins. This is home to the wild proteas, restios, and coastal botanicals that shape every batch — hand-picked, sun-dried, and distilled into something unmistakably local. It's not just a backdrop; it's the source.

Ochre Barn

The building in which Cape Saint Blaize is distilled forms part of the old Post Office Tree Square. It is one of the oldest recorded business premises in the Southern Cape and was built in 1846 as a warehouse and trading station by the wholesale firm Barry & Nephews. 

In 1941, it was purchased by the Golden Ochre company, which mined ochre clay in the Albertina district. They railed the ochre to Mossel Bay and milled it in the factory. The ochre was exported to England and used in the manufacture of paint. Because of its location on top of the hill, the building also served as a beacon for ships entering Mossel Bay. It is said that a flag pole was used to indicate whether it was safe for ships to enter the bay to load and deliver cargo. Nearly a century later, the Ochre from this era can still be found in the roof trusses of the building today.

Three principles that we live with

1. SPRING FRESHWATER

The spring, with its freshwater, was an excellent source of refreshments, and it still flows strongly today. It is unquestionably the most important aspect of the historic Bartolomeu Dias Museum environment. Sailors commonly used this spring to replenish their fresh water supply, which is used in the breakdown process of our gin. 

2. CHAPEL

The Chapel was built on a rise overlooking Santos beach and was dedicated to Saint Blaize. It was the earliest place of worship erected in Southern Africa. The chapel was a place of prayer for many sailors passing through. It is believed that our premises were home to the chapel and, until today, has yet to be discovered.

3. MILKWOOD TREE

João da Nova, chief magistrate of Lisbon and captain of the 3rd fleet found a letter in a sailor's boot in a milkwood tree with the first news of the experiences of his fellow countrymen. This famous milkwood tree is known as The Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay, as it became a means of communication for sailors passing by.

St. Blaize Lighthouse 

As mentioned above, these elements can trigger an overwhelming emotion after spending numerous days at sea and seeing the possibility of landfall. A lighthouse is so much more than just a light; it's a beacon of hope.

The Cape Saint Blaize Lighthouse was built in 1864 (the date on the bottle). Having established our name, we drew inspiration from the lighthouse in our design processes.

The bottle's design was inspired by the St Blaize lighthouse on the incredible cliffs of Mossel Bay Peninsula. Our logo has been uniquely designed to resemble a bird' s-eye view of the St Blaize Lighthouse. The Cape Saint Blaize Lighthouse is made with diamond-cut windows. If laid flat and viewed from above, these will resemble our iconic logo design. The design can also be interpreted as rays of light shining out of a lighthouse. 

The Saint Blaize lighthouse has a unique group flashing of 2 flashes every 15 seconds. Lighthouses are all different, and each has distinctive characteristics to help sailors identify them. 

Ochre

Our bottles are cast using a unique mould. The master mould used to create our production moulds was created by a true pottery master. He has dedicated his life to the art of pottery, and it is our hope that in the years to come, we will be able to pass these skills on to many members of our community, empowering individuals and adding benefit to our beautiful town. After the bottles are cast, they are left to dry for three days. 

Moorcroft Farm & Botanicals

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