How one family, a rare Zimbabwean fruit, and a castle in Wales gave birth to one of the UK’s most exciting premium vodka brands.
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A Vision Born from Passion
Every great brand begins with a story. For Zimasa Vodka, that story starts with a family, three people who share not only a name, but a relentless belief that the UK deserves a premium vodka with genuine soul.
Zororo Mubaya Kavuru, her husband Terence Kavuru, and their son Nyasha Kavuru are the founders of Zimasa Vodka, a brand built on heritage, craft, and the courage to do something different. Born in Zimbabwe and rooted in the UK, the Kavuru family launched Zimasa with a bold ambition: to bring a truly premium, story-led vodka to British drinkers. One that carries its origins with pride.
The Masau Fruit: Where the Magic Begins
At the heart of Zimasa Vodka is something you will not find in any other bottle: the Masau fruit. Known scientifically as Ziziphus mauritiana, Masau grows wild in the Zambezi Valley, specifically in the regions of Muzarabani and Dande in northern Zimbabwe. It is a small, remarkable fruit, deeply embedded in Zimbabwean culture and harvested by local communities who have known its value for generations.
Sourcing the Masau fruit is not simply a commercial decision. It is a commitment. The Kavuru family works with fruit pickers and transporters in Harare on fair terms, ensuring that the people closest to the land are treated with dignity and respect. From the Zambezi Valley to the distillery, every step of the supply chain reflects that principle.
Hensol Castle: Where Craft Meets Character
Zimasa Vodka is distilled six times at Hensol Castle in Wales, a location steeped in history and surrounded by rolling Welsh countryside. Hensol Castle Distillery takes its craft seriously. Quality here is not a marketing claim. It is baked into every bottle.
Welsh-distilled vodka is still a relatively rare thing. Choosing Hensol Castle was deliberate. The Kavuru family wanted Zimasa to carry the character of Wales, its landscapes, its integrity, and its quiet confidence. When you pour a Zimasa, you are pouring something genuinely rooted in place.
Award-Winning Quality
The industry has taken notice. In 2025, Zimasa Vodka was recognised with Gold medals at the Spirits Business Global Vodka Masters and the World Vodka Awards, as well as a Silver at the IWSC and a Great Taste Award. In 2024, Zimasa picked up Silvers at the London Spirits Competition and the Gin To My Tonic Vodka Awards.
These are not small accolades. They are independent confirmation that what the Kavuru family set out to produce, a genuinely premium vodka, is exactly what they have delivered.
What the Name Means
The name Zimasa is not arbitrary. It is a nod to identity, to roots, and to the idea that a brand should mean something. For the Kavuru family, it represents the intersection of cultures, ambitions, and generations, a name that carries warmth and strength in equal measure.
That spirit carries through into the liquid itself. Zimasa Vodka is smooth, clean, and carefully produced, a premium vodka consumers can reach for on any occasion, whether mixing a classic cocktail or sipping neat over ice.
Community at the Core
On Zimbabwe’s National Tree Planting Day, 1 December 2023, Zimasa planted 50 Masau trees at Kawondera Primary School, Kawondera, in Dcember 2024 at Muzarabani, 100 trees in December 2025 at Mahuwe 200 trees. Giving back to the very communities and landscapes that make the brand possible. It is a small act with a long reach. Those trees will bear fruit for decades.
Zimasa’s tagline is “A Community Spirit”, and it means it. From fair trade commitments with Zimbabwean fruit pickers to supporting the ecosystems that sustain the Masau, community is not a footnote. It is the foundation.
What Comes Next
Zimasa is not standing still. Two new flavours have already passed proof of concept: Zimasa Raspberry & Apple and Zimasa Mango & Pineapple. These are natural extensions of the brand’s personality, bold, fruit-forward, and made to the same exacting standard as the original.
The Kavuru family is working hard to bring these to market, securing retail listings and distribution partnerships across the UK and beyond. Every bottle sold today helps make those new flavours a reality.
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Try Zimasa Vodka Today
The best way to understand what Zimasa Vodka is about is to taste it. Order a bottle directly from our online shop and experience a six-times distilled, award-winning Welsh vodka made with genuine care, and a rare Zimbabwean fruit you won’t find anywhere else.
Follow our journey on Instagram at @Zimasa_Vodka and be the first to hear when our new flavours launch.
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