South African brandy is experiencing a contemporary Belle Epoque - an unprecedented golden era that is breaking all records.
Once more, a brandy from this country has received an international standing ovation. Yet again, a premium brandy from the Distell stable – Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 12 Year – has scooped the title of Worldwide Best Brandy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC).
This is the third time Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 12 Year has occupied the brightest spotlight on this international stage – itself a world record. It was also crowned Worldwide Best Brandy in 2004 and 2005.
“This consistent performance reinforces the global reputation of Van Ryn’s as an über brandy,” said Dr Caroline Snyman, chairperson of the South African Brandy Foundation. “It’s also an honour for the South African brandy industry, which has now won the Worldwide Best Brandy title for the 11th time in the past 14 years at the IWSC.”
Apart from this being the sixth consecutive year that a local brandy at this leading competition has taken its rivals to task, it is also the fifth time that this sought-after trophy has been awarded to a Van Ryn’s pot-still brandy (in 2008 and 2011, Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 20 Year took top honours).
Nine local brandies that won Outstanding Gold Medals included the following seven brands from Distell: Mellow Wood 5 Year; Viceroy; Van Ryn’s 12 Year; Van Ryn’s 15 Year; Klipdrift Gold; Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year and Oude Meester Sovereign 18 Year.
Included in the select group of Outstanding Gold Medal winners were Olof Bergh Solera Brandy from Henry Taylor & Ries Limited, as well as KWV 20 Year.
The fact that so many South African brandies were awarded Outstanding Gold Medals and Gold Medals is testament to how this country’s brandy industry, in general, is the best in the world, according to Christelle Reade-Jahn, director of the South African Brandy Foundation. “It’s also not an accolade that has fallen into our laps – our brandies had to vie with 7 000 entrants from other brandy-producing countries.”
Distell also produced six Gold Medal winners, namely Mellow Wood; Commando; Van Ryn’s 10 Year Vintage; Klipdrift Export; Oude Meester Demant and Collison’s White Gold Brandy.
South African brandies also returned home with eleven Outstanding Silver Medals and two Silver Medals.
Reade-Jahn emphasises the success from across the style spectrum. “It’s not only pot-still brandies that have toppled our competitors but also our country’s outstanding blends and vintage brandies. Medal winners also come from the ranks of tiny cellars such as De Compagnie, which once again is an indication of how widespread the level of passion and skill is in this country.”
According to Dave Hughes, an international judge and expert in distilled products, international judges are interested in the distinctive style that modern South African brandies are known for: more fruity and elegant, which is the result of our sunny climate.
South Africa also has the strictest quality standards for brandy distillation, which is bearing fruit year after year. The consistency in quality was also recently honoured in the ‘Walk of Fame’, a special showcase at Fine Brandy Fusion held in Sandton. Besides brandies from the Van Ryn’s cellar, previous winners of the Worldwide Best Brandy trophy, such as KWV’s Laborie Alambic Brandy (2010 winner), Southern Cape Vineyards’ Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still 10 (2009 winner) and KWV 15 Year (2007 winner) were also honoured here.
so much goodness in one picture! Definitely gonna get me some of that Blauwklippen brandy, did not even know they make brandy. This is one of the most epic pictures I have seen lately.
