SA brandies shine in London

30 May 2016

A judging panel at the recent Global Spirits Masters blind tasting competition in the UK has stated that South African brandies shone "head and shoulders above entrants from other parts of the world" and awarded nine silver medals to South African brandies assessed and gold to the Oude Molen XO. The tasting report said that results were of such a calibre it "left the judges pondering why the category has yet to establish a character for itself on the international stage"...

The Global Spirits Masters blind tasting competition was launched in 2008 by international spirits magazine and website The Spirits Business and prides itself on the use of only independent judges. Entrants from across the globe are judged according to category, over the period of a year, with the best expressions singled out at an awards ceremony in London, in December. Categories assessed thus far this year include: tequila, rum, liqueurs, and cognac.

The quality of South African brandy is underpinned by some of the most stringent legislation in the world - it must be distilled twice in copper potstills and aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks. The result has been that South African brandies are consistently voted best in the world at international competitions, such as the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Why choose entry-level cognac?

Now, in their latest assessment of South African potstill brandies, the Brandy Masters judging panel questioned why people would choose entry-level cognac over the South African brandies.

The most successful category evaluated on the day was South African potstill brandies matured 13 years and over. Every entrant in “the bumper flight” received a medal.

The judging report concluded by saying “there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see more South African brandies on the European market”.

The panel comprised a varied field, including four whisky specialists; a member of the select Company of Armagnac Musketeers; the bar manager at The Library Bar at The Lanesborough five-star hotel; and, a director at Rémy Cointreau UK.

The medal winners were:

Vintage: Richelieu 10 Year Old (Silver);
Potstill Aged 3 to 9 Years: Joseph Barry VS (Silver); and, Joseph Barry VSOP (Silver);
South African Potstill Aged 10 to 12 Years: Oude Molen XO (Gold); Van Ryn’s 12 Year Old Distiller’s Reserve (Silver); Joseph Barry XO (Silver);
Potstill Aged Over 13 Years: Van Ryn’s 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve (Silver); Van Ryn’s 20 Year Old Collector’s Reserve (Silver); Oude Meester Souverein 18 Year Old (Silver); and, Klipdrift Gold (Silver).