Great SA brandies bring home IWSC gold

Founded in 1969, the IWSC is widely considered the most prestigious independent competition of its type in the world.

Of the 21 gold medals, 19 were for South African brandies and two for whisky, with Distell winning 20 of the medals. In the brandy category, three of the four specialty brandies in the Van Ryn's Collection Reserve range won gold outstanding - the 12-, 15- and 20-year-old, with the fourth brandy, 10-year-old earning gold.

Good year for Van Ryn's

The judges described the Van Ryn's 12-year-old as "a masterpiece of satisfaction," the 15-year-old as having "superb balance" and the 20-year-old as having "an incredibly rich palate" and as "satisfying and relaxing in a luxurious way."

Earlier this month, its 10-year-old also won gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, while a few weeks ago, the 10-year-old and 12-year-old came home with gold from the International Spirits Challenge.

The title of IWSC Worldwide Best Brandy for 2013 went to Asbach Private Brand 8 Jahre Gereift, a brandy from Germany. Van Ryn's is a former multiple winner of the title.

Bisquit achieves grand slam

For the fifth year in a row, Bisquit, the French heritage cognac house, won medals for each of its French cognacs, the only house to do so. It was awarded silver medals for Bisquit V.S. Classique, Bisquit V.S.O.P., Bisquit Prestige and Bisquit X.O.

"It is an honour to again receive such prestigious recognition from the IWSC, particularly in a year where we are celebrating the modern renaissance of our cognac house," said Vincent Chappe, president of the house of Bisquit Cognac. "We pride ourselves on crafting cognacs of refined detail for connoisseurs - those who believe in taking extra time for pleasure. We thank the IWSC for having taken the time to recognise the superior quality of its smooth and aromatic cognacs."

"This recognition by the IWSC honours the time that we take to craft cognac. Our uniquely longer distillation creates a more pleasurable, distinctive smoothness, aroma and bouquet and we are pleased to share this with cognac connoisseurs in France and around the world," said Denis Lahouratate, Maître de Chai (cellar master) of the House of Bisquit Cognac.

South African golds

To view all the results, go to www.iwsc.net/home.