The Cape’s brandies are the finest on the planet, regularly winning the best accolades at prestigious international drink awards. But despite their sensational quality and global recognition, they seem to be underappreciated and undervalued.
By law, SA brandies are made in exactly the same way as Cognac, using a double distillation process in copper pot stills followed by ageing in French oak. In order to demonstrate just how amazing they can be, Strauss & Co highlighted exclusive small-batch brandies they had sourced at a recent workshop in Johannesburg. It was an enthralling event! The distillers were on hand, and the many questions highlighted a sense of discovery. Each single-cask brandy was a unique masterpiece.
The accompanying Cape Fine Brandy Auction is your chance to acquire some of the rarest spirits in the world.
- Boplaas; Strauss & Co Potstill Reserve Single Harvest 2005 – Young Daniel Nel was in primary school when this was made. Only 120 bottles.
- Sydney Back; Strauss & Co 17-Year-Old Potstill Brandy – From the exact same barrel right through the process.
- Sydney Back; Strauss & Co 22-Year-Old Potstill Brandy – 100% Chenin Blanc, very complex.
- Kaapzicht; Strauss & Co 25-Year-Old Potstill Brandy – A rare tribute to a family’s heritage. Only 150 bottles.
- KWV; Strauss & Co Limited Edition Single Varietal Pinotage Potstill Brandy – Unique in that it is from red grapes! 150 bottles.
- Joseph Barry; Strauss & Co XXO Single Cask Nr. 0306 – 18 years old and only 200 bottles.
- Van Ryn’s; Strauss & Co 14-Year-Old PX Cask Finish – One single barrel only.
With a history dating back to 1672, brandy has a long history in South Africa. It played a significant role in the establishment of Chenin Blanc vineyards that today form the backbone of our revolutionary old-vine whites!
We cannot stress enough how special these brandies are. Watch Strauss’ & Co’s video series here to learn how they were sourced and follow the live auction.
Tasting Notes:
Boplaas Strauss & Co Potstill Reserve Single Harvest 2005 (17-Year-Old)
‘A single barrel of this exceptional brandy has been selected by sixth generation Boplaas distiller, Daniel Nel, for this prestigious auction.’
‘The spirit it held was distilled from fruit harvested in 2005 from a single Colombard vineyard growing in the Klein Karoo. Nigh on two decades of ageing in barrels that formerly held Boplaas tawny port, meant only enough liquid remained to produce just 120 bottles. High evaporation and low humidity intensified its delicious fruit-cake characters and realised what is surely an unmissable component for the true brandy connoisseur’s collection.’
‘The Sydney Back brandies are known for their intensity of stone fruit characters and balanced oak. Every now and again, we find a barrel, in this case two barrels, that already contain good expressive stone fruit notes, and that are well balanced by the oak.’
‘The 17-year-old limited release is packed with fresh peach characters on the nose, and persisting stone fruits like dried peach and apricots on the pallet. This is complemented by light notes of cinnamon and vanilla from the lengthy maturation in oak.’
‘The 22-year-old has a complex nose that starts with fresh red apple, and develops into ripe apricot. On the pallet, apricot jam and citrus marmalade can be expected. The finish is long and savory with characters of toffee, caramel and nutmeg complimenting the fruit. Both of these releases are single barrels, and all the content in the bottles are of that age.’
Kaapzicht Strauss & Co 25-Year-Old Potstill Brandy
‘This brandy is a story about friendship, time and a spirit that echoes through decades. Made from old vine Bottelary Colombar grapes, double distilled in Wellington and laid away in barrel for twenty five years, this brandy was crafted by the previous generation to be enjoyed by the next.’
‘What you hold is a tribute to a lifetime of dedication – each millilitre full of cherished memories. In 1986, my father, Danie Snr (34), planted our Colombar vineyard, which is now a registered Old Vine Block. In 1999, at the age of 47, my dad distilled his first brandy and over the years, we have seen profound changes not only to this spirit, but also to our country, farm, and family – reflecting our journey together. This brandy is a heartfelt tribute to my father, who is now 72 – a remarkable winemaker, farmer, and an inspiring role model for the Kaapzicht family.’
KWV Strauss & Co Limited Edition Single Varietal Pinotage Potstill Brandy
‘A Rare Release, aged for over a decade in our acclaimed cellars, this KWV XO Single Varietal Potstill Brandy is meticulously distilled solely from Pinotage grapes, the result is a truly distinctive brandy. Each bottle is individually numbered, and signed by KWV’s Brandy Master, Pieter de Bod.’
‘Only 100 bottles has been released, making this a truly rare XO Potstill Brandy, exclusive to the Strauss & Co. Cape Brandy Auction.’
Joseph Barry Strauss & Co XXO Single Cask (Cask Nr. 0306)
‘The tradition of distilling wines from the Barrydale area in the Klein Karoo goes back to the 19th century, when Joseph Barry & Nephews were awarded for producing the best spirit of wine at the 1865 Paarl Agricultural Show. To this very day, the copper stills of the Joseph Barry Distillery yield exceptional brandy in small batches – revered by the few who have discovered it.’
‘Distilled in 2006 from Chenin Blanc grapes in a temperamental old Woudberg copper still, this fine XXO Brandy has been resting for 18 years. A single cask release from the Joseph Barry Distillery is a rare event and the 200 bottles made available from cask 0306 are, by default, collector’s items.’
Van Ryn’s Strauss & Co 14-Year-Old PX Cask Finish
‘The concept of a cask finish first took shape over seven years ago. While whisky had already embraced the practice of cask finishes, brandy was relatively new to the concept. We embarked on a journey of experimentation with different casks to witness the evolution of our brandy over time. After spending several months in a PX cask, it became clear that we had found the perfect match.’ ‘When tasked with creating something truly unique, my mind immediately turned to the extraordinary cask of brandy resting in our maturation store, patiently awaiting the ideal moment and opportunity to be bottled.’
