Awards

South African brandy is being recognised as amongst the best according to international standards. Continuously a South African brandy has the honour to walk away with honours at international competitions.

Click on the spirit to read judges tasting notes

BEST BRANDY IN THE WORLD
1978 - 2009

JUDGES' TASTING NOTES

All Gold Awards and Silver Best in Class Awards

Barry & Nephews Muscat Brandy

Medium, bright gold. Gorgeous Muscat notes lift eagerly from the glass and then followed by hints of apricot and some floral wafts. Gentle flow across the smooth palate with all the flavor promised by the nose building into a lively wave of complex flavours. Super harmony and lively texture. Long, aromatic finish with a delightful honeysuckle twist.

Van Ryn's Viceroy 5 Year Old Brandy

Medium depth of gold. Absorbing nose with aromas of toffee and caramel followed by dried apricots, raisin and hints of sweet tobacco. Great, rolling mouth with flavours deposited across the smooth palate. Seemingly well matured yet lots of fairly youthful vitality. Great balance and fine spirited bounce gives vigour to all the flavour. Long lasting dry finish.

Joseph Barry 10 Year Old Pot Still

2009 Best Brandy in the World Award Winner Medium depth of bright gold. Nose opens with an almost pungent attack where a whole range of ripe fruit aromas pour out. The pace slackens a bit and vanilla becomes apparent while a great floral backing builds up. Pretty spectacular mouth with deep fruit flavours edged by the sweet spice of vanilla. Silky flow across the palate with fine, lively texture. Well integrated and complex mouth with good balance. Some hints of fruitcake lead into a floral, dry finish.

Van Ryn 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve

Bright amber. Complex nose leads with fine display of floral notes where violets and dark rose feature. Followed by a wide range of ripe and dried fruits with dark berries, plum, dried apricot with lots of spice following. Vanilla, cinnamon and sweet tobacco. All meld together in a wonderfully rounded mouth. Great concentration yet all in super, fine balance. Oak plays a subtle but fine supportive role. Rich and mellow with fine mature notes. Elegant with controlled power. Long, flavour and aroma filled finish. A great brandy.

Van Ryn 20 Year Old Collectors Reserve

Deep, old gold. Magnificent nose packed with aged aromatics where dried fruit and spice mix with ripe fruit and honey. Beautiful floral backing with rose, violet and lavender. Mellow, well rounded mouth filled with deep, mature notes. Velvet smooth and fine texture. Everything the nose promised plus fruit cake, orange, marmalade and some ripe tropical fruit. Great complexity and satisfying brandy. To be sipped slowly and thoroughly enjoyed.

Olof Bergh Solera Brandy

Pale gold. Most attractive floral wave at the start of the nose followed by raisin, apricot, bananas, pear and some herb and lavender. Gentle mouth with fine layers of well integrated flavours which follow the nose. Soft and full across the palate where a light clean spirit gives a fine lift to all the fruit flavours. Touch of citrus and spice. Mellow mouth with long, well fruited, dry finish.

KWV Founders Reserve Potstill Brandy

Pale gold. Ever so typical South African brandy nose with dried fruit, apricot and peach. Hints of honey and vanilla. Fine, well rounded mouth with all the nose promised being repeated with some distinctive oak support. Smooth, sweet sensation gives good, soft flow. Mellow mature notes lead into a fairly full, dry finish.

Van Ryn 10 Year Old Vintage Brandy

Bright gold. Attractive nose beckons with wide range of dried fruit where apricot is the main player. Hints of chocolate and sweet tobacco with some marmalade and fruit cake. Beautifully rounded mouth with smooth, silky flow. Mellow and mature with a delightful and graceful elegance. A fine expression of the epitome of modern South African brandy. Clean, good fruit, mature and not over wooded.

KWV 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy

Deep amber. Very attractive, deep rich bouquet where marmalade, fig, orange peel and some caramel notes all meld together. Followed by cloves, cinnamon and vanilla. Deep, flavour-filled mouth where everything the nose had is somehow highlighted in an even fuller flavour. Silky and smooth across the palate with lots of oak support. Good balance. Gracefully mature and satisfying. Long, well extended finish.

Klipdrift Premium Brandy

Pale gold. Attractive nose filled with all manner of fruits but where apricot is the major attraction. Good combination of mellow mature notes along with an attractive youthful flair. Hints of vanilla, tobacco and some prune. Well rounded mouth gives all that the nose suggested. Smooth flow and lively texture. Good balance, fairly complex. Dry finish.

Oude Molen 100 Reserve

Bright amber. Nose opens with very attractive ripe fruit notes with dried apricot and some peach. Followed by fine spice with vanilla in the main and then a light floral note in the background. Silky smooth flow across the palate with flavours following the nose with addition of fig and a hint of sweet tobacco. Mellow and well rounded with a fine balance. Clean, dry finish.

Oude Molen VOV

Pale gold. Very attractive nose filled with dried apricot and backed by lovely floral scents. Smooth and silky in the mouth with fine controlled flow. Flavours spread out across the palate showing apricot, fig, sweet tobacco and some pear. Vanilla is always there as is the fine floral note. Mellow and well rounded. Long, floral finish.

Nederburg Solera Potstill Brandy

Pale gold. Fine, floral nose opens into an aromatic wave of spices, dried fruit and a distinct lavender character. Full fruited mouth where dried apricot comes into full focus. Hints of apple, pear and some citrus develop. Great balance and elegant stance. Lively lift in long, dry finish.

INTERNATIONAL WINE &
SPIRIT COMPETITION
Best Brandy in the World

2009

Joseph Barry 10 Year Old Pot Still
Southern Cape Vineyards

2008

Van Ryn's Collectors Reserve 20 Year Old
Distell Ltd, South Africa

2007

KWV 15 Year Old Brandy
KWV, South Africa

2006

Torres 20
Miguel Torres SA, Spain

2005

Van Ryn's Collection Reserve 12 Year Old
Distell Ltd, South Africa

2004

Van Ryn's Collection Reserve 12 Year Old
Distell Ltd, South Africa

2003

St Agnes Very Old Brandy XO
Angove's Pty, Australia

2002

RMS Alambic Brandy QE 14 Year Old
RMS Distillery

2001

Oude Molen VOV 14 Year Old Brandy
African Wine & Spirits, South Africa

2000

Imoya VSOP Cape Alambic Brandy
KWV, South Africa

1999

Oude Molen VOV 14 Year Old Brandy
Gilbeys Distillers, South Africa

1998

Carmel Brandy 100 - 9 Year Old
Carmel, Israel

1997

Torres 20 Brandy - 8 Year Old
Miguel Torres SA, Spain

1996

Baron Estate 3 Year Old Brandy
Baron Wine Cellars, Israel

1995

Sydney Back Brandy
Backsberg Estate, South Africa

1994

Calvados Boulard
SA Calvados Boulard

1993

Mildara Pot Still Brandy
Mildara, Austalia

1992

Vicchia Romagna Riserva Rara 15 Year Old
Gio Buton Sps, Italy

1991

KWV 10 Year Old Brandy
KWV, South Africa

1990

KWV 20 Year Old Brandy
KWV, South Africa

1989

Cognac Napoleon
Camus la Grande Marque, France

1988

Not awarded

1987

Camus Extra Grance
Camus la Grande Marque, France

1986

Courvoisier XO Cognac
Courvoisier SA, Jarnac

1985

Marnier-Lapostolle Cognac XO
Fine Champagne
Marnier-Lapostolle, France

1984

Camus XO
Camus la Grande Marque, France

1982 - 1983

Not awarded

1981

KWV 10 Year Old Brandy
KWV, South Africa

1980

St Agnes Very Old Brandy
Angove's Pty, Australia

1979

Grande Champagne 1er Cru de Cognac
Jean Fillioux

1978

Grande Champagne 1er Cru de Cognac
Jean Fillioux