The Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy Aged 20 Years took top honours at this year’s Trophy Spirits Show, claiming three top trophies at the acclaimed competition.
The Stellenbosch distillery’s brandy was awarded the Trophy for Best Pot-distilled Brandy, Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Spirit and Investec Trophy for Best Brandy of the Show.
The wins for Van Ryn’s follows another international win for the Van Ryn’s 15-year-old Potsill Brandy, which was named World’s Best Wine Brandy, at the 2024 World Drinks Awards in May (“Top of the podium”, Eikestadnuus, 30 May).
The Trophy Spirits Show is the only competition in South Africa which assesses a representative array of international and local high-end spirits, liqueurs and aperitifs available to consumers in this country.
The competition’s judging methodology is based on the tried and tested system developed over many years by the Trophy Wine Show. Among its key features are three-person judging panels, at least one of whose members is an international specialist invited to South Africa specifically to judge the competition.
The show’s 2024 iteration saw considerable breadth and depth to the entries received across all classes. It is clear that the producers and importers of high-end products have come to trust the panels which sit in judgement of their spirits and liqueurs.
There were 106 entries received from 17 producers and distributors with 56 brands, spread through seven categories. In terms of total entries, the whisky classes saw the greatest number with 33 entries. These were mainly from Scotland, though there were also submissions from South Africa and Ireland.
Included in this line-up were malt, grain and blended whiskies, as well as pot-still whiskeys. It is a tribute to the respect in which the show is held that most of the major brands were represented. The gin classes saw a fair spread of entries across all three categories – London Dry, Distilled and Flavoured Gin, and included local craft submissions as well as entries from many of the international producers. Brandy was well represented with pot-still submissions from the Cape and France (Cognac). Unsurprisingly, given the worldwide surge in interest in tequila/agave and rum, there were strong entries in these classes. Good representation of vodkas and cream liqueurs completed the judging line-up.
For the first time in the competition’s history, a panel could not separate its two top scoring products and finally resolved to share the trophy for the show’s best whisky between the top grain and the top malt. The annual battle between France and South Africa for the brandy crown saw Van Ryn’s securing this coveted trophy with the Single Potstill Brandy Aged 20 Years
The attrition which thinned out the craft gin producers following the Covid-related lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 seems to be over, with 26 gins entered. Gold medals were awarded in both the London Dry and Flavoured Gin classes.
As in previous years, entries came in from producers in places as far afield as England, Ireland, Scandinavia, Italy, the Caribbean, the highlands of Scotland, the deserts of Mexico, the villages of Cognac and pretty much everywhere in between. Included among these exotics were at least 54 different brandies, liqueurs, whiskies and gins from the Cape and Gauteng.
South Africa’s share of the gold medals and trophies was significant enough to serve as a tribute to the craft and skill of our domestic distillers, and a vindication of Investec’s commitment to an industry which makes a major contribution to employment and to the country’s GDP.
Back at the tasting benches was the world’s leading gin judge, David T Smith, while Louise Martin (Whisky) from Scotland and Claire Blackler MW (brandy and rums) from the UK joined the competition’s local panellists for the first time. These international specialists shared their expertise with local judges and associates. The South African judges were Andy Watts, Neil Paterson, Dr Mare-Loe Prinsloo, Carla Weightman, Sean Gunns and Leah van Deventer.
The associate judges were Jason McEvoy, Anriënka Vlok van Zyl and Sulette Oelofse. Show convenor Michael Fridjhon was Chairman of the Judges.
The Trophy Spirits Show: trophy and gold winners were:
Trophy winners
. Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy Aged 20 Years:
– Trophy for Best Pot-distilled Brandy
– Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Spirit
– Investec Trophy for Best Brandy of Show
. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky – Single Grain Double-Matured:
– Trophy for Best Grain Whisky
– Investec Trophy for Best Whisky of Show (joint winner)
. Tomatin 2012 Single Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky – WhiskyBrother Excl:
– Investec Trophy for Best Malt Whisky
– Investec Trophy for Best Whisky of Show (joint winner)
. Amarula Premium African Gin:
– Investec Trophy for Best London Gin
– Riedel Trophy for Best Gin of Show
. Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey: Investec Trophy for Best Single Pot Still Whiskey
. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky: Investec Trophy for Best Blended Whisk(e)y
. Absolut Elyx Vodka: Trophy for Best Vodka of Show
. Cape Fynbos Gin – Citrus Edition: Trophy for Best Flavoured Gin
. Martell XO Cognac – Trophy for Best Cognac
. Avion Reposado Tequila – Trophy for Best Tequila of Show
. Wild Africa Caffé Latte Cream Liqueur – Investec Trophy for Best Liqueur of Show
Gold medal winners
. Bisquit & Dubouché Cognac V.S.O.P.
. Frapin Grande Champagne Cognac 1270
. Gordon’s London Dry Gin
. Inverroche Amber Gin
. Inverroche Verdant Gin
. Johnnie Walker Green Label Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years
. KWV Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy 15 Year Old
. Metanoia Klein Karoo Gin
. Richelieu Vintage Brandy 10 Year Old
. SKYY Vodka
. The Singleton of Dufftown Single Malt Scotch Whisky 15 Years Old
