Now visitors can stop by at the famous Distillery in Robertson, where the country’s favourite brandy is produced, just off Route 62, have a drink and learn something about its history that began close by on the Robertson farm, Klipdrift, where Kosie Marais created his legendary brandy.
The renovated Klipdrift Brandy Distillery, designed by architects Van Biljon & Visser, recreates a typical South African home environment, filled with country hospitality, where everyone is welcome and people are encouraged to make themselves at home. Adjacent to the distillery itself, where the original copper stills and equipment are still in use, the building now houses a tasting area, historical displays, a bar and lounge.
Maverick that Marais was, when he inherited the farm from his father in 1922, he took a different route from his neighbours. Recognising that Chenin blanc and Colombard grapes were ideal for brandy, he turned to distilling, while his neighbours focused on wine. He made his first brandy in 1938 and the stills haven’t stopped flowing since. Legend has it that the first drop of glistening liquid emerged from his copper potstill at precisely 08:02. That is why every wall clock displayed in the bar area, a collection of typical time pieces found in South African homes over the past 70 years, is set at 08:02.
The label on the original Klipdrift Export also bears a clock set at 08:02.
“When you visit our home and you immerse yourself in the friendly, unpretentious country atmosphere, time literally stands still,” says Duif Richter, brand development manager for the Klipdrift range.
In addition to the original product, the distillery produces Klipdrift Premium, the internationally award-winning potstilled Klipdrift Gold and Klippies & Cola, a mix of Klipdrift Export and classic cola, with the full spectrum catering to arrange of brandy preferences.
Visitors can stop for a tasting of the four Klipdrift brandies, relax over a brandy in the bar or the lounge and buy Klipdrift-branded memorabilia from T-shirts to braaivleis and rugby accessories that celebrate local traditions and, like Klipdrift itself, have successfully crossed South Africa’s cultural divides. They can view examples of old brandy-making equipment and historical artefacts, see samples of earlier brandies made here, follow the award-winning advertising history of the brand and learn something of the eccentric, passionate and exuberant nature of Marais. Klipdrift’s originator saw himself as something of an engineer and grappled with many ambitious inventions, including, it is rumoured, a one-man submarine!
Initially Marais sold his hand-crafted brandy directly from the distillery but as its reputation spread and demand grew, he branded it Klipdrift, after the family farm, adding Export to the name, believing it would lend greater stature. Soon hotels and clubs were clamouring to stock it and so the famous trademark took root.
Tours are offered daily from Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays and public holidays from 09:00 to 16:00. For further details call (023) 626 3027 .