Tuesday, 20 December, 2016
Distell
Entries into the competition are received from nearly 90 countries worldwide and each sample is judged according to its class and treated with the same care and consideration. The awards given at the competition are among some of the highest honours in the industry. Judging for the competition is unique in that it has two stages: first, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 400 fully experienced and qualified global experts judging products for 7 months of the year. Products which receive the top medals are then subject to technical analysis before results are released; this crucial stage ensures winners receive complete validation.
The IWSC claims to set the international benchmark for quality remaining unique in the crowded world of drinks competitions.
Distell, Africa’s leading producer of spirits, has won the coveted title of World’s Best Brandy Producer of 2016 at the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) Annual Awards Banquet in London.
This was the first time IWSC awarded a trophy to the Brandy Producer of the Year. The judges reviewed at all the different type of brandies that a company produces; including potstill brandy, cognac, Armagnac and fruit brandy. The number of gold, silver and bronze medals were counted and the average score of the winning products was used to calculate the percentage of products that were entered against medals achieved.
Distell emerged top of this list thanks to their impressive range of potstill brandies and the Bisquit cognac that won the judges over with refined sophistication and quality.
IWSC Tasting Manager, Pip Mortimer said Distell’s brandy expertise encompassed not only their historic heartland in South Africa, but brandy’s spiritual home in Cognac as well. “This award recognises the medals earned South African classics by such as Van Ryn’s and Klipdrift, as well as cognac from Bisquit.”
Distell’s portfolio of brandies range from accessible blended brandies to the exceptional, matured potstill brandies; and includes Klipdrift, Richelieu, Oude Meester and Van Ryn’s. The French Cognac brand, Bisquit is also part of this portfolio after being purchased by Distell in 2009.
“South Africa has a long and proud brandy tradition stretching back nearly 300 years and we all can be rightfully proud of the way our brandies are rated by some of the world’s most distinguished experts,” remarks Distell’s Brandy Ambassador, Nicholas Holdcroft. “Whether we are winning world’s best brandy at the top international competitions such as Van Ryn’s has done for an incredible 12 times in the last 14 years, or receiving international recognition as the world’s best brandy producer, Distell feels truly honoured to be flying the South African flag on the global stage.”
“For those who want to join us in celebrating with some of South Africa’s award-winning brandies, a visit to the House of Van Ryn’s in Stellenbosch to taste the IWSC Best Worldwide Brandy for 2015 - the Van Ryn’s Distiller’s Reserve 12- year-old is recommended. If in Robertson, the Klipdrift Distillery is home to Klipdrift Premium, which won world’s best brandy at the 2016 World Brandy awards. At both of these brandy homes, you will find knowledgeable staff who will explain the finer nuances of South Africa’s most illustrious spirit,” said Holdcroft.