Locally produced Van Ryn’s 15-year-old potstill brandy has been awarded as the World’s Best Wine Brandy at the 2023 World Brandy Awards announced in London.
This is the second consecutive year that Van Ryn’s has been awarded this prestigious accolade. At the 2022 World Brandy Awards Van Ryn’s 20-year-old potstill brandy was announced as the World’s Best Wine Brandy.
The World Brandy Awards which see the finest brandies enter from around the world, is presented by TheDrinksReport.com, and rewards and promotes the world’s best spirits to global consumers and trade. Each entry is tasted blind and marked to an agreed and strictly enforced scoring system reviewing the nose, palate, and finish, balance, character, complexity, and quality of the brandy.
The panel of international judges praised Van Ryn’s 15-year-old potstill brandy as "A symphony of aromas unfold, very complex and also well balanced between the scents. Big and powerful but still elegant. Great."
An overjoyed master blender, Marlene Bester says this is truly the highlight of her career.
“Achieving a world’s best title is the pinnacle for any master blender. Achieving two in consecutive years is the ultimate recognition! We are committed to innovation, quality and the art of crafting exceptional brandy, building our reputation as one of the world’s leading fine brandy producers by following in the footsteps of South Africa’s pioneer brandy masters, who earned our first international award as far back as 1884.”
“At Van Ryn’s we understand the importance of time. We allow our brandies the luxury of maturation for several years, quietly developing their complex layers of flavours during their slumber. Although we lose approximately 3% of volume per year to the Angel’s Share, the result is an incredibly smooth brandy that rewards in character and quality.”
The Van Ryn’s 15-year-old brandy is fragrant with notes of cigar box, orange peel, and balanced oak. Dark chocolate, warm spice, integrated oak, and fruit create a creamy and complex finish. Enjoy neat, on the rocks or as the base for a range of refreshing and innovative cocktails.
The finalists for the World’s Best Wine Brandy award were:
Van Ryn’s 15-Year-Old Potstill Brandy, South Africa - Gold
Van Ryn’s 20-Year-Old Potstill Brandy, South Africa – Silver
KWV 10-Year-Old Brandy, South Africa – Silver
KWV 12-Year-Old Brandy, South Africa – Silver
KWV 15-Year-Old Brandy, South Africa – Silver
Beehive XO, France – Bronze
Hector Legrant 15-Year-Old, France – Bronze
Ironroot Republic Sleight of Hand Sister City Blend, United States – Bronze
KWV 20-Year-Old, South Africa - Bronze
Sullivans Cove XO Double Cask Brandy, Australia – Bronze
Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask Brandy, Australia – Bronze
Viceroy 10-Year-Old Potstill, South Africa – Bronze
Visit the Van Ryn’s Distillery in Stellenbosch with its atmospheric Provencal-style buildings, for brandy tastings, brandy cocktails, special events and sundowners with live music sessions. For more information visit them online or for event and tasting bookings visit them here.
The range of Van Ryn’s award-winning products is available for purchase from their online store, or fine liquor outlets nationwide.
