Van Ryn's claims its sixth top international brandy title

Van Ryn's claims its sixth top international brandy title


26 November 2010 by Van Ryn's Distillery

Van Ryn's distillery close to Stellenbosch has just earned its third consecutive Best Brandy trophy at the 2010 International Spirits Challenge in London. This time, the honours for producing the world's best brandy went to the 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve.

Said Neil Mathieson, competition category chairman for cognac, armagnac and brandy entries: "Awarding the Best Brandy Trophy was a very hard choice this year, given the excellence of the products submitted and the very high marks they achieved. In the end the decision to award the trophy to Van Ryns 15 Year Old was made in recognition of its great length, subtlety and depth of flavour."

Mathieson, who is a world authority on international brandies and other grape-based spirits, and the founder and managing director of Eaux de Vie, a specialist spirits importer, based in the UK, believes South African brandies are becoming the standard-bearer for quality aged brandied produced outside the AOC regions of France.

In 2008 and 2009, it was the Van Ryn's 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve that was voted the best by the panel of ISC spirits specialists.

Van Ryn's has also brought home the Worldwide Best Brandy trophy from the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) three times, making it a total of six times that the distillery has been judged to produce the best.

Adele Ankiewicz, global marketing manager for Van Ryn's said: "These results demonstrate a remarkable consistency of performance and are a reflection of South African brandy excellence. The Van Ryn's Brandy Collection is an international quality leader, setting the benchmark for the finest brandies in the world. It deftly combines exuberant, generous fruitiness with elegance and finesse and offers an exciting taste profile for spirits connoisseurs."

This year's ISC Best Brandy winner was voted the best in its class at the IWSC and won a gold medal.