Issued by Tin Can PR
Cape Town, 30th May, 2015 – Oude Molen’s XO new handcrafted premium Cape
Brandy was awarded Gold at the recent 2016 Global Spirits Masters in
the Brandy Masters category, and was the only South African
distiller to win Gold in the competition.
In addition, Oude Molen’s premium
Joseph Barry VS, VSOP and XO Cape brandies won silver medals in the
competition.
The Global Spirits Masters is
one of the most renowned blind tasting competitions in the world and uses only
independent judges, making it one of the most impartial spirits competitions.
Distillers and bottlers from across the globe enter across a variety of
categories.
The Global Brandy Masters 2016 rewards
the finest brandy brands on a world stage. It is chaired by The Sprits
Business along with a panel of leading sprits and on-trade
specialists, who judge the brandy in a blind tasting. Trophies for the world’s
winning spirits, best distilleries and producers were awarded at a function,
held at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), London.
The first Oude Molen was produced in
1910, by Dutch born distiller, René Santhagens, who was the first man in South
Africa, to produce brandy according to the age-old French tradition. Oude Molen
still makes its Cognac-style brandy according to these centuries-old techniques
at its distillery in Elgin, which houses two of the largest copper pot stills
in the Southern Hemisphere.
Andre Simonis, MD of the Oude Molen
distillery, says that the global impact of winning this type of award is great
for business.
“Marketing our brandies as Cape Brandy
rather than ‘pot still brandy’ is paying off as there is a lot of confusion
around the Pot Still category,” he explains. “There is widespread confusion in
the market regarding different sub categories as defined in the legislation
namely, Blended Brandy, Vintage Brandy and Pot Still Brandy. On the shelf all
these different segments compete under one category namely ‘Brandy’. Oude Molen
believes that by calling its 100% Pot still variants ‘Cape Brandy’; we will be
able to resolve some of the confusion in the market in so far as the ‘Pot
Still’ category is concerned.”
He continues: “We have focussed our
marketing of Cape Brandy in the design and development of our premium brandies
and have seen an uptide in demand locally and as well as in export markets,
especially in the American and Dutch as well and Asian markets.”
Simonis says that inroads into the
Asian market will help to increase volumes because the Asia-Pacific region
currently dominates the global consumer market for brandy, accounting for more
than half of the total market share in terms of volume sold.
“This award also confirms that we are
on the right track when it comes to our processes of distilling, ageing and
blending,” he adds. “Recognition also needs to be given to our team who are
involved from beginning to end Eddy Beukes, Distillery manager and the blending
team comprising of Andy Neil, Lara Patrick and Kobus Gerderblom who heads up
the team.”
Kobus Gelderbloem says: “Oude Molen
Cape Brandy defines the perfect marriage of terroir, craftsmanship and luxury
indulgence. Only Colombard, Chenin Blanc and Ugni Blanc grapes are used in the
distillation of our Cape Brandy.”
He adds that the brandies used in the
distillation of the premium handcrafted Oude Molen XO Cape Brandy are between
10 and sixteen years old, and are matured in specially selected oak barrels.
Oude Molen XO sells for R800 and is
available direct from the Oude Molen distillery and will be available from
liquor outlets nationwide from the end of July. For more information visit oudemolen.co.za
-Ends-
Oude Molen XO Tasting Notes: Coconut and tropical fruit entice the nose,
with hints of litchi and banana. These open up to a deep fruit palate with
peach and apricot undertones. Subtle oak lingers on the swallow, with coconut
and a long lasting finish.
About Edward Snell & Co.
Established in 1848, Edward Snell &
Co. is currently the largest family-owned wine and spirit merchant in South
Africa. The company is the third largest alcohol spirit beverage business in SA
producing, warehousing, and distributing its own brands as well as a number of
international brands. The company has a 13% share of the South African spirits
market and employs over 285 people. For more information go to www.esnell.co.za
