Johannesburg – A once-off release of South Africa’s oldest brandy, a 42-year-old single cask potstill from Van Ryn’s, went under the hammer at the Nederburg Charity Auction and raised R40 000 for good causes.
The ultra-premium 42-year-old brandy, which started its journey from the vine in 1974 when it was distilled and placed into a 1 000 litre French oak cask in the cool maturation cellars of Van Ryn’s Distillery, was sold to an international buyer. The special edition brandy was created especially to mark 42 years of the Nederburg Auction, South Africa’s pre-eminent wine auction.
Over the past 42 years this special cask has been under the custodianship of four master distillers at Van Ryn’s, who each oversaw the delicate alchemy within, biding time until the perfect opportunity to release one of South Africa’s most iconic expressions of potstill brandies.
“It was a rare privilege to be responsible for the final step in realising this unique brandy’s legacy,” said Van Ryn’s current master distiller, Marlene Bester. “Working with such an exceptional matured brandy might happen only a few times in any distiller’s career.”
Bester said the age of the brandy gave an incomparable smoothness to the mouthfeel, while an alluring bouquet of chocolate, hints of coffee and subtle notes of red berries and spice on the nose and palate had developed to perfection over the past 42 years. “I am honoured to have played my part in celebrating 42 successful years of the country’s preeminent wine auction.”
Van Ryn’s Distillery has, in recent times, become known for its multi-award winning brandies. “These awards seem to have enticed international buyers to take notice of Van Ryn’s brandies and it is gratifying that South Africa’s reputation has led to foreign connoisseurs being willing to pay top prices for them,” Bester said.
In 2014, the Van Ryn’s Charentaise Collection, a once-off 10-year-old potstill brandy was sold at the Nederburg Charity Auction for R25 000. The reserve price for the Van Ryn’s 42-year-old single cask potstill brandy was R30 000 and the winning bidder paid R40 000.
With an exclusive production of just a single bottle, the Van Ryn’s 42-year-old potstill brandy was one of 18 lots sold at the annual Nederburg Charity Auction. Just over half a million rand was raised for two community-based organisations — the Breytenbach Centre in Wellington and the Hope Through Action project in Paarl.
IOL
Adapted from a press release.