Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky has clinched the title of World’s Best Grain Whisky and founder distiller, Andy Watts has been awarded the title of global Icon of Whisky Master Distiller/Master Blender for 2018.
These awards, held annually by the UK’s Whisky Magazine attract fierce competition from well-known Scottish, Irish, American, Japanese, Taiwanese and other expressions from around the world.
The results were announced at a gala dinner held at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London.
Watts attended the dinner to receive the awards and says the win was overwhelming news for the brand and SA: “We have overcome the odds against the perceived perception that only traditional whisky producing countries can be taken seriously."
He adds: "Our industry in SA is only 40 years old and although we’ve had many hurdles along the way, we have become innovative in our approach to manage our unique warmer climate, found creative ways to use home-grown raw material to our best advantage and constantly strive for crafting exceptional whiskies.
Andy Watts, Icon of Whisky Master Distiller/Master Blender for 2018. Pic supplied
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, the only whisky in the world to be made from 100% South African maize (mielies), is incredibly smooth due to its rather unique double maturation over a five year period in casks previously used for Bourbon.
The warmer climate is also a contributing factor which accelerates the interaction between wood, spirit and air during maturation, resulting in a much smoother whisky at a younger age usually associated with more mature whiskies.
It took Andy 10 years to develop Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky before it was released in 2009 and since then, this whisky has created a tidal wave of interest for its unique taste.
The whisky was first named World’s Best Grain Whisky in 2013 and has received gold and double gold at all the major international whisky competitions.