For the second time in the short space of only four months, Van Ryn’s brandies have received another World’s Best Brandy Trophy. This time it was Van Ryn’s 12-year-old potstill brandy that received the World’s Best Brandy Trophy for brandies 11 years and older at the 2023 International Spirits Challenge announced in London.
The International Spirits Challenge is one of the definitive spirits awards ceremonies where brandies from around the world are each tasted in a series of rigorous blind tastings led by a panel of the industry’s most renowned and influential experts.
In May this year, Van Ryn’s 15-year-old potstill brandy was awarded as the World’s Best Wine Brandy at the 2023 World Brandy Awards also announced in London, beating fierce competition from France, the United States, Australia and South Africa’s most prominent brandy producers.
Crafted at the Van Ryn’s Distillery in Stellenbosch, the range of Van Ryn’s brandies is made exactly according to the French traditional Cognacs and is made from wine grapes, double distilled in copper potstills, aged in oak barrels with no flavour or preservatives added. Due to French legislation, no other brandy produced outside of the Cognac region may call it as such.
Marlene Bester, Van Ryn’s master blender, says that although Van Ryn’s is similar in production methods as Cognac, the brandies have their own South African signature taste.
“The warm South African climate lends itself to creating brandies with a fruity character, balanced acidity and complexity – it’s like sunshine in a bottle! Our brandies are smooth, refined and lingering earning us the reputation as one of the world’s leading fine brandy houses.”
“Achieving two World’s Best titles in one year is an incredible honour. Fine brandy takes time and patience and it is an enormous privilege to have our brandies achieving continuous recognition for our longstanding commitment to create world-class, proudly South African brandy.”
Masterly crafted, Van Ryn’s 12-Year-Old Potstill Brandy is superb with aromas of dried fruit, red berries, vanilla, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco on the nose. Hints of coffee spice, and delicate oak leading to a lingering, elegant finish.
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 and to book tastings visit Van Ryn’s online
The range of Van Ryn’s award-winning products is available for purchase from their online store, or fine liquor outlets nationwide.
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