Tasting Room

Oude Molen 100 reserve brandy

From the well know Oude Molen Distillery in the Elgin Valley, comes the fine Oude Molen 100 Reserve brandy. Made in “Big Bertha” and “Long Tom”, the countries biggest stills, this is a fine light and tasty brandy. My rating 16/25 (more…)

KWV 10 Year Old Brandy

Strictly speaking, the middle child in the range ahead of 3yr and 5 yr, KWV 10 year old brandy is superb. Wether neat or on ice, it is full, smooth and flavoursome and at the current retail price is huge value for money. My rating: 18/25 (more…)

Van Ryns Vintage 10 year old brandy

One of the few vintage brandies we have to sample. Van Ryns Vintage 10 year old brandy is a super brandy, best served in a snifter with 1 block of ice. My rating: 19/25. (more…)

Van Ryns Fine Cask Reserve 15yr

The middle child of the potstill siblings, Van Ryns Fine Cask Reserve 15yr shows lots of depth, and fits perfectly where it should between its brothers. My rating: 20/25 (more…)

Van Ryns Collectors Reserve 20yr

Currently the oldest in  the Range, the Van Ryns Collectors Reserve 20yr potstil has complex layers of time etched into its soul. My rating: 20/25 (more…)

Ladismith Klein Karoo 8yr

Ladismith Klein Karoo 8yr from the stunning R62 brandy route. Aged 8 years it shows maturity beyond its years, as is illustrated by its most recent gold medal at IWSC 2011. My rating: 19/25. (more…)

Laborie Alambic 5 year old Brandy

From the stunning Laborie Wines in Paarl comes local potstill gem. Laborie Alambic 5 year old Brandy is made with a touch of red wine making it unique in many ways. My rating 18/25 (more…)

Flight of the Fish Eagle Brandy

For a young 3 year old brandy, you don’t get much finer. Flight of the Fish Eagle Brandy is perfect neat in a snifter with ice, or with ginger ale as my favourite mixed drink. Pure refreshment! My rating: 18/25. (more…)

Nederburg Solera

Nederburg Solera is a potstill gem from Paarl. Nederburg produce this brandy using the Spanish “Solera” method widely used in sherry production. My rating: 16/25 (more…)

Van Ryns Distillers Reserve 12yr

For me, their crowning glory. Van Ryns Distillers Reserve 12yr is perhaps my favourite brandy tasted to date. Satisfies at any occasion. My rating: 21/25 (more…)

Sir George 5yr

An undiscovered secret of the Wellington brandy route, Sir George 5yr from Napier Winery. A simply superb, small volume potstill, sold in elegant 500ml bottles. My rating: 18/25 (more…)

Uitkyk Estate Brandy 10yr

One of my early favourite potstill brandies, Uitkyk Estate Brandy 10yr is produced, matured and bottled on the stunning Uitkyk farm in Stellenbosch. My rating: 18/25 (more…)

KWV Imoya VSOP Brandy

Fitting for me somewhere between the 10 and 15 year brandies in the range, KWV Imoya VSOP brandy is a blend of 20, 10, 8 and 3 year old brandies bottled slightly stronger at 40%. My rating: 17/25 (more…)

Blaauwklippen 8 year old Brandy

A little brandy gem from well known Blaauwklippen Vineyards, Blaauwklippen 8 year old brandy is single cask matured and bottled. Oozes quality and lives up to it on the flavour profile too. My rating 18/25 (more…)

Oude Meester Reserve 12 Year Old Brandy

The 3rd oldest behind VSOP and Demant, Oude Meester Reserve 12 year old brandy is very well structured and matured. My rating: 18/25 (more…)

Oude Molen Rene Single Cask Brandy

A stunningly different and complex gem from Oude Molen. One of 109 casks is set aside from the rest for single barrel bottling. My rating 19/25 (more…)

Oude Meester Demant Brandy

Blended potstill up to 8 years old, Oude Meester Demant brandy is exciting and fresh while still maintaining a well matured and crafted feel. My rating 16/25 (more…)

Joseph Barry 5 year old brandy

From the stunning R62 and Barrydale Cellars, Joseph Barry 5 year old brandy is the middle child in a great potstill brandy range. My rating 17/25 (more…)

Joseph Barry Muscat 3 year old brandy

From the stunning R62 and Barrydale Cellars, Joseph Barry Muscat 3 year old brandy is the baby in a great potstill brandy range. My rating 16/25 (more…)

Joseph Barry 10 year old brandy

From the stunning R62 and Barrydale Cellars, Joseph Barry 10 year old brandy is the award winning flagship in a great potstill brandy range. My rating 18/25 (more…)

KWV 15 Year old Brandy

Currently the penultimate offering in the premium KWV range, KWV 15 year old brandy is truly a masterpiece.  My rating: 22/25 (more…)

KWV 20 Year Old Brandy

Currently the the oldest gentleman in the premium KWV range, KWV 20 year old brandy lives up to every minute of its 20 year maturation.  My rating: 21/25 (more…)

Oude Meester Souverein 18 year old brandy

The oldest in the Oude Meester premium range, Oude Meester Souverein 18 year old brandy is as different and unique as it is complex. My rating: 20/25 (more…)

Oude Molen Solera

Sumsaré 5 year old brandy

A perfectly crafted micro distilled potstill, Sumsaré 5 year old brandy shows maturity way beyond its years. Oozing sophistication, my rating is 19/25 (more…)

Kingna 12 year old brandy

Hand crafted in small volumes at the Kingna distillery in Montagu, the 12 year old delivers the most complex and amazing nose of any brandy I have ever tasted. 17 /25 (more…)

Kingna 5 year old brandy

Hand crafted in small volumes at the Kingna distillery in Montagu, the 5 year old delivers a super flavour profile with smooth lingering finish. Another great 5 yo micro produced potstill brandy. My rating is 18 /25 (more…)

Elsenburg 13 year old brandy

Distilled in small batches each year by final year students at the Elsenburg College of agriculture, this micro produced potstill packs a weight and a half in terms of taste and flavour. My rating is 20 /25 (more…)

Bezalel VSOP (5yo) Brandy

From the flood plains of the Orange River in the Northern Cape, comes a 5 year old potstill gem, unlike any other out there. My rating is 19 /25 (more…)

Bezalel XO Founders Reserve Brandy (10yo)

From Bezalel Wine and Brandy estate in the Northern Cape, comes this stunning 10 yo potstill, with a bottle design to match its true quality. My rating is 19 /25 (more…)

KWV Nexus 30 year old brandy

One of only two 30 year old releases in South Africa. Blend consist of 30-42 years old and comes in very limited release. Exceptional by any and all standards. Franco’s Score: 23/25
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Van Ryn’s AU.RA 30 year old brandy

The first 30 year brandy released in South Africa! Only 107 bottles made and a true masterpiece of brandy.  Franco’s Score: 23/25 (more…)

Hess Alambic 5 yo Brandy

From the quaint R62 town of Montagu, comes a very much unknown 5 year old potstill brandy from Mimosa Lodge.  My rating is 16/25 (more…)

Pierre Croizet XO

The first (an so far only!) cognac to make my collection, Pierre Croizet XO is surprisingly different, and very smooth despite the extra 2 % ABV. My rating: 17/25 (more…)

Rémy Martin XO Cognac

Perhaps one of the world’s most recognised and famous Cognac brands, Rémy Martin XO Cognac is the flagship in the range. My rating is 19/25 (more…)

KWV XO Cognac

One of the few Cognacs we have tasted, but an exceptional product none the less! Blended from Cognacs aged between 12-30 years old and done in Partnership with the House of Charpentier. Unique, well balanced and delightfully delicious. Franco’s Rating: 19/25  (more…)

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P Cognac

Perhaps one of the world’s most recognised and famous Cognac brands, Rémy Martin VSOP is the entry level in SA. My rating is 18/25 (more…)

Rémy Martin 1738 Cognac

Perhaps one of the world’s most recognised and famous Cognac brands, 1738 is a special blend to honour the Accord Royal. My rating is 20/25 (more…)

Bisquit VS Cognac

From the Distell owned House of Bisquit in Cognac, comes a fine entry level well balance VS congnac. My rating is 17/25 (more…)

Bisquit VSOP Cognac

From the Distell owned House of Bisquit in Cognac, comes a fruity and flashy VSOP Cognac to take on some fine local brandies. My rating is 19/25 (more…)

Chabot Napoleon Reserve Armagnac

A lovely variation from the lesser known producing region in France, Chabot Napoleon Armagnac is fresh, fruity and zesty.  My rating: 17/25 (more…)