Van Ryn's 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Brandy (750ml)

Brandy is big business in South Africa, with the two biggest players being KWV and Van Ryns. Both producers will tell you that their standards and processes are on par, if not better, than the equivalent Cognac standards with the only difference being the location of the vineyards. Chenin and Colombard grapes dominate, and just as in France, they age their distillates for various amounts of time, bottling with alcohols around 38% to 40%. South Africa's commitment to quality is borne out by a slew of awards. In fact, the country has recently dominated at leading international competitions. Van Ryn's 12 year old is a perfect example, winning the trophy for ‘Worldwide Best Brandy’ six times to date - three times at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and three times at the International Spirits Challenge. Said the IWSC judges in their tasting notes, “...an even balance is perfectly displayed with a spectrum of exciting flavours of fruit, spices and herbs... A beautiful, elegant finish lingers long on the palate – true finesse!” Matured on the banks of the Eerste River in Stellenbosch, expect hints of coffee, dried fruits, cinnamon and sweet tobacco. 38% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Aged in small French oak casks, which makes it much more “old world” in style than the other brandies in this family. The nose is more intense, with a slight astringency driven by the wood. Still strong with raisin, well-baked apple, and spice notes, the wood notes grow heavier to the point of overpowering the spirit’s gentle fruit core. With time, the body offers up surprisingly tough notes of leather and furniture polish, with a slightly bitter bite on the finish. - drinkhacker.com