James Sedgwick Distillery | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Alide Dasnois, editor of the Cape Times, has been relieved of her post, for an article by her environmental reporter Melanie Gosling about the improper awarding of a contract by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries to a Sekunjalo subsidiary owned by the Sekunjalo consortium which owns Independent Newspapers! Ms Dasnois has been replaced by Gasant Abarder as editor of the Cape Times.

* Delheim is offering a new Cupcake and Wine pairing. Chef Christine Claasen’s Rooibos cupcake is paired with Delheim Unwooded Chardonnay; the Pomegranate cupcake is paired with the Pinotage Rose; the Makataan (wild melon) cupcake is matched with Delheim’s Chardonnay Sur Lei; and the Pumpkin cupcake is paired with Delheim Pinotage. The cost is R75. (received via media release from Random Hat Communications).

* Bain’s Cape Mountain single grain whisky from Wellington has won double gold at the New York International Spirits Competition, having been named World’s Best Grain Whisky earlier this year. It is distilled at The James Sedgwick Distillery. (received via media release from De Kock Communications)

* Uitkyk is offering ‘Georgian’ picnics at its restored Georgian manor house outside Stellenbosch. The picnic basket includes artisan breads, cheeses, pates, olives, charcuterie, smoked salmon, fruit, and chocolate brownies, paired with a bottle of Uitkyk wine as well as a bottle of mineral water. Cost is R350 for two. (received via joint media release from Paula Wilson Media Consulting and Manley Communications)

* Kenyan visitors to South Africa have reacted with horror for having to pay a private operator for a visa to South Africa, which is meant to be free Continue reading →

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky from Wellington has been named the best single grain whisky in the World Whisky Awards by Whisky Magazine, reports the Sunday Times.

Distilled by Jeff Green, Bain’s whisky is made with South African maize, says Green: South African maize makes a very good grain whisky’, and explained that even Scottish grain whisky was made from our local maize until thirty years ago. Bain’s has been operating for the past five years, and has been maturing its whisky in American oak since 2009. Their special recipe is ‘double maturisation’, describing the process of maturing the whisky in two different types of casks over the five year period, giving the whisky a lot more flavour, including vanilla, toffee, and banana, with a sweet touch. He explained that our summer heat makes the whisky mature more quickly and extracts more flavour from the casks. Bain’s is the first locally produced grain whisky.

More than 300 malt whiskies, grain whiskies, and blends were judged in London by a panel of master blenders, distillers, retailers, and journalists. The whiskies were tasted blind, based on three tasting rounds. Green said: “This isn’t just a win for Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky but for South African whisky-making. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, launched in 2009, was created to express the extraordinary properties of South Africa’s very best home-grown grains, fermented and distilled locally. The whisky is proudly South African in profile. By taking the World’s Best Grain Whisky title we have amply demonstrated that South Africa can make exceptional whiskies. The 2013 title follows last year’s win by Three Ships 5 Year Old of the WWA’s World’s Best Blended Whisky, puts South Africa as a whisky producing country, squarely on the map.”

At the celebratory first birthday party of the Orphanage Cocktail Emporium on Saturday evening we were welcomed with a Fynbos Martini, made with Bain’s Cape Mountain whisky, lemon juice, a buchu and naartjie syrup, and orange bitters, a delicious refreshing drink.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is distilled and matured at the James Sedgwick Distillery, situated near the start of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington. The name of the whisky pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, who planned and built Bain’s Kloof Pass. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky retails for approximately R200.

James Sedgwick Distillery, Distillery Road, Wellington. Tel (021) 809-7000. www.bainscapemountainwhisky.co.za

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage