South Africa’s oldest distilled spirit has a new way to shine. The South African Brandy Foundation has relaunched the SA Brandy Route - making it easier for you to explore historic cellars, boutique distilleries, and urban cocktail hubs in and around Cape Town.
An interactive map forms part of the "new digital tools" to explore distinct brandy regions from the Klein Karoo, through Stellenbosch, to Cape Town - allowing you to tap into visual itinerary suggestions to plan your experience. There's also detailed product insights and tips too.
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Highlights to explore on the new route:
- Heritage tastings in the Klein Karoo: At Boplaas Distillery in Calitzdorp (about 4hrs from Cape Town), you'll find one of the region’s oldest producers. They have a newly expanded tasting lounge that now showcases pot stillbrandies aged up to 20 years.
- Sweet pairings in the winelands: Boschendal Estate now pairs its XO Brandy with South African classics like malva pudding and milk tart, while Tokara on Helshoogte Pass matches its XO Brandy with handmade chocolates. Both these estates are about an hour outside of Cape Town
- Cellar tours with history: At Van Ryn’s Distillery in Stellenbosch, guests can explore historic cellars and taste award-winning brandies alongside decadent chocolate. Also about an hour from Cape Town.
- Cocktails in the city: Cape Town’s Cause|Effect Cocktail Kitchen, a pioneer in showcasing local brandies, features more than 80 premium labels and inventive serves like the “Table Mountain,” which blends Klein Karoo brandy with fynbos bitters.
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Bolstered with SA gees!
Brandy has been distilled in South Africa for more than 330 years, dating back to 1672 when the first “brandewijn” was produced in Table Bay. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a refined, globally awarded spirit, with the relaunched Brandy Route set to make this part of South Africa’s liquid heritage a memorable experience to plan.
“Every Brandy Home and Brandy Hub tells a story,” says Christelle Reade-Jahn, Director of the South African Brandy Foundation. “By elevating the visitor experience and showcasing brandy’s versatility, we’re ensuring this tradition remains relevant and celebrated.”
With 19 Brandy Homes across the Western Cape and upgraded tasting experiences, the route spotlights local craftsmanship and is a great addition to our world-famous wine routes. Learn more at sabrandy.co.za
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