South Africa’s brandies have proven, time and again, that they are the international gold standard. Claiming five double gold medals at the San Francisco’s World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) certainly does well to firmly cement this status into the record books.

Once again Oude Meester revealed their Midas touch at the recent competition, by bagging three double gold medals for their Oude Meester 12-Year-Old Reserve Brandy, the Oude Meester 18-YearOld Sovereign and the Oude Meester Demant – which also won the title as World’s Best Brandy at the 2017 World Brandy Awards. Van Ryn’s Distillery, another global champion, claimed two double gold medals for the Van Ryn’s 12-Year-Old Distiller’s reserve and the Van Ryn’s 20-Year-Old Collectors Reserve respectively.

“Any medal from the SFWSC is considered a proud achievement, but for Distell to win five double gold medals is truly an exceptional performance and perhaps the most authoritative acknowledgement that South African brandies can compete head-to-head with the world’s most famous cognacs,” said Distell Brandy Ambassador, Nick Holdcroft. “We are extremely proud of the quality of our brandies within our borders, but to win in a part of the world, like San Francisco is truly special, and shows the opportunity we have in spreading these products internationally.”