Andy Watts is Three Ships’ master distiller. Image: Supplied
Three Ships named SA’s best whisky at spirits show
The brand is proving it can stand proudly among the world’s best whisky producers.
Andy Watts is Three Ships’ master distiller. Image: Supplied
Three Ships’ nine-year-old Fino Cask Finish has been picked out among strong competition to take the Best Whisky title at the 2020 Old Mutual Spirits Trophy Show.
This limited release is the fourth in Three Ships Whisky master distiller Andy Watts’s acclaimed Master’s Collection, of which only 2,940 bottles were made. It also took the trophy for the show’s Best Blended Whisky at the end of November.
Watts also created the Bain’s Founder’s Collection 18 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Special Release Single Grain Whisky, which won the trophy for Best Grain Whisky.
Three Ships distillery a leader in Africa
Both are produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Africa’s only commercial whisky distillery. Watts has produced the globally awarded South African Three Ships Whisky and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky ranges at this distillery for the past 35 years.
“This award is especially important to us,” Watts said.
Changing the way SA whisky is perceived
“Over the years it’s been our mission to change the way local whisky is perceived and we believe this is starting to happen now.
“The nine-year-old Fino Cask Finish is a fine example of how South African whisky ingenuity is revolutionising the whisky category — and it’s a singular honour to have this whisky acknowledged as the best whisky in the country by our own countrymen.
“The fact that South Africa secured the lion’s share of the gold medals and trophies across most major classes this year is a grand acknowledgement that our own country’s contribution to the evolution of whisky is something to be wholly proud of.
“I’d like to tip my hat to my team at the distillery for their tenacity and dedication to excellence,’’ Watts said.
Awards recognise excellence and grow SA spirits market
Now in its second year, the Old Mutual Spirits Trophy Show is the first of its kind in the country, and open to all South African producers and importers. The awards platform seeks to identify the top spirits and liqueurs available in the South African market in an effort to recognise excellence and assist in growing the local spirits market.
To ensure Covid-19 compliance, the results of the Old Mutual Spirits Trophy Show were announced virtually on 25 November.
“The limited edition Fino offers collectors a beautiful blend of the finest grain and malt whiskies with lovely expressions of fino sherry coming through,” Watts said of his winning whisky.
“Coupled with this, in the palate, the whisky opens up with peat, treacle syrup, tobacco, spice and a playful nuttiness. On the nose you will also get prominent smoke and peat, interlaced with figs, pineapple, orange peel, pepper and spice.”
Cask finish key to Three Ships’ Master’s Collection
Watts said achieving an exceptional cask finish was a mark of the Three Ships Whisky Master’s Collection.
“We first matured the whisky for five years in older American oak and then released it into seasoned Fino Sherry casks for a further maturation period of four years.
“During the crafting stage, I witnessed the unravelling of extraction from the wood over four years and carefully selected four casks which I deemed to offer the optimal flavour composition.” he said.
The whisky is un-chill filtered and natural in colour.
‘Made Exceptional, Made Here’
This annual limited edition collection reflects Three Ships’ “Made Exceptional, Made Here” range of premium blended and single malt South African whiskies, and has become a must-have for collectors getting involved in a completely new way of online purchasing.
