Last week, Distell-owned Bain’s Cape Mountain single gain whisky from South Africa launched a limited edition 15 year-old expression exclusive to duty free at O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.

 

Reportedly the oldest grain whisky sold in South Africa, only 3,600 bottles have been made available. The first bottles sold at the airport on 10 January, were signed by Founder Distiller, Andy Watts.

 

Created at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington – about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, South Africa – the new duty free exclusive variant is the first of the Founder’s Collection series of whiskies launched.

 

The 15 year-old single grain whisky started its life off as Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and spent an additional 10 years maturing in older American oak.

 

Distell reveals that Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky was awarded as the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the 2013 and again in 2018 at the World Whiskies Awards held in London.

 

10 YEARS IN THE MAKING

“It took me 10 years to perfect Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and it was during this time that I realised that it has the potential to age much further than originally anticipated due to the flavour profile being upfront and complex,” said Watts.

 

“But in the world of whisky nothing is immediate or guaranteed and so I went about on an exploration, hoping that my experiment would not disappoint my vision.”

 

“And my curiosity certainly paid off. I re-vatted the Bain’s into 3rd and 4th fill American Oak and for 10 years regularly tasted the whisky to track its progress.

 

“At 15 years, the whisky was at its most optimum. Bottled at a strength of 52.5% Alcohol by Volume, the whisky’s complexity and flavour driven profile shines through.”

 

THE FIRST OF MANY…

The first in the Founder’s Collection series pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain who built the Bain’s Kloof Pass, ‘one of his most spectacular mountain passes constructed across South Africa’, says Distell.

 

“Completed in 1853, the pass winds through the Limietberg Nature Reserve with sharp hairpin bends and to this day remains one of the most picturesque routes in the Cape,” adds Distell.

 

The drinks company reveals that the Founder’s Collection will see a number of limited release single grain whiskies launched, featuring the ‘magnificent passes’ Geddes built.

 

The whisky will be available until stocks last and retails for ZAR 950 ($68).