THE SCOOP
CAN DO, WILL DO Convenience and ease of use is behind a host of great innovations. According to all appearances wine in cans – something which was unthinkable 10 or even five years ago – is more readily acceptable nowadays. The latest producer to offer canned wine is Perdeberg Wines. It’s taken a leap of faith and released three wines in 250ml slimline cans, all three are from their popular Soft Smooth Range – or SSR – which are fruit driven and easy drinking. The bold graphics of the SSR really stands out, especially since the letters are set against Perdeberg’s popular zebra print background. The wine is available in SSR red, white and rosé. Ready to enjoy at any occasion, any time and by anyone of legal drinking age, SSR is a great crossover wine style, neither completely semi-sweet nor dry. The result is an accessible, fruity, refreshing and exceedingly drinkable wine – and it can be carted along on picnics, hikes, camping trips. Basically anywhere ... and no corkscrew or opener is required. But responsible drinking is recommended, as always. “We want to offer wine drinkers the opportunity to enjoy their favourite wine blend any way they prefer – accommodating hassle-free wine enjoyment without the fuss surrounding glass bottles. It brings an exciting element and new era of wine enjoyment to consumers,” said Chantelle Boucher, Perdeberg marketing manager. From a sustainability perspective, canned wine is a bonus. Aluminium cans have a smaller carbon footprint than glass bottles, with 68% recycled content and not needing paper or water for labelling. The serving size of 250ml also promotes reduced consumption and more responsible drinking. Additionally, the Perdeberg SSR Red contains no animal byproducts and is therefore suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
4 w w w .t o p s a t s p a r. c o . z a
A SACRED OBJECT Whisky lovers are used to seeing Scottish single malts – but Irish examples are rare. Which is one of the reasons that the introduction mid-year of the Sexton Irish Single Malt was greeted with enthusiasm ... even if consumers were unable to buy it initially! The one point of difference and of interest in Sexton which is immediately obvious is the bottle: it comes packaged in a distinctive, dark hexagonal bottle. Made with 100% Irish malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills and exclusively matured in handselected Oloroso sherry casks, the Sexton achieves superb balance between rich dried fruits and toasty oak notes to offer a smooth finish. Like most Irish whiskeys it’s also triple-distilled, further contributing to the liquid’s smooth approachability and memorable character. “Single malts are notoriously inaccessible because of their heavily oaky notes,” said Truman & Orange owner Rowan Leibbrandt. “Sexton is a single malt that’s typically Irish in smoothness and approachability, while the sherry cask maturation balances the oak notes typical of a single malt. It’s infinitely drinkable without losing the complexity of a single malt.” The Sexton is made with a respect for tradition and a passion for innovation. It was created by Alex Thomas (a woman) who founded the brand based on personal experience and 15 years of creating whiskey.
Whiskey is in her blood. “Growing up my grandfather and my father always kept a bottle of single malt in the house. It was pulled out for special occasions like birthdays and weddings. But it was mostly brought out when people passed away,” she said. “Friends and family got together to celebrate that person’s life and tell stories. That’s what I wanted The Sexton to represent; living life well and having those memories you’ll share with your loved ones.” (NOTE: A Sexton is the person who prepares the grave – the last person to witness the body before it’s laid to rest. The word derives from “sacristanus”, meaning custodian of sacred objects.) “South Africans love a good story,” Leibbrandt said, “and the interest in Irish whiskey shows no signs of slowing. For the connoisseurs, it’s an interesting, quality, Irish single malt made according to traditional methods. For the ‘just curious’ looking for a versatile drink to enjoy neat or in cutting edge cocktail serves, The Sexton speaks to bold personalities who do things differently and forge their own paths.”
