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Share a moment Historically, the first settlers in South Africa lived in far-flung farmsteads and would infrequently venture into settlements. And when they did span in their wagons they went to places where infrastructure existed – notably churches and the old drostdy, or magistracy. Tulbagh’s de Oude Drostdy is a massively historic building – and the wine which sports the Drostdy Hof name has also been around for decades. So it was overdue for a makeover. Available in most liquor retailers in South Africa, north, south, east and west, the new look Drostdy Hof is probably one of the most accessible, approachable and unintimidating wine brands in the country. As Distell marketing manager Frans Booysen said: “Life is not only about those big moments, but also about the smaller moments which captivate special memories. The new packaging brings this across to the consumer”. Drostdy Hof is an amicable, user-friendly and sociable South African brand that has long been trusted for its consistent, great flavour, taste and quality. It offers a wide choice of quality blends and pack sizes with the added convenience for everyday moments, from discovering new experiences and socialising with friends, to ‘me time’. Apart from Drostdy Hof wanting consumers to recognise the revamped look in store, the updated creative platform and packaging expression has made the brand accessible to the millennial market with the “Share the moment” slogan which features on all the new packaging. “As one of South Africa’s leading wine brands, Drostdy Hof’s new brand message to its consumers is to stop and experience the now and share their everyday moments,” Booysen said.
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Bourbon & bars Woodford Reserve is an awardwinning American bourbon and has put its proverbial money where its mouth is by sponsoring the annual Woodford Bourbon Trail campaign in search of the best Old-Fashioned cocktail – with a twist. Many many bars were tested – and some of Johannesburg and Cape Town’s finest came up slightly short. The top two performers overall were Sin & Tax from Johannesburg and the Twankey Bar at the Taj Hotel in the mother city.
Jody Rahme (29), from Sin & Tax dedicated his Old Fashioned to his fellow bartenders by calling it “the handshake”, signifying a gesture handed from one bartender to the other. The winning touch was the Woodford Reserve Bourbon paired with Fernet Branca and a dash of a dry vermouth. “My experience of serving the judges was a fun and intimate one. Some sweet blues tunes playing in the background with the lights turned down and candles set the tone. I wanted the judges to walk into my bar as if they were customers about to order a drink from me,” Rahme said. AJ Snetler (28) has been at The Twankey Bar for ten months, fine-tuning his craft. “The inspiration behind my Old Fashioned was the old, smoky blues lounges and I am extremely proud to have taken this title for my team at The Twankey Bar,” he said. He believes his pared down simplicity and change of conventional techniques is what made his Old Fashioned distinct by serving the drink without ice, changing the glassware to create the illusion of temperature, and finally pairing it with delicious dark and white chocolate truffles. “This year saw exceptionally talented bars and bartenders participating to be crowned the makers of the best Woodford Old Fashioned. Their creative and bold approaches stood testament to the brand’s rich history and the unprecedented growth the Bourbon industry has experienced in South Africa”, said Chantal Canning, Woodford Reserve’s SA Brand Manager.
