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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.

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.

Images: www.whiskylive.co.za

Water of life Whisky Live is one of the most popular liquorrelated events in the country – and this year is changing tack slightly.

The showpiece event which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 8 to 10 November introduces other spirits to better reflect the interest, locally and nationally, in craft gin – as well as other premium spirits.

One unique participant for showgoers to actively seek out is the Diageo Reserve Portfolio experience at the Whisky & Spirits Live festival. There will be World Class Mixology sessions, Masterclasses led by Diageo’s brand ambassador – with Global Ambassador Donald Colville visiting to share his expertise.

The Whisky & Spirits Live platform will also serve as a launch of the World Class Cocktail Week – an exciting, week-long occasion of curated cocktail events and experiences staged in 8 key partner outlets across the country to engage consumers and give them a first-hand educational experience of Diageo’s World Class luxury brands, as selected by the best bartenders around the world. For genuine whisky wonks, Diageo will be providing access to the Special Releases Collection, which includes rare, single malts from famous and closed distilleries that represent the peak of single malt whisky – and Whisky & Spirits Live is where they will be revealed in SA for the first time, in very limited quantities. These whiskies are truly special and often individually numbered, with only a few thousand bottles available worldwide.

For gin enthusiasts, Whitley Neill Gin are looking forward to sharing their story and their new Cape-inspired Protea & Hibiscus craft gin at Whisky & Spirits Live. Tickets are available through www.ticketpros.co.za. As ever, the exhortation when attending is to drink responsibly. No under 18s allowed.

Mid-week Music A long driveway and avenue of of distinctive stone pine trees leads to Stellenbosch wine farm Neethlingshof.

They issued an open invitation for folks to join them for Live Music Wednesdays throughout the year.

“For the perfect midweek break to ‘wine’ down,” their media release states, “simply relax and recharge with Neethlingshof’s Live Music Wednesdays. Enjoy the sounds of folk, rock and more performed by popular acoustic guitarists whilst sipping on a glass of Neethlingshof’s wines and indulging in a delicious selection of scrumptious platters, pizza’s, wraps and much more available on the day.”

That’s every Wednesday throughout the year – and when the weather is chilly or wet, such as in winter – it’ll move indoors.

Live Music Wednesdays start at 17h30 and wrap up at 20h30 – and there’s no catch: the music is free.

It is advisable to book if you want to extend your evening and dine at the restaurant. Email restaurant@ neethlingshof.co.za or call 021 883 8966 to book.

Lighten up

Spier winery will be kicking off the festive season by hosting the Festival of White Lights 2017 on Friday, December 8. Organisers are keen for participants to buy tickets to the event and bring the family along to the Werf, Spier’s restored historic farmyard where light installations and sculptures will form the backdrop for a variety of artistic performances choreographed by Jay Pather. Food options are multiple and varied – but bookings are advised. There is the Hoghouse BBQ, the Bakery on the Werf and picnic baskets packed with fresh farm produce (also organic) can be booked through the Spier Farm Kitchern (wwwpicnics.spier.co.za). It goes without saying that adults will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of wine from the Spier Creative Block range. Tickets (excluding food) are R165 for adults and R65 for children under 12. Bookings can be made through webtickets.co.za.

BRAND AMBASSADORS Music, fashion and sport: three things South Africans love. So it was a virtual “no-brainer” for Chivas Regal to look to these industries when seeking out individuals who could inspire a new generation to win the right way. The three people chosen by Chivas Regal are former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe, Mafikizolo vocalist Nhlanhla Nciza and fashionista Laduma Ngxokolo.

Describing it as “a marriage of values”, Chivas Regal’s South African marketing manager Shelley Reeves said the brand was all about winning the right way, giving back when successful and sharing worthwhile moments with friends, fans and community.

The plan is that the brand ambassadors will mentor and shape emerging talents – and Chivas Regal will assist in supporting talented upcoming individuals financially and by means of exposure and networking. “They’ve shown South Africans that winning the right way means sharing success with others. Lucas proved this throughout his career by being the pride and joy of South African football, Nhlanhla through her legendary music career with Mafikizolo and Laduma by continuing to uplift his culture and the people of South Africa through fashion innovation,” Reeves said.

Women empowerment is something close to Nhlanhla’s heart and she’s identified two female DJs who will benefit from her experience, contacts and an exclusive record deal. “This is giving me the opportunity to give back to someone,” she said. She wants to make someone’s dreams come true, just as hers have.

“Someone must live their passion for most of the days of any given year,” said Laduma. If not, he said, “I don’t think they reflect the Winning the Right Way ideology.” The designer, who walks the walk by giving back to his community, sourcing local materials, employing and mentoring others, has identified a Port Elizabeth ceramicist and Joburg-based leather goods artisan for his attention.

With a host of sporting initiatives already showing results Lucas Radebe intends taking a different tack. He’ll host “relaxed interactions” in Soweto while also partnering with a Cape Town businessman – to identify an entrepreneur who will benefit from his local and international experience with the assistance of Chivas Regal.

COUSINS IN SPIRIT Four Cousins broke the mould when it came to the creation of a fun-loving, fancy-free, no-fuss wine brand which could be enjoyed with friends and family no matter the occasion. The Retiefs of Robertson have done it again but this time with spirits, having introduced Scottish Cousin whisky some time ago. “Four Cousins is a true South African success story. Having established a solid reputation for quality and value in wine, Four Cousins was ripe for the opportunity to bring even more to its followers,” says Phillip Retief, CEO of Van Loveren Family Vineyards, the company behind Four Cousins. The Highland distilleries of Tomintoul and Glencadam are where the spirit is sourced. Neil Retief is the cousin behind the initiative. “Just as every Four Cousins beverage, Scottish Cousin is crafted with care and skill, using the finest malt, grain and pure spring water.”

He said the Scottish Cousin whisky’s age statements – 5, 8 and 12 year old – indicate the minimum period of maturation each has undergone but that it was entirely likely that each blend “may contain older whiskies too, depending on the expert blender’s secret recipe”.

The baby in the lineup, the 5 year old, is described as medium-bodied while the 8 year old is light- to medium-bodied with both being gentle with flavours of fudge and honeyed oak. The 12 year old is full-bodied, rich and indulgent with ample crème caramel and vanilla appeal.

Discovering gin cocktails

Gin is absolutely on point at the moment – and is distinctly trendy, not a flash-in-the-pan fad, experts believe. It’s here to stay. Hendrick’s is encouraging consumers to explore gin in a variety of ways – not just the standard gin and tonic – although they advocate serving theirs with wafer thin slices of cucumber rather than the more traditional lemon. There are 11 botanicals in Hendrick’s gin along with their signature infusions of rose petals and cucumber, which is why it is so distinctive and works so well with the latter. The latest cocktail in their monthly discovery series is the Corpse Reviver which is apparently a great ‘pick me upper’ after a heavy night. Corpse Reviver

20ml Hendrick’s Gin 20ml Cointreau 20ml Lillet 20ml lemon juice Dash Absinthe Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker and shake briskly over cubed ice. Double strain into cocktail glass.