A milestone anniversary that passed with almost no observation last year was the 350th year since brandy was first distilled at the Cape.
According to both legend and historical fact, the first distillation of “gebrande wijn” (burned wine) took place aboard the sailing vessel De Pijl in Table Bay in 1672. But there was one savvy marketer who didn’t let the event pass unnoticed. Gerrie Heyneke and business partner Paul Jordaan launched a new product, a 10 year old XO potstill brandy.
The entirely new entrant to the local brandy fraternity, De Kaapse Brandewijn Kompanjie, is flouting all the accepted marketing and sales rules of not alienating potential customers by having a name that’s difficult to pronounce.
“We just call it DKBK because it has a nice ring to it,” said Heyneke at the launch last year. It’s been a long time in the making with Heyneke and Jordaan ensuring the chenin blanc-based brandy had the quality to match the upmarket packaging and image.
The packaging is modelled on historic bottles which would have graced Captain’s desks while on the high seas, with its broad base preventing it from sliding off as the sailing vessel pitched and rolled. The bottle is also etched in a cursive script with the year 1672 also standing proud.
The brandy was matured in both French and American casks for a minimum of 10 years before release. It is supremely smooth with ample apricot, stone fruit, vanilla and roasted nut flavour. Impeccably smooth and harmonious, it is the sort of product that will change peoples’ minds about brandy being firewater. Just 700 bottles of this maiden release were produced. Click here to find out more https://bit.ly/TopsCheersNews