LADUUUUUMA! CELEBRATE SOCCER SPIRIT WITH SOUTH AFRICAN BRANDY: THE WORLD’S FINEST
‘A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country'. Not so for brandy, South Africa’s most-loved distilled drink. National pride is growing in leaps and bounds for this iconic, multi-cultural elixir, with global acclaim for its award-winning brandies reaching new heights.
Now, with the FIFA World Cup, local soccer supporters and guests visiting our country from all corners of the globe can have spirited fun with brandy, one of South Africa’s most iconic products with an international reputation as the finest in the world.
“As South African as Shosholoza, fynbos and the Klein Karoo, as traditional as bobotie, Cape brandy pudding and chakalaka, South African brandy is one of the best ways to get a taste of our country’s diversity,” says Ielanda Koen, general manager of the South African Brandy Foundation.
“We encourage South Africans to introduce visitors to our liquid gold, rich with a history dating back over 300 years. Today South African brandy is an integral – and unique - part of the South African wine industry, an agricultural and commercial sector which presently employs an estimated 257 000 people, says Koen.
“Clearly, when hosting international visitors, you can’t do better than offering them Cape brandy,” says Riaan Marais, chairman of the South African Brandy Foundation. “The exceptional quality and distinctiveness of our brandy is being acknowledged by the judges at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, widely regarded as the gold standard among wine and spirit shows. In three decades, no fewer than 12 Cape brandies have been crowned Worldwide Best Brandy, three of them in the last three years of the competition.”
And the great thing is there’s a brandy style to suit every palate and every occasion over the World Cup season: blended brandies for casual get-togethers or cocktail parties to celebratory dinners matched with vintage treasures or quiet moments away from soccer mania savouring a warming, well-aged potstill – neat, with a dash of water or ice.
The category of blended brandies especially is expected to shine during the festivities, due to their mixability. “It’s a little-known fact that South African distillers pioneered the blended brandy style to accommodate their product in a long, cold, refreshing drink,” explains Koen. “Not as overtly flavoured as a pot stilled brandy, it lends itself to be enjoyed with a mixer.”
And nowadays brandy is being enjoyed with all sorts of tasty, healthy alternatives too, from soda and Indian tonic to ginger ale, orange and apple juice, always with lots of ice. These brandy mixes can provide drinking pleasure throughout the day, delightful alternatives to the usual suspects, from brandy with orange juice and lots of ice at a leisurely brunch, a long drink over lunch or as a sundowner.
The gourmet-minded soccer fan and female palates looking for something chic to sip should look out for brandy-based culinary cocktails – an international trend that has taken hold on our shores as well. “Modern bartenders are using fresh herbs, floral infusions and spices, from thyme to five-spice to conjure up new brandy-based taste sensations. Indigenous produce such as rooibos and peppadew also find their way to the glass.”
Now’s the time to try a tongue-in-cheek retro alternative to the ubiquitous ‘Brandy and Cola’, inspired by the colours of our national team’s jerseys. A Bafana ‘boktail combines a blended brandy, triple sec, lemon juice, sugar syrup and a splash of cola, dressed in green and gold with a pineapple wedge, green cherry and green leaf. Laduma, indeed!
Tip for soccer-free days: an alternative way to explore the Winelands: For soccer fans there’s a wonderful new way to explore South Africa’s winelands: the Western Cape Brandy Route and the R62 Brandy Route, which might just be the only brandy routes in the world. For wine lovers to go on a brandy journey is not such a big leap: brandy is made from wine after all. En route the Western Cape Brandy Route. Visitors will find great brandies in the wine country of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Elgin. For a slow, leisurely journey into brandy heartland take the R62 Brandy Route to discover fine brandies as unique as their legendary makers.
For more information on these tourist-friendly Brandy Routes, visit www.sabrandy.co.za
No-regrets World Cup: The South African Brandy Foundation is a member of the ARA (Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use) and like the wine makers and distillers themselves, strong advocates for responsible drinking. Stay level-headed and enjoy a ‘no-regrets’ World Cup by drinking in moderation.
Says Koen: “Brandy is a noble drink to be savoured and not to be gulped down. Think and plan before you drink any alcohol. Always plan your way home as no level of drinking alcohol can be guaranteed to be completely safe or risk free.”
When planning home entertaining the host and hostess have to ensure the safety and comfort of their guests. Some tips are for the host to serve the drinks or place someone sensible in charge of pouring and refilling glasses (guests tend to drink more if they pour for themselves); avoid overly salty, sweet or fatty snacks as they tend to make one thirstier; refill glasses between drinks with mint-flavoured ice water; provide non-alcoholic alternatives such as ‘mocktails’.
As a final courtesy, have the names and numbers of trustworthy taxi companies on hand for those guests who have not made provision for a designated driver. “And plan ahead to provide space and sustenance for the odd, unexpected, after-party stay-over,” Koen recommends.
