South Africa has a brandy story that stretches back more than 350 years. Yet one of the country’s most distinctive premium spirits remains something of a hidden gem.
That is now set to change.
On 28 September, Checkers LiquorShop will launch the first-ever National Brandy Day, an annual celebration created to shine a spotlight on South Africa’s rich brandy heritage, craftsmanship and culture.
At the heart of the celebration is Cape Potstill Brandy, a premium spirit produced under a protected designation unique to South Africa’s Cape Wine Region.
A protected South African tradition
While names such as Champagne and Cognac are internationally recognised for their protected origins and production methods, South Africa has its own distinctive tradition in Cape Potstill Brandy.
For a brandy to carry the Cape Potstill Brandy designation, it must meet specific requirements.
The grapes must come from the Cape wine regions. The spirit must then be double-distilled in traditional copper potstills before being matured in oak barrels for at least three years.
And that is only the beginning.
Some premium expressions spend considerably longer ageing in oak. Releases aged for 20 years demonstrate how extended maturation can contribute depth, character and complexity to the spirit.
The result is a distinctly South African product with a growing international reputation.
South African producers have consistently earned top honours on the global stage, highlighting the quality and craftsmanship behind the country’s premium brandy offering.
Yet, despite that international recognition, Cape Potstill Brandy remains relatively unfamiliar to many South Africans.
More than a drink
Brandy has long been part of South African social life.
It has been enjoyed across generations at braais, family gatherings and celebrations around the table. According to Jean Marais, General Manager of LiquorShop for the Shoprite Group, the history behind the country’s finest expressions is less widely known.
“South Africans know brandy,” says Marais. “It has a history that stretches back more than 350 years and generations have enjoyed it at braais, family gatherings and celebrations around the table.”
He says National Brandy Day provides an opportunity to celebrate a proudly local product while encouraging more people to discover the quality and heritage behind premium South African brandy.
A diverse world of South African brandy
The celebration also puts the spotlight on the variety available to consumers.
Checkers LiquorShop offers a broad selection of brandies, ranging from established names such as Van Ryn’s and KWV to estate and boutique producers including Boschendal, Ladismith, Oude Molen, Joseph Barry, Rust en Vrede, Tokara, Sydney Back, Wildebeest, Boplaas and Avant.
Different styles and ages showcase the diversity of South Africa’s premium brandy offering, giving both connoisseurs and everyday drinkers an opportunity to explore the category.
It is a story that connects South African vineyards, traditional production methods, patient maturation and generations of enjoyment.
National Brandy Day arrives on 28 September
The inaugural National Brandy Day takes place on 28 September, with Checkers LiquorShop using the occasion to celebrate the country’s brandy heritage and introduce more consumers to the craftsmanship and provenance behind premium Cape Potstill Brandy.
To mark the launch, Xtra Savings members can receive up to 20% off selected brandies at Checkers LiquorShops nationwide.
Selected products will also be available for delivery through Checkers Sixty60.
For a spirit with centuries of history behind it, National Brandy Day offers an opportunity to look beyond what is in the glass and discover the South African story that helped shape it.
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