Meeting Andy Watts – Master Distiller at The James Sedgwick Distillery

On 25^th April 2013 the WhiskyBrother shop played host to Andy Watts, Master Distiller and distillery manager of The James Sedwick Distillery. The distillery produces two brands of award winning whisky: the Three Ships range and the Bain’s Cape Mountain single grain whisky.

Both brands have done very well the last two years in the annual World Whisky Awards by Whisky Magazine. In 2012 the Three Ships 5YO was awarded the World’s Best Blended Whisky and most recently, in 2013, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky was awarded the World’s Best Grain Whisky.

Andy started off by giving some background to the distillery and his story of how he got involved in whisky making (see the bullet point information at the bottom of this post). He also answered all of the many questions that got asked of him during his talk. Andy moreover spoke of some of the greening plans they have planned for the distillery.

We then moved on to the tasting (which I suspect is why most of us were there). Andy started us off on the Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, then the Three Ships Select, followed by Three Ships 5YO (which Andy likes  to end off an evening meal with, usually accompanied by a blue cheese board), then the Three Ships Bourbon Cask and finishing off the tasting with the Three Ships 10YO single malt. With each one he lead us through the various flavours and notes that he got on them.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Andy for his time, patience (there were many questions) and most of all sharing his knowledge, stories and whiskies with us. He obliged the whisky geeks that were there (such as myself) and signed bottles of his whisky for us. It was a memorable moment for me to meet one of the true whisky legends in our time. 

Also thanks to Marc for hosting us and Marcel for getting Andy there on time and ensuring that we were all well behaved. It was also good to finally meet and put faces to my fellow SA whisky bloggers and tweeters – @thedramdog, @fr1day and @jfdreyer

Some Andy Watts information:

• Only the sixth manager at The James Sedgwick Distillery since it was established in 1886.
• Originally chose the life of a professional cricketer with Derbyshire CCC.
• Got involved in the spirits blending side of the then Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery (SFW).
• Did a 6 month technical exchange in Scotland with Morrison Bowmore Distillers (Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch)

Some James Sedwick Distillery information:

• The distillery was bought in 1886 by J. Sedgwick & Co.
• Is named after pioneer James Sedgwick, captain of the clipper “Undine.
• Was named 2011’s Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year by Whisky Magazine.
• Home to the first South African single malt whisky, in 2003 – the Three Ships 10YO
  • Also home to South Africa’s first single grain whisky, in 2009 – the Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky
  • Has more than 70 000 casks of whisky in maturation any given time.
  • Since The James Sedgwick Distillery was established there have only been six managers at the distillery:
    • 1886 – 1922: Mr. WT Stephen
    • 1922 – 1940: Mr. SA Hahn
    • 1940 – 1955: Mr. RA Uys
    • 1955 – 1967: Mr. J Burger
    • 1967 – 1991: Mr. H Louw
    • 1991 – present: Mr. A Watts

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky

As a bit of a break from all the 10yo reviews of late, here is my review of the stunning and award winning South African whisky, the Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky.

Whisky: Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, 43% ABV (Cost around R200)

Region: Wellington, South Africa

Style: Single Grain

Age: NAS (minimum 5 years)

Introduced in 2010, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is South Africa’s first Single Grain whisky. Named after the pass builder, Andrew Geddes Bain, the whisky is crafted at the foot of his Bainskloof Pass at the James Sedgwick Distillery. The whisky is quite uniquely matured. It is double matured in specially selected first-fill bourbon casks. After the initial three years’ maturation, the whisky is re-vatted to a second set of first-fill bourbon casks to age for a further two years while continuing to extract further flavour.

It is, or should I rather say was, the best kept secret in whisky in South Africa. Because on the 21 March 2013, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky was named the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the annual World Whisky Awards. And since then it is getting more and more challenging to get a bottle as it keeps flying off the shelves!

Colour: Deep golden amber (slightly burnished) with many thick and long legs.

Nose: Sweet, vanilla syrup and warm toffee pudding notes. Slight burnt caramel with a charming floralness to it, as well as hints of coconut and dried fruits.

Palate: Creamy texture (and taste, like the top part of rice pudding – butter and sugar) with woody undercurrents and a gorgeous warm spiciness to it that runs all over your tongue and mouth.

Finish: Remarkably smooth and warm with a velvety mouth feel that has a lengthy finish with a backbone of spiciness to the end.

Overall: This is an absolutely delicious and elegant whisky that is complex with a lovely sweet and spicy flavour. Perfect for those cold winter days and nights that are fast approaching us. This single grain whisky has shown to the world yet again what brilliant whisky is being made in South Africa. Congratulations to Andy Watts, master distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and Jeff Green, distiller of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky on this wonderful dram.

My Score: 85