WeeklySA_AdminPICKY: Bold, peaty and triple-distilled, this Irish number should keep fans of this style of whiskey in high spirits after a few neat shots…
By Len Maseko
With a season Shakespeare once described as the winter of discontent at the tail-end, spring thankfully beckons around the corner.
Thanks to winter warmers in the ilk of spirits, fortified wine and red wine (of course, coffee and tea), some of us have long been sorted. As happened too with the timely arrival recently of a triple-distilled Irish number called Sadler’s Peaky Blinder, a bold and peaty but sumptuously smooth whiskey which helped to keep wintry chills at bay.
Of course, not to be confused with Peaky Blinders, a hit BBC television show about gangsterism in Britain in the 19th century, based on a true story of the Birmingham gang of the same name.
PEAKY BLINDER
Peaky Blinder the whiskey is crafted from County Cork Ireland, with the connection between the TV show and whiskey being only the Irish community that was prevalent during the time period when the Peaky Blinders gang was active.
Launched in South Africa in the middle of the pandemic in 2021, Peaky Blinder has a rich and vivid history dating back to 1861, with a tinge of English connection to it.
Five generations ago, the Sadler family started brewing and distilling some of the finest beers and spirits in Birmingham, known for its coal mines, foundries, and factories during the industrial revolution. With their hard-working ethos, they battled through war and economic depression to keep the family business alive.
Today the Sadler’s distillery is run by Chris Sadler, a direct relative of Billy Kimber, a 20th century gang leader of the Birmingham Boys.
As the rumour goes, members of the notorious Peaky Blinder gang (subject of a BBC TV show) regularly visited Sadler’s pubs at the turn of the 20th century.
As a nod to this, the bottle label features the mugshot of Stephen McHickie, a prominent Peaky Blinder gang member who was infamously photographed after being charged with breaking into a draper’s shop.
As for Peaky Blinder, it is a blend of grain and single malt Irish whiskey aged in bourbon casks, which give it a touch of sweet vanilla aromas and flavours instantly decipherable on the nose. At 43 percent alcohol content, the is rather bold and overwhelming on the nose, but smooth on the palate – thanks to the blending of various whiskies and triple-distilling.
Balanced with fruit and spicy flavours, it imparts hints of a fruity nose of apricots and orange peel, sweet vanilla and honey and smatterings of chocolate and cinnamon in the finish.
Recommended to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but just sizzle with one’s favourite mixer, given its bold structure. Better still, the Irish Mule cocktail is something worth a try, for additional fun. Which is a concoction of 50ml Peaky Blinder; ½ can ginger beer; ice; lime wedge; and mint sprig. Add the ice to a whiskey tumbler and pour in the whiskey and ginger beer.
Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig. The whiskey, whose soft palate might just appeal to women drinkers, is available at most leading liquor retailers and online at Takealot and Liquor Drop, retailing at approximately R300. The Sandlers also produce Pogues Irish Whiskey.
Women Whiskey Drinkers Breaking Stereotypes
Whiskey has long been associated with tradition and therefore regarded as a masculine drink, but it’s experiencing a shift in perception in the number of women enjoying its craftsmanship.
Pogues Irish Whiskey South Africa shares recent research that delves into the unique traits of women whiskey drinkers, shedding light on their preferences, motivations, and the factors that make them distinct within this traditionally male-dominated realm.
As the world of whiskey continues to evolve, women’s influence in shaping consumption trends should not be overlooked. The research revealed that:
Women have adventurous palates
Women whiskey drinkers appear to all share a diverse and adventurous palate and find the nuanced flavours and aromas that whiskey deliveries exciting. Whether its smoky notes of peated Scotch, the ri
ch caramel undertones of bourbon, or the spicy complexities of rye, women whiskey enthusiasts embrace the diversity and intricacy of whiskey profiles.
Breaking Stereotypes
Women who appreciate whiskey are not only asserting their independence but also redefining societal norms which we can see happening in every sector of society. This empowerment is reflected in their choice of drink, as they embrace a beverage that was once considered a masculine domain. They want to be seen out in public sipping on a glass of whiskey.
Sophistication and elegance
Women associate whiskey with sophistication and elegance and view it as a symbol of refinement and class, choosing it as their drink of choice for celebratory occasions or intimate gatherings. This shift in perception further illustrates the evolving landscape of whiskey consumption and the diverse motivations driving women to embrace this spirit. – Source: Pogues Whiskey
EVENTS
CWG WINE TASTINGS
Joburg and Cape Town wine lovers will have the opportunity to taste rare wines earmarked for this year’s annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction during public tastings this coming Thursday and next week.
At these tasting events, wine lovers will sample the 2023 auction wines while interacting with the winemakers. Also available for tasting will be wines from the past auction and flagship wines from guild members.
The Cape Town show case takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday, from 18:00 to 21:00. Tickets cost from R500 on Quicket. And on August 30, the Johannesburg chapter will be held at the Nedbank Atrium, 135 Rivonia Road, Sandton, from 18:00 to 21:00.
Meanwhile, the actual auction takes place at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West on October 6 and 7, and is hosted by Strauss & Co. It offers wine lovers the opportunity to buy rare and unique wines produced by CWG members. If interested in buying wine, but can’t attend the auction in person, bidding will also be taking place online, by telephone or by commission bid. To bid on the Auction, bidders will need to create a bidder’s account. Once a bidding account has been created, bidders can register to bid on the Strauss and Co website from August 24.
DURBANVILLE in JOZI
Sandton restaurant and bar Zioux is to host a special tasting of wines from the Durbanville Wine Valley – famous for its cool-climate Sauvignon Blancs – on September 5.
On offer will be top-flight South African winemakers showcasing some 30 wines for tasting with canapés as well as an exclusive masterclass in Sauvignon Blanc – a variety for which Durbanville Wine Valley is most awarded and is world-class.
Represented will be some of the country’s most renowned wineries: De Grendel, Durbanville Hills, Bloemendal, D’Aria, Groot Phesantekraal, Nitida, Klein Roosboom, Meerendal, Diemersdal and Maastricht. A handful of them will go on to present the exclusive masterclass with six wines paired with small bites. The masterclass is limited to 19 participants only, so booking sooner rather than later is advised.
Restaurant and bar Zioux was conceived by chef entrepreneur David Higgs and the team behind the award- winning Marble and Saint restaurants. It opened in 2021 near its sister venues.
Two events showcasing the variety will be hosted: the Stoep Soirée, which takes place at Zioux Patio on September 5, from 18h00, costing R280 a person. The other event, titled Sauvignon Blanc Masterclass, takes place at Zioux Raised Area, from 19h30 to 20h30, with tickets costing R480 a person. Tickets available via Quicket.
Cool climate diversity lies at the heart of the Durbanville Wine Valley, which overlooks the Atlantic sea, and is situated just north of Cape Town, and home to 13 wineries.
TWO LUCKY WINNERS OF OUR COMPETITION
The two lucky winners of our De Krans/Weekly SA Mirror competition published in our July 21 edition this year, are Gugu Mbekeni of Soweto and Jacob Mashishi of. Hammanskraal. They have each won one a case of six premium De Krans Port bottles worth a total R5 000 for entering our competition and correctly answering the following question:
- PORT IS AN INDIGENOUS PRODUCT OF SOUTH AFRICA. YES OR NO?
The correct answer was NO. Port is the indigenous product of Portugal. Thank you to the sponsors of the competition, Boets Nel of De Krans Wines.
