WeeklySA_AdminDRAM: Whisky lovers will purchase the spirit by the cask, all them to track its maturation from the cask to the bottle…
By Len Maseko
Eminent producer of award-winning Ports, Boplaas is now fast gaining recognition in another category of drinks other than fortified wines and brandy – whisky.
In fact, family-owned winery Boplaas proved their prowess in port-making when their 2021 Cape Vintage Reserve Port was named South Africa’s Best Port at the 2024 National Wine Challenge recently. Furthermore, two other Boplaas wines that received Top 100/Double Platinum ratings were the 2022 vintage Cape Vintage Reserve Port and the 2021 Ring of Rocks Family Reserve, a blend of Portuguese varietals.
Not surprising from a family whose legacy of producing great port is well-documented, continuing with consistent achievements under the ownership of Nel family. All the while under the beady eye of family patriarch Carel Nel, a veteran winemaker of many milestones and renowned for building a heritage of crafting the very finest Cape fortified wines utilising Portuguese varieties, traditional vinification.
Just 12 years ago, Boplaas ventured into an uncharted territory to produce whisky – a category that logically aligned with the family’s long history of dabbling in distilling spirits, spanning six Nel generations from their Calitzdorp, Klein Karoo, farm.
Family lore has it that spirits have been distilled at Boplaas since 1880, when the first order of potstill brandy casks were sent to Cape Town by ox wagon for delivery to London.
Yet, in 12 years, the Boplaas whisky range has grown to include Boplaas Whisky (Brandy Cask), 6YO Tawny Cask and 8YO Tawny Cask. There’s also the newly released 10YO Single Grain Whisky (Rum Cask) and 6YO Single Malt (Springbok Edition) whiskies.
The Boplaas 10YO Rum Cask is the oldest whisky expression that Boplaas has released to date. It was crafted from South African yellow maize, aged in ex-bourbon barrels for five years and finished in a rum cask for four years. The whisky was then placed in a fresh rum cask for a further three months and bottled at 46% alcohol, non-chilled filtered and natural in colour.
Another feather to the family’s cap is news that this whisky won Gold at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) with an outstanding 95 points.
Gradually, Boplaas whisky’s fan base has been expanding, according to the family’s master blender, Daniel, Carel Nel’s son, whose siblings winemaker Margaux and marketer Suzanne operate on the wine side of things.
With his dedication and deft hand paying off, Nel is focusing on putting his stamp onto every expression crafted out of the cellar while also spreading the word through whisky masterclasses curated for visitors to the farm.
Innovation being the pillar of the family’s journey, the family has introduced a new programme likely to attract immediate attention of whisky lovers – a cask ownership initiative.
This means Boplaas whisky will now be available for purchase by the cask, allowing whisky lovers to track the maturation of their own new make spirit from the cask to the bottle.
“To our knowledge, we’re the first distillery in South Africa with a cask ownership program,” says master-distiller Daniel Nel. The program allows buyers to acquire new make spirit directly from the distillery, at a wholesale price. The spirit is filled in premium casks and stored in a bonded warehouse for three or five years. Following the initial maturation period, the owner will be able to choose the all-important finishing cask.
Samples of the whisky will be taken bi-annually to provide updates on the whisky’s progress. You’ll also be able to check on the cask yourself. Once you feel your whisky is ready, you may sell the cask or bottle the whisky for yourself.
“This is a great opportunity for friends and whisky clubs to collaborate and invest, sharing the process of whisky ageing,” Nel says.
The cask program was launched because of demand. “Boplaas whisky has certainly grown in prominence thanks to its consistent record of awards, including titles as Overall Best Producer, at the highest levels. As a result, whisky lovers are keen to gain greater insight that is backed by a quality spirit and solid experience.”
The spirit Boplaas uses for its whiskies and that is now available by the cask, is a single grain whisky made from the finest South African yellow maize, column distilled to over 90%. This makes it a lighter style spirit that takes on more flavour of the casks it is aged in.
“The concept of cask ownership is well-established overseas, where distilleries for example in the UK and US make casks available and promoted as an investment much like art or classic cars. The value of whisky grows over time, so those who are patient can invest in a cask of whisky still in its youth.”
The casks now available from Boplaas are 200l and 225l in size. For more information about Boplaas, visit www.boplaas.co.za. To enquire about the cask ownership program, send email to admin@boplaas.co.za or call 044 213 3326.
