South Africa/Middle East

Question 1

How long has distilling been happening in South Africa?

Answer 1

• back to 17th century
• Dutch colonists brought brandy production

Question 2

Who was the first distiller to try to make whisky in South Africa?

Answer 2

• Scotsman John Duff (established Glenlossie)
• first attempted to make whisky in Transvaal in 1890 after leaving
• South African plan failed, he then went to America and tried there
• Eventually he went back to Scotland and built Longmorn and BenRiach

Question 3

What grain which has been used for distillation in Australia and the US could be a big opportunity for African whiskey production?

Answer 3

• Sorghum

Question 4

James Sedgewick Distillery (Robertson & Buxton)

Answer 4

• Wellington
• Andy Watts (formerly of James Sedgewick Distillery)
• Moved distillation equipment to R&B and switched to whisky in 1990
• R&B’s Three Ships brand started as a blend of Scotch and local whisky - today it is all South African Whisky except for the 5 year old
• Master Collection of Single Malts is most exciting

Question 5

Drayman’s

Answer 5

• Pretoria
• in the early 2000’s Drayman’s brewery added distillation equipment
• at the time, doubled the number of distilleries in South Africa

Question 6

Helden

Answer 6

• located on the banks of the Vaal river
• 75 miles south of Johannesburg
• Dog & Fig brewery
• local barley
• fruit boosting yeast
• distilled slowly in hybrid still made by Daeyoo
• Aging in 100 litre casks either STR or toasted and lightly charred American Oak

Question 7

Primal Spirits Distillery

Answer 7

• Victoria Yards in Johannesburg
• distillery Chris Muadu - adding whisky to existing Gin and Vodka
• Hybrid still with plates disengaged
• Plan is for Rye, Field blend of wheat and Rye, and Sorghum whisky

Question 8

Boplass

Answer 8

• Nel family estate
• distilling brandy since 1880
• ban on private distilling from 1920 - 1970
• started whisky distillation in 2023

Question 9

What are distilleries in both Israel and Lebanon looking to for sources of inspiration?

Answer 9

• Old grains
• Old species of oak
• Other woods
• trying to mitigate for aggressive climate

Question 10

Milk & Honey

Answer 10

• Tel Aviv
• Israel’s most visible distillery
• founded in 2013 by Gal Kakkshtein
• Consultant Dr Jim Swan
• uses imported barley
• Wort fermented with dried Belgian yeast to give floral and fruity profile (48-72 hours)
• Wash still is old Spanish brandy still
• Spirits still is Christian Carl still
• high cut is taken to make powerfully fruity new make (angels share 10-12% per year)
• aging in a large range of casks: ex-Bourbon and STR, Rum, Cognac, Orange Wine and Pomegranate wine
• Aged in all five Israeli/Palestinian Zones

Question 11

Golani Distillery

Answer 11

• Katzrin in Golan Heights
• unpeated barley and pot stilled mash bill of 41% malted barley and 49% Israeli wheat
• Trials with local barley have taken place
• Aging in mix of local casks: wine, brandy, beer, and cider

Question 12

Pelter

Answer 12

• Tal and Nir Pelter distillery in Golan Heights
• Started as a winery in 2002, expanded into spirits in 2013

Question 13

Edre’i Distillery

Answer 13

• Golan Heights
• Yechiel Luterman malts local barley on site

Question 14

Yerushalmi

Answer 14

• in Jerusalem Hills
• founded in 2017
• concentrates on peated single malt
• can make up to 100 hogsheads a year

Question 15

Athyr

Answer 15

• Lebanon’s sole single malt distillery
• produced by one of the country’s oldest wineries, Raichi - also makes Raki
• Situated in Khenchara
• locally grown and malted barley from Beka Valley
• new make aged in Lebanese oak (Quercus Libani) and finished in Lebanese Cedar