Discovery is everything. - Makro

‘cognac’, they would probably decline. Too
pretentious. Why hide behind a name when
your product speaks for itself, constantly
outperforming its international rivals on the
world stage?
It’s no surprise that Oude Molen brandies
are so good – the founding principles that
govern their production date back more than
a century, when a Dutch chemical engineer
called René Santhagens established the
original distillery at the foot of Papegaaiberg
in Stellenbosch. Santhagens sailed from
Europe with skills honed at the top wineries
in Bordeaux and with a copper Cognac still
in tow, determined to carve a niche in South
Africa’s burgeoning spirits industry.
He ended up doing more than produce
a sublimely smooth, double-distilled brandy;
he laid down the ground rules for brandy
production in South Africa that are still
followed today.
Six years ago, due to urban expansion
at the original site and a desire to constantly
improve the product, the Oude Molen
distillery was moved to its present site near
Grabouw in the cool, misty Elgin valley.
Today it’s cellar master Dave Acker who
follows in Santhagens’ footsteps. According
to Acker, to make good brandy you need
to start with good wine, Colombard and
Chenin Blanc specifi cally, which he sources
from key vineyards in the Little Karoo. Once
the wine has been procured, the stars of the
show come into play: three enormous copper
pot stills named after heavy artillery pieces –
Long Tom, Big Bertha and Long Cecil.
Th e size of Acker’s “big guns” is important:
a bigger still allows for greater condensation
of alcohol vapours and improves the purity
of the distillate. Th e purer the distillate, the
longer it can be matured. Only carefully
chosen French oak barrels are used during the
maturation process and these are ‘toasted’ to
caramelise the sugar content in the wood.
Th is is what gives Oude Molen brandies their
characteristic fl avour.
So, next time you’re off ered a cognac,
rather ask for one of Oude Molen’s premium
brandies like Solera Grand Reserve or René
Single Cask, the deliciously smooth results
of Santhagens’ vision, Acker’s artistry and the
moderating passage of time.
Don’t rush. Delight in the fl avour notes of
sherry, raisins, chocolate and oak. Take a sip
and your impression of brandy will change
forever. Guaranteed.
August 2012 09