CALITZDORP, South Africa – March 25, 2025 – Boplaas Family Vineyards has emerged as a rising force in global whisky, claiming top honours at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. The distillery's 10-Year-Old Rum Cask Whisky was named "Best South African Grain Whisky," solidifying Boplaas's growing reputation for excellence and innovation.
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Daniel Nel - Sixth generation Boplaas distiller
Global Acclaim for South Africa’s Boplaas Distillery
Boplaas was also awarded "Best SA Grain Whisky Producer" overall at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards, a prestigious competition held annually in London. This comes on the heels of a gold medal at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and previous recognition from the Michelangelo Awards. Distiller Daniel Nel said, "The World Whiskies Awards competition is one of the most comprehensive and highly regarded of its kind. As such, it’s an important benchmark for our style and quality."
Maturation Mastery in the Klein Karoo
Situated in Calitzdorp, in South Africa's Klein Karoo, Boplaas benefits from a unique maturation climate. The region’s arid conditions and wide temperature variations accelerate the aging process, resulting in whiskies with distinctive depth and complexity. The award-winning 10-Year-Old Rum Cask Whisky is made from South African yellow maize and aged in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in Dictador rum casks, imparting notes of sweetcorn, candied apple, and warm guava.
Standout Releases from the Boplaas Range
Boplaas's core range showcases innovation and quality:
Single Grain (5YO, Bourbon Cask) – R360
6YO Tawny Cask – Creamy, rich, and sweet with a Tawny Port finish; R600
8YO Tawny Cask (Cask Strength) – Finished in 20-year-old tawny barrels; R1,000
10YO Rum Cask (Single Cask) – Award-winner; limited to 700 bottles; R800
The 6-Year-Old Tawny Cask, previously named Best SA Whisky by the Michelangelo Awards, received high praise from Compass Box founder John Glaser, who remarked, "So creamy, so delicious... if Scotland made whiskies like this, more people would be drinking Scotch."
What’s Next: Experimental Casks & Innovation
Boplaas is pushing boundaries with planned releases in Chardonnay casks (sourced from De Wetshof and Paul Cluver), Dictador Rum, Straw Wine, Grand Constance (Groot Constantia), Sherry, and Pinot Noir. The distillery aims to introduce two new expressions annually, focusing on quality over quantity.
Global Recognition & Strategic Collaborations
Boplaas is gaining global traction through collaborations. They are representing Africa in Cask World's "Continental Series Whisky Box" and participating in Dictador's "Two Masters Project," where Colombian rum is finished in Boplaas whisky and tawny casks.
For more details or to purchase, visit www.boplaas.co.za or contact +27 (0)44 213 3326 / admin@boplaas.co.za.
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