World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025
Romanos Boraine
Romanos Boraine
Romanos Boraine
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As the world raises a dram on World Whisky Day 2025 (May 17), South Africa stands out for more than just its scenic vineyards and game reserves—it’s also making global waves in the whisky world. With award-winning blends, bold single malts, and tasting rooms from Gauteng to the Cape, the country’s whisky scene is thriving.
Sign up for our free whisky newsletter to discover local releases, reviews, and events.
As the world raises a dram on World Whisky Day 2025 (May 17), South Africa stands out for more than just its scenic vineyards and game reserves—it’s also making global waves in the whisky world. With award-winning blends, bold single malts, and tasting rooms from Gauteng to the Cape, the country’s whisky scene is thriving.
Sign up for our free whisky newsletter to discover local releases, reviews, and events.
Key Takeaways
May 17 is World Whisky Day 2025
Three Ships and Boplaas win global awards
Andy Watts champions biodynamic whisky
Tiny batch releases redefine rarity
Six local single malts set global standards
Top tasting rooms open across SA
Key Takeaways
May 17 is World Whisky Day 2025
Three Ships and Boplaas win global awards
Andy Watts champions biodynamic whisky
Tiny batch releases redefine rarity
Six local single malts set global standards
Top tasting rooms open across SA
What is World Whisky Day?
World Whisky Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. In 2025, this falls on Saturday, 17 May. It's a global celebration of whisky's diversity, inviting people to participate in tastings, events, and shared appreciation both in-person and online.
Purpose | To celebrate whisky's diversity and heritage with friends and fellow enthusiasts. |
|---|---|
Activities | Tastings, tours, events, and global conversations online and in person. |
Participation | Join events, sip a dram at home, or post with #worldwhiskyday to connect with the global whisky family. |
What is World Whisky Day?
World Whisky Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. In 2025, this falls on Saturday, 17 May. It's a global celebration of whisky's diversity, inviting people to participate in tastings, events, and shared appreciation both in-person and online.
Purpose | To celebrate whisky's diversity and heritage with friends and fellow enthusiasts. |
|---|---|
Activities | Tastings, tours, events, and global conversations online and in person. |
Participation | Join events, sip a dram at home, or post with #worldwhiskyday to connect with the global whisky family. |
South African Whisky Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
World Whisky Day 2025 is the perfect occasion to raise a glass to South African whisky's international acclaim. Leading the charge is Three Ships’ Bourbon Cask Finish, crowned "Best Blended Whisky in the World" at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. Its complex layers of ripe peach, charred oak, and vanilla showcase the innovation coming out of Wellington’s James Sedgwick Distillery.
Equally impressive is Boplaas Family Vineyards, which was named Best South African Grain Whisky (12 Years & Under class) for its 10-Year Rum Cask. The combination of tropical rum esters and maize sweetness puts a distinctly South African spin on grain whisky, ideal for festive sipping.
Read More: Three Ships Bourbon Cask Wins Best Blended Whisky 2025 & Boplaas Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
South African Whisky Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
World Whisky Day 2025 is the perfect occasion to raise a glass to South African whisky's international acclaim. Leading the charge is Three Ships’ Bourbon Cask Finish, crowned "Best Blended Whisky in the World" at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. Its complex layers of ripe peach, charred oak, and vanilla showcase the innovation coming out of Wellington’s James Sedgwick Distillery.
Equally impressive is Boplaas Family Vineyards, which was named Best South African Grain Whisky (12 Years & Under class) for its 10-Year Rum Cask. The combination of tropical rum esters and maize sweetness puts a distinctly South African spin on grain whisky, ideal for festive sipping.
Read More: Three Ships Bourbon Cask Wins Best Blended Whisky 2025 & Boplaas Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
Biodynamic Whisky in South Africa: Andy Watts Leads the Way
This Whisky Day, look to the future with Andy Watts, the legendary former Three Ships master distiller, now shaping the vision at Metanoia Distillery in Barrydale. His brief: to develop South Africa’s first fully biodynamic single malt—an R&D project still in prototype phase.
Metanoia is exploring pilot trials of solar-heated stills and desert-acacia casks during 2025–26, aiming to reshape what sustainable, flavour-forward whisky can be. It’s a bold direction, and perfect to celebrate on a day honouring whisky’s diversity and evolution.
Read More: Andy Watts Joins Metanoia as Whisky Strategist in Barrydale
Biodynamic Whisky in South Africa: Andy Watts Leads the Way
This Whisky Day, look to the future with Andy Watts, the legendary former Three Ships master distiller, now shaping the vision at Metanoia Distillery in Barrydale. His brief: to develop South Africa’s first fully biodynamic single malt—an R&D project still in prototype phase.
Metanoia is exploring pilot trials of solar-heated stills and desert-acacia casks during 2025–26, aiming to reshape what sustainable, flavour-forward whisky can be. It’s a bold direction, and perfect to celebrate on a day honouring whisky’s diversity and evolution.
Read More: Andy Watts Joins Metanoia as Whisky Strategist in Barrydale
Tiny Batch South African Whisky: A New Collectible Trend
This Whisky Day, celebrate the frontier of flavour with South Africa’s tiniest treasures. The country’s micro-distillers are redefining whisky one barrel at a time, embracing truly artisanal methods.
Pienaar & Son in Cape Town exemplifies this movement, producing limited runs that often disappear within days. These aren’t mass-market "small batches"—we’re talking single-cask releases of roughly 550 bottles, issued twice a year, crafted grain-to-glass with a focus on innovation.
Each tiny batch captures a unique moment in time and terroir, perfect for collectors, connoisseurs, and curious sippers alike.
Read More: The “Tiny Batch Whisky” Trend & What Is Craft Whiskey? Meaning & SA Context
Tiny Batch South African Whisky: A New Collectible Trend
This Whisky Day, celebrate the frontier of flavour with South Africa’s tiniest treasures. The country’s micro-distillers are redefining whisky one barrel at a time, embracing truly artisanal methods.
Pienaar & Son in Cape Town exemplifies this movement, producing limited runs that often disappear within days. These aren’t mass-market "small batches"—we’re talking single-cask releases of roughly 550 bottles, issued twice a year, crafted grain-to-glass with a focus on innovation.
Each tiny batch captures a unique moment in time and terroir, perfect for collectors, connoisseurs, and curious sippers alike.
Read More: The “Tiny Batch Whisky” Trend & What Is Craft Whiskey? Meaning & SA Context
6 Best South African Single Malts to Try for World Whisky Day 2025
These standout bottles reflect the ingenuity of South African whisky, balancing innovation with tradition:
Three Ships 21-Year-Old Millennium – Sherry and bourbon-aged; nutmeg, roasted nuts, soft finish. WWA 2024 winner.
Three Ships 13-Year Cape Ruby Finish – Port influence; red berries, smoke, honeyed depth.
Three Ships 11-Year Shiraz Cask – World’s first Shiraz finish; BBQ meat, clove, cherry.
Three Ships 10-Year Single Malt – Value icon with tropical fruit and biscuit notes. Silver medal 2024.
Drayman’s Highveld Malt – High-altitude expression; honey, raisins, dark chocolate.
Helden Single Malt – Micro-cask aged; caramel, dried fruit, creamy texture.
Read More: 6 Best South African Single Malts to Try in 2025
Where to Taste South African Whisky on World Whisky Day 2025
From the V&A Waterfront to the Pretoria highlands, here are standout tasting stops:
Gauteng Whisky Tastings
WhiskyBrother Bar (JHB) – 1 500+ whiskies; SA’s only dedicated whisky bar.
Drayman’s (Pretoria) – Taste the Highveld’s own grain-to-glass single malt.
Wild About Whisky (Dullstroom) – 1 200-bottle menu; southern hemisphere’s largest.
Helden Distillery (Parys) – African oak-aged malts in a desert-inspired distillery.
Explore More: 5 Best Whiskey Tastings in Pretoria (2025) & 8 Whiskey Tastings in Johannesburg (2025)
Western Cape Whisky Tastings
Bascule Bar (Cape Town) – Harbour-view lounge with global and local flights.
Mitchell’s School of Whisky – Guided Scotch tastings with playful themes.
James Sedgwick Distillery (Wellington) – Africa’s largest whisky plant; tour-only slots.
Devon Valley Hotel (Stellenbosch) – Gourmet pairings with curated Scotch flights.
Garden Route & Klein Karoo Whisky Tastings
Boplaas (Calitzdorp) – Port-cask grain whisky from a historic wine house.
Robberg Distillery (Plettenberg Bay) – Factory tours and tasting room sessions.
Explore More: 9 Must-Try Whiskey Tastings, Western Cape (2025)
6 Best South African Single Malts to Try for World Whisky Day 2025
These standout bottles reflect the ingenuity of South African whisky, balancing innovation with tradition:
Three Ships 21-Year-Old Millennium – Sherry and bourbon-aged; nutmeg, roasted nuts, soft finish. WWA 2024 winner.
Three Ships 13-Year Cape Ruby Finish – Port influence; red berries, smoke, honeyed depth.
Three Ships 11-Year Shiraz Cask – World’s first Shiraz finish; BBQ meat, clove, cherry.
Three Ships 10-Year Single Malt – Value icon with tropical fruit and biscuit notes. Silver medal 2024.
Drayman’s Highveld Malt – High-altitude expression; honey, raisins, dark chocolate.
Helden Single Malt – Micro-cask aged; caramel, dried fruit, creamy texture.
Read More: 6 Best South African Single Malts to Try in 2025
Where to Taste South African Whisky on World Whisky Day 2025
From the V&A Waterfront to the Pretoria highlands, here are standout tasting stops:
Gauteng Whisky Tastings
WhiskyBrother Bar (JHB) – 1 500+ whiskies; SA’s only dedicated whisky bar.
Drayman’s (Pretoria) – Taste the Highveld’s own grain-to-glass single malt.
Wild About Whisky (Dullstroom) – 1 200-bottle menu; southern hemisphere’s largest.
Helden Distillery (Parys) – African oak-aged malts in a desert-inspired distillery.
Explore More: 5 Best Whiskey Tastings in Pretoria (2025) & 8 Whiskey Tastings in Johannesburg (2025)
Western Cape Whisky Tastings
Bascule Bar (Cape Town) – Harbour-view lounge with global and local flights.
Mitchell’s School of Whisky – Guided Scotch tastings with playful themes.
James Sedgwick Distillery (Wellington) – Africa’s largest whisky plant; tour-only slots.
Devon Valley Hotel (Stellenbosch) – Gourmet pairings with curated Scotch flights.
Garden Route & Klein Karoo Whisky Tastings
Boplaas (Calitzdorp) – Port-cask grain whisky from a historic wine house.
Robberg Distillery (Plettenberg Bay) – Factory tours and tasting room sessions.
Explore More: 9 Must-Try Whiskey Tastings, Western Cape (2025)
Conclusion: South Africa's Whisky Moment
With global accolades, experimental bottlings, and venues as vibrant as the spirits they pour, South Africa has arrived on the world whisky map. This May 17, raise a glass not just to whisky—but to the makers, dreamers, and drinkers fueling its next golden chapter.
To get weekly whisky stories and bottle reviews, sign up for our free newsletter.
Conclusion: South Africa's Whisky Moment
With global accolades, experimental bottlings, and venues as vibrant as the spirits they pour, South Africa has arrived on the world whisky map. This May 17, raise a glass not just to whisky—but to the makers, dreamers, and drinkers fueling its next golden chapter.
To get weekly whisky stories and bottle reviews, sign up for our free newsletter.
Share on social media
Leave a comment
Other Whisky Industry News
June 23, 2025
The Only Whisky Show 2025 Heads to Cape Town and Joburg This August
May 14, 2025
World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
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April 24, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Highlights Earth Month Sustainability Impact
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Whisky Distillers Turn Up the Heat on Carbon Reduction
April 22, 2025
How Scotch Whisky Leaders Are Redefining Water Stewardship
April 6, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Eyes Global Expansion With South Africa in Sight
April 3, 2025
South African Whisky Industry Braces for Economic Strain Amid Tariffs
Load More
Other Whisky Industry News
June 23, 2025
The Only Whisky Show 2025 Heads to Cape Town and Joburg This August
May 14, 2025
World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
May 7, 2025
India Slashes Scotch Whisky Tariff in Landmark Trade Deal with UK
April 24, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Highlights Earth Month Sustainability Impact
April 22, 2025
Whisky Distillers Turn Up the Heat on Carbon Reduction
April 22, 2025
How Scotch Whisky Leaders Are Redefining Water Stewardship
April 6, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Eyes Global Expansion With South Africa in Sight
April 3, 2025
South African Whisky Industry Braces for Economic Strain Amid Tariffs
As the world raises a dram on World Whisky Day 2025 (May 17), South Africa stands out for more than just its scenic vineyards and game reserves—it’s also making global waves in the whisky world. With award-winning blends, bold single malts, and tasting rooms from Gauteng to the Cape, the country’s whisky scene is thriving.
Sign up for our free whisky newsletter to discover local releases, reviews, and events.
Key Takeaways
May 17 is World Whisky Day 2025
Three Ships and Boplaas win global awards
Andy Watts champions biodynamic whisky
Tiny batch releases redefine rarity
Six local single malts set global standards
Top tasting rooms open across SA
What is World Whisky Day?
World Whisky Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. In 2025, this falls on Saturday, 17 May. It's a global celebration of whisky's diversity, inviting people to participate in tastings, events, and shared appreciation both in-person and online.
Purpose | To celebrate whisky's diversity and heritage with friends and fellow enthusiasts. |
|---|---|
Activities | Tastings, tours, events, and global conversations online and in person. |
Participation | Join events, sip a dram at home, or post with #worldwhiskyday to connect with the global whisky family. |
South African Whisky Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
World Whisky Day 2025 is the perfect occasion to raise a glass to South African whisky's international acclaim. Leading the charge is Three Ships’ Bourbon Cask Finish, crowned "Best Blended Whisky in the World" at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. Its complex layers of ripe peach, charred oak, and vanilla showcase the innovation coming out of Wellington’s James Sedgwick Distillery.
Equally impressive is Boplaas Family Vineyards, which was named Best South African Grain Whisky (12 Years & Under class) for its 10-Year Rum Cask. The combination of tropical rum esters and maize sweetness puts a distinctly South African spin on grain whisky, ideal for festive sipping.
Read More: Three Ships Bourbon Cask Wins Best Blended Whisky 2025 & Boplaas Wins Big at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards
Biodynamic Whisky in South Africa: Andy Watts Leads the Way
This Whisky Day, look to the future with Andy Watts, the legendary former Three Ships master distiller, now shaping the vision at Metanoia Distillery in Barrydale. His brief: to develop South Africa’s first fully biodynamic single malt—an R&D project still in prototype phase.
Metanoia is exploring pilot trials of solar-heated stills and desert-acacia casks during 2025–26, aiming to reshape what sustainable, flavour-forward whisky can be. It’s a bold direction, and perfect to celebrate on a day honouring whisky’s diversity and evolution.
Read More: Andy Watts Joins Metanoia as Whisky Strategist in Barrydale
Tiny Batch South African Whisky: A New Collectible Trend
This Whisky Day, celebrate the frontier of flavour with South Africa’s tiniest treasures. The country’s micro-distillers are redefining whisky one barrel at a time, embracing truly artisanal methods.
Pienaar & Son in Cape Town exemplifies this movement, producing limited runs that often disappear within days. These aren’t mass-market "small batches"—we’re talking single-cask releases of roughly 550 bottles, issued twice a year, crafted grain-to-glass with a focus on innovation.
Each tiny batch captures a unique moment in time and terroir, perfect for collectors, connoisseurs, and curious sippers alike.
Read More: The “Tiny Batch Whisky” Trend & What Is Craft Whiskey? Meaning & SA Context
6 Best South African Single Malts to Try for World Whisky Day 2025
These standout bottles reflect the ingenuity of South African whisky, balancing innovation with tradition:
Three Ships 21-Year-Old Millennium – Sherry and bourbon-aged; nutmeg, roasted nuts, soft finish. WWA 2024 winner.
Three Ships 13-Year Cape Ruby Finish – Port influence; red berries, smoke, honeyed depth.
Three Ships 11-Year Shiraz Cask – World’s first Shiraz finish; BBQ meat, clove, cherry.
Three Ships 10-Year Single Malt – Value icon with tropical fruit and biscuit notes. Silver medal 2024.
Drayman’s Highveld Malt – High-altitude expression; honey, raisins, dark chocolate.
Helden Single Malt – Micro-cask aged; caramel, dried fruit, creamy texture.
Read More: 6 Best South African Single Malts to Try in 2025
Where to Taste South African Whisky on World Whisky Day 2025
From the V&A Waterfront to the Pretoria highlands, here are standout tasting stops:
Gauteng Whisky Tastings
WhiskyBrother Bar (JHB) – 1 500+ whiskies; SA’s only dedicated whisky bar.
Drayman’s (Pretoria) – Taste the Highveld’s own grain-to-glass single malt.
Wild About Whisky (Dullstroom) – 1 200-bottle menu; southern hemisphere’s largest.
Helden Distillery (Parys) – African oak-aged malts in a desert-inspired distillery.
Explore More: 5 Best Whiskey Tastings in Pretoria (2025) & 8 Whiskey Tastings in Johannesburg (2025)
Western Cape Whisky Tastings
Bascule Bar (Cape Town) – Harbour-view lounge with global and local flights.
Mitchell’s School of Whisky – Guided Scotch tastings with playful themes.
James Sedgwick Distillery (Wellington) – Africa’s largest whisky plant; tour-only slots.
Devon Valley Hotel (Stellenbosch) – Gourmet pairings with curated Scotch flights.
Garden Route & Klein Karoo Whisky Tastings
Boplaas (Calitzdorp) – Port-cask grain whisky from a historic wine house.
Robberg Distillery (Plettenberg Bay) – Factory tours and tasting room sessions.
Explore More: 9 Must-Try Whiskey Tastings, Western Cape (2025)
Conclusion: South Africa's Whisky Moment
With global accolades, experimental bottlings, and venues as vibrant as the spirits they pour, South Africa has arrived on the world whisky map. This May 17, raise a glass not just to whisky—but to the makers, dreamers, and drinkers fueling its next golden chapter.
To get weekly whisky stories and bottle reviews, sign up for our free newsletter.
Share on social media
Leave a comment
Other Whisky Industry News
June 23, 2025
The Only Whisky Show 2025 Heads to Cape Town and Joburg This August
May 14, 2025
World Whisky Day 2025: Celebrate South African Whisky
May 7, 2025
India Slashes Scotch Whisky Tariff in Landmark Trade Deal with UK
April 24, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Highlights Earth Month Sustainability Impact
April 22, 2025
Whisky Distillers Turn Up the Heat on Carbon Reduction
April 22, 2025
How Scotch Whisky Leaders Are Redefining Water Stewardship
April 6, 2025
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Eyes Global Expansion With South Africa in Sight
April 3, 2025
South African Whisky Industry Braces for Economic Strain Amid Tariffs
Load More
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Created by Stuart Marsden & Romanos Boraine
Copyright © 2025 Craft Cask (Pty) Ltd
Join Our Mailing List
Get your weekly update on all things whiskey - tasting experiences, news, industry insights, awards & much more!
Created by Stuart Marsden & Romanos Boraine
Copyright © 2025 Craft Cask (Pty) Ltd
Join Our Mailing List
Get your weekly update on all things whiskey - tasting experiences, news, industry insights, awards & much more!
Created by Stuart Marsden & Romanos Boraine
Copyright © 2025 Craft Cask (Pty) Ltd
