In adding celebration to Andy Watts’ 25th year as master distiller at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Three Ships Whisky has been awarded two gold medals at the 2016 International Spirits Challenge for its Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old and Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish.
This prestigious competition sees all the top whisky brands from around the world compete for the attention of the international panel of judges.
“Making whisky is not something that happens overnight. It takes immense planning and a lot of patience!” says Watts. “It’s incredibly rewarding for me to see just how far we have come since those first days of producing whisky in South Africa.
“Over the past three decades we’ve established our own unique style of whisky-making, invested in modern technology and refined our selection of barrels for maturation. The days of people merely being curious about our whiskies has now turned into a serious desire to explore our range.”
The Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish, launched in 2005, is South Africa’s first whisky where both the malt and grain component is distilled and matured in the country.
Andy created the Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old as a fond reminder of his time spent in the early years of his career on the Isle of Islay. The whisky is matured for a minimum of five years in American wood with an evident smoky and peaty influence reminiscent of the iconic malts from Islay, but much gentler due to the grain component in the blend.
