By KWV has been recognised as one of the world’s best performing drinks producers at the prestigious 2024 International Spirits Challenge (ISC). Outshining Brandy and Cognac competitors worldwide, KWV has been awarded the prestigious Producer of the Year title in the fiercely contested Brandy and Cognac category. Adding to this international accolade, KWV also clinched the coveted Trophy for the World’s Best Brandy for its KWV VS – a phenomenal achievement that underscores KWV’s dedication to position South African Brandy as a global leader in taste.
These most recent awards follow KWV’s outstanding ISC performance earlier in August, where its brandies claimed three Double Gold medals in the competitive Brandy category. Notably, only six Double Gold medals for brandy were awarded to producers globally, and KWV stood out as the sole producer from South Africa to achieve this mark of excellence.
“Winning Brandy / Cognac Producer of the Year and the Trophy for our KWV VS is an incredible honour and a testament to our team’s commitment to excellence,” commented John Loomes, CEO of KWV.
KWV is the world’s most awarded Brandy / Cognac brand – having garnered more than twice the number of awards compared to its closest local competitors. “KWV’s most recent success at the ISC once again illustrates that South African brandies can challenge renowned global and legacy brands head-on, and win,” added Loomes.
Testament to this statement is the fact that KWV Brandy achieved this result under a rigorous weighted points system, where it was judged the best amongst all brands entered in the brandy and cognac category. This is the sixth time the brand has received this prestigious honour.
The ISC, celebrated as the “Olympics” of the spirits industry, is revered for its rigorous and impartial judging process, ensuring that only the finest spirits are recognised. This year, fewer than 2% of the thousands of entries earned Trophies, making KWV’s recognition even more significant. The ISC is renowned for its meticulous blind tasting process, judged by a prestigious panel of over 70 esteemed industry experts. Each spirit is evaluated according to its category, age, region, and style, ensuring a fair assessment that bolsters the competition’s esteemed reputation. This year, KWV was one of only 46 entrants to earn a coveted Trophy from thousands of competitors.
“Once again the ISC has produced a fantastic edition, with producers from across the globe entering a wide range of quality spirits,” said ISC director Justin Smith, adding “a Trophy represents the very best in class from thousands of entrants.”
“This achievement not only honours our rich heritage but also embodies our vision for the future. We are committed to crafting exceptional brandies that resonate with consumers worldwide, and this recognition inspires us to push the boundaries of the industry further. Our success underscores the increasing importance of brandy in the African market. With only 4% of the African population currently consuming brandy or cognac, this category is poised for expansion, and awards like our most recent from the ISC strengthen KWV’s position in this growing market,” said Loomes.
KWV’s Master Distiller, Pieter de Bod, who proudly received the Trophies in London, added, “Our long-standing legacy of making award-winning brandies is rooted in passion and craftsmanship. Each bottle reflects nearly a century of expertise, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of quality. This triumph at the ISC further reinforces our position as a leader in the brandy category and our commitment to producing world-class spirits.”
Launched in 2023, KWV VS Brandy has swiftly emerged as a formidable competitor to VS Cognacs, a fact underscored by its recent success at the ISC. With the rising costs of Cognac, KWV VS offers premium quality at a more affordable price, showcasing that Africa can lead in taste. South African brandies adhere to some of the world’s strictest production standards, requiring at least three years of aging. Many are aged far longer, developing unmatched depth and complexity. The warm South African climate allows grapes to reach full ripeness, resulting in rich, sun-dried fruit notes. Since 1926, KWV has leveraged its extensive cellaring facilities—the largest in the Southern Hemisphere—to blend these well-aged reserves under the expert guidance of KWV’s distilling team. This commitment to quality and innovation keeps KWV brandies at the forefront of the industry, making them the most awarded in South Africa and earning them global acclaim as leaders in the field.
KWV was awarded its ISC Trophies on 26 September during a dazzling awards ceremony at One George Street, London, attended by the crème de la crème of the global drinks industry. As the world gathered to celebrate excellence, the announcement of the tasting Trophies, Producer of the Year, Distiller of the Year, and other prestigious awards echoed the spirit of innovation and quality that KWV embodies.
“The repeated recognition of KWV at prestigious events like the ISC emphasises KWV and South Africa’s position as a premier producer of brandy. These accolades have not only elevated the global reputation of KWV and South African brandies but have also set a benchmark for excellence in the industry,” concluded Loomes.