8 000 bottles of the whisky have been produced for the series which pays tribute to intrepid seafarers whose names will always be associated with the Cape. Having honoured Bartholomew Diaz in 2010 and Vasco da Gama in 2011, this year it is the turn of Jan van Riebeeck.
This single malt – South Africa’s one and only - was launched in November 2003, with an offering of just 6 000 bottles which were sold out within six months. “We know South African connoisseurs appreciate a good single malt, but we did not know how well they would react to one produced locally,” says brand custodian Marcel Swain. “Clearly there is a demand for first-class, affordable whisky, and what better way than to offer this exceptional single malt as part of a limited collector’s edition.”
Swain says just like Diaz, Da Gama and Van Riebeeck, Three Ships set sail into unknown territory when it launched its first single malt.
The ten-year-old is the creation of master distiller Andy Watts, who is based at the brands home at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Western Cape. “With its natural warm copper colour, this full-bodied whisky has a hint of peat but without associated smoke. The estery notes add a slighty sweet fragrance hinting of dried fruit and fudge. It has a long, warm finish with a good balance between the wood and the whisky,” Watts explains.
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