The Spirit Connoisseurs Compendium of The Good Stuff

The world couldn't classify this whisky. Here's how South Africa proved them wrong.

For years, judges struggled to categorize South African whisky. See how the extreme temperature swings at James Sedgwick Distillery create a spirit truly unlike any other.

By Emma Van Zyl November 9, 2026 4 min read

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Whiskey

Stop thinking your whisky is an investment. South African auctions show why.

By Emma Van Zyl October 29, 2026 5 min read

A Glenfiddich 12 recently sold for R520 at a Johannesburg auction, significantly less than its retail price. Understand how market dynamics truly determine a bottle's worth.

Whiskey

Why do South African whisky collectors buy bottles they'll never open?

By Emma Van Zyl October 18, 2026 4 min read

It's not about drinking or reselling. Discover the surprising reasons why a growing number of collectors value the object itself over the liquid inside.

Spotlight

Paying for the bottle, not the booze? The truth about SA's pricey spirits.

By Emma Van Zyl October 6, 2026 4 min read

From Sandton stores to online shops, find out if those expensive South African spirits are worth the hefty price, or if you're just paying for the packaging.

Whiskey

That R3,000 whisky in SA? You're paying for more than just the liquid.

By Emma Van Zyl September 25, 2026 4 min read

What truly drives the R3,000 price tag for premium whisky in South Africa? It's often taxes, currency, and logistics, not just the spirit itself.

Whiskey

Spending R1,000 on SA whisky? Here's what you're actually paying for.

By Emma Van Zyl September 13, 2026 5 min read

Beyond marketing, discover the tangible craft and specific choices that elevate a premium South African whisky bottle, making it genuinely compete with international spirits.

Whiskey

The rare whisky you want in SA? It was gone before you knew it landed.

By Emma Van Zyl September 2, 2026 6 min read

Beyond popularity, a hidden system of logistics, importer power, and retail buying determines what whisky bottles you can actually buy in South Africa. Discover the real reasons.

Inside News

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From the archive

3 years ago

Whiskey

The world couldn't classify this whisky. Here's how South Africa proved them wrong.

For years, judges struggled to categorize South African whisky. See how the extreme temperature swings at James Sedgwick Distillery create a spirit truly unlike any other.

By Emma Van Zyl November 9, 2026 4 min read

The world couldn't classify this whisky. Here's how South Africa proved them wrong.

Latest

Stop thinking your whisky is an investment. South African auctions show why.

Why do South African whisky collectors buy bottles they'll never open?

Paying for the bottle, not the booze? The truth about SA's pricey spirits.

That R3,000 whisky in SA? You're paying for more than just the liquid.

Spending R1,000 on SA whisky? Here's what you're actually paying for.

The rare whisky you want in SA? It was gone before you knew it landed.

Inside News

The EFF’s proposed ad ban threatens how South Africans discover new spirits

How to Organise Household Storage Without Wasting Space

Gold Bar Whiskey, The New Gold Rush in Whiskey Investment

A Deep Dive into the World of Absinthe

From the archive

The world couldn't classify this whisky. Here's how South Africa proved them wrong.