Many years ago, I was travelling through Ireland. It is a beautiful green country with great beer and of course, Jameson’s Irish whiskey. In Dublin, I visited the Jameson’s distillery visitors centre.
It was a remarkable experience. The visitors’ centre in Dublin showcased the art of whisky-making and the passion that goes into creating a brand like Jameson’s.
Fast-forward a couple of years to 2016. The James Sedgwick’s distillery in Wellington becomes the first (and only) commercial whisky distillery on the African continent to open a visitor centre.
After many years of asking, the Distell whisky powers approved the concept. What an excellent way to experience this award-winning South African whiskies. Now you can see the whisky passion for yourself! So, in celebration of this special occasion, I try the Three Ships 5 year old blended whisky.
The James Sedgwick Distillery Tour
The beautiful town of Wellington has become one of the top places to visit while in Cape Town. Everyone can now experience first-hand how whisky is made and see the passion and people behind the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky brands. The distillery and visitor centre is beautiful.
There are sweeping views of the Hawekwa and Groenberg Mountains that surround the town. We were fortunate to visit the distillery a couple of years ago.
Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery
The tastings and tours are limited to 10 people at a time to ensure a personal experience. Tours are undertaken on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 am and again at 2 pm. Visitors can come to understand the art of whisky-making, learn about the rich history of the distillery and taste some of the world’s best whiskies.
The tour starts with a whisky-cocktail followed by an informative video. Then follows an on-foot tour of the distillery to see first-hand how the whiskies are made. It covers all the various stages from raw material to distillation to maturation.
The tour concludes with the best bit, a tasting of three whiskies paired with five sample dishes, allowing guests to explore how the flavours of certain dishes complement the aromas found within a particular whisky The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select pairs wonderfully with mature cheddar and I have paired it with a Blue Rock Cheese.
Photo credit James Sedgwick Distillery
Another exciting feature is the small micro-distillery. Visitors get the opportunity to create their own blend. An amazing experience! You can blend your version of a Three Ships whisky.
However, if you don’t get the opportunity to visit Wellington, it is just as easy to head over to your local liquor shop and grab yourself a bottle of Three Ships and enjoy a little bit of Wellington heaven. It is an affordable whisky. The price for the Three Ships 5 year old whisky in South Africa is around R 200.
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Three Ships 5 year old Whisky Review
The Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select whisky launched in 1991. This whisky is a blend of specifically selected grain and malt whiskies that have been aged for a minimum of five years.
COUNTRY: South Africa
ABV: 43%
COLOUR: Orange golden sunrise
NOSE: Rich notes of oak, peaty smoke mixed with hints of fruit, vanilla sweetness, freshly baked sugar biscuits and malt.
PALATE: The peaty smoke from the nose is balanced out by a fruity sweetness and robust maltiness. Hints of pear, citrus mixed with cinnamon spice intertwined with nutty fruitcake, cherries and ginger. Bold and robust, water smooths out the Three Ships 5 yo to make it even easier drinking.
FINISH: Long and lingering and end in peaty fruit and spices.
RATING: EXCELLENT
The versatile Three Ships 5 year old Premium Select blended whisky is the perfect dram to have with cheese! All kinds of cheese. And food. And BBQ. You get my drift. It is the ideal accompaniment to food. If you buy only one bottle of whisky a year; this should be it!
If you are fortunate to visit Cape Town and have some time, do visit the distillery. The tours and tastings are for over 18’s only. It is essential to book in advance at Ticketweb.
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