Boplaas has embarked on a historic partnership with the century-old Columbian rum distiller, Dictador, in the production of its world-renowned 2Masters limited release. For this one-of-a-kind expression, a 34-year-old rum distilled by Dictador will be finished in Calitzdorp, in barrels formerly used for Boplaas’s award-winning whiskies and ports.
2Masters is a top-end and long-running collaborative initiative that has seen the Central America producer team up with some of the world’s most exclusive brands of cognac, bourbon and wines. These include the Glenfarclas Speyside distillery, Despagne in Bordeaux, Chateau d’Arche in Sauternes, LeClerc Briant Champagne and Niepoort of Portugal.
Dictador describes 2Masters as “a harmonious blend of craftsmanship and innovation, where aged rum meets the artistic expertise of the spirit world’s most exceptional artisans.”
For Boplaas, the partnership is important recognition that builds on its growing reputation among international spirits connoisseurs. “We’ve always known our climate to be ideal for ageing spirits. It’s what makes our whiskies and brandies so unique and concentrated,” says Boplaas distiller Daniel Nel, the sixth generation at the Klein Karoo wine and spirits producer.
“The low humidity and big variation in day and night temperatures intensifies maturation and amplifies aroma and flavour characters.”
It’s one of the reasons Boplaas single malt was just recently selected to be part of the Continent Series, an international collection of just eight whiskies – including one matured in Antarctica – to be release next year by UK-based whisky enthusiast and entrepreneur Daniel Monk.
The 2 Masters Rum collection from Dictador which will now include Boplaas, showcases the distillery’s oldest rum aged in cellars around the world. Many of these expressions have gone on to sell for close to R20 000/bottle.
As such, Dictador has made much of protecting the 2Masters brand against counterfeiting. It uses the world’s first holistic cryptographic system for spirits. “Dictador 2Masters is safeguarded like the world’s most valuable currencies,” it says.
Boplaas is the first and only producer that Dictador has partnered with in South Africa and on the African continent.
The rum arrived in South Africa in August and is currently maturing in the Boplaas barrels. It will age for a minimum of one year before being shipped back to Columbia for bottling and sale around the world.
The barrels being used were previously employed for making Boplaas’s award-winning ports, followed by vats used for its whisky and brandy. Once the rum has been despatched, the same barrels, then imbued with the character of the Columbian rum, will be used as a finish on its own whisky.
This isn’t the first rum-finish done by Boplaas. A previous iteration – using a local rum – was a hit with whisky fans. The Boplaas 10YO Single Grain Whisky was aged in bourbon barrels for five years before spending another five years in casks that formerly held the rum. Once release, it went on to win double gold at the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, as well as gold at the IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition).
The whisky sold out in record-time and secondary market prices have continued to soar.
Progress on the 2Masters project with Boplaas may be tracked on the distillery’s social media channels.
As for sales, first access to Boplaas limited releases is always made available to its club members. The remainder is then exclusively available from its online shop and the tasting rooms in Calitzdorp, George and Hartenbos.
For more information, email info@boplaas.co.za or call 044 213 3326.
Boplaas is also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Boplaas1880/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boplaaswines)