Raise a glass of the Van Ryn’s 20-year-old potstill brandy to celebrate the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s biggest wine and spirit competition, and you’ll be toasting with the Michelangelo Awards’ Brandy Trophy award winner.

With more than 1 800 entries this year, the competition gives local and foreign wines and spirits the opportunity to be judged by a panel of hand-picked judges who are all acclaimed international experts.

Entries are judged according to the categories in which they belong. The international 100 point system is used and entries which receive a number of determined points are awarded Platinum, Gran d’Or (double gold), Gold or Silver medals. A total of 14 trophies are awarded and Best Brandy trophy was awarded to the Van Ryn’s Collector’s Reserve 20-year-old.

“It is the third time that Van Ryn’s has won the Best Brandy trophy at the Michelangelo Awards since 2011 and it remains an honour to come out on top when we consider the excellent quality potstill brandies which South Africa has to offer,” said Van Ryn’s Master Distiller Marlene Bester.

Other notable medals for Distell premium brandies include Platinum for Richelieu 10 and a Gran d’Or for Oude Meester Souverein 18-year-old and the Van Ryn’s Distiller’s Reserve 12-year-old.