With a distinctly warm, amber hue, TOOR, a new entrant onto the South African whisky scene, will release the first of a collective of whiskies set to challenge the whisky category.
Produced with 100% local grain and matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks for 5 years before being finished in French oak casks, the first TOOR whisky is an easy drinking, smooth and fruity grain whisky between Redford Beverages and Doña Distillery.
Its double maturation process yields a rich, smooth whisky with vanilla and roasted oak flavours. a well-balanced nutty, caramel and stone-fruit palate with a well-refined finish and hints of maple and earth.
It can only be called a South African kind of magic.
Doña – which means woman of rank – is a craft distillery in Cape Town run by female distiller, Daniella Schoeman, who has also recently started distilling and aging her own grain whisky. For this release, the team from the distillery and Redford Beverages managed the sourcing, blending and aging to deliver the taste profile they were aiming for.
Danielle explains the distilling process for TOOR, “The double maturation process is where the spirit is matured in one cask, then spends time in a case of a different origin. It allows for a greater degree of flavour and aroma complexity to develop in the whisky and the blending process is also significantly escalated. This form of marrying also allows for greater control over the final product.”
Graduating from Stellenbosch University with a business degree, Danielle worked in the corporate world for 6 years. She traded in her heels for tekkies and followed her heart to the Karoo where she experimented with making tequila. This journey led her to establish Doña Distillery with the aim to bring new and exciting spirits to the local and international market.
When asked what the perfect TOOR serve is, Danielle and the team agree: “It’s simply the one you enjoy best: neat, on the rocks, in a cocktail, with a mixer, or with a splash of water. Either way, you cannot go wrong.”
TOOR is exploring various barrel and non-traditional South African wood options including the likes of pinotage, rum and other barrels for further releases in the TOOR Collective which will follow later this year and as more liquid matures over the coming years.
TOOR is available at a RRP of R299.99. For more information on TOOR and Doña Distillery, please visit the site or follow them on Instagram.
About Doña Distillery:
Doña means woman of rank. The distillery is situated in Cape Town and has been in operation for over 3 years.
Doña is a craft distillery where the team produce and develops innovative and exciting new products. They are passionate about the whole process and that is why they do everything: sourcing local raw materials to fermenting, distilling, bottling and labeling every product that leaves the distillery.
