A rare bottle of South Africa’s oldest potstill brandy has been sold at a charity auction for R38 000.

The handcrafted bottle of Van Ryn’s Au.RA went under the hammer recently at the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola, Africa’s leading charity golf tournament. It was bought by Johannesburg businessman Mike Dladla.

There was fierce bidding between Dladla and one of South Africa’s top international golfers, who bid up to R36 000 before bowing out.

Van Ryn’s master distiller Marlene Bester said the auction price was believed to be the highest price ever paid for a bottle of South African potstill brandy. The bottle is one of just 107 which were created, a dedication to the 107 years the Van Ryn’s distillery has been crafting the world’s finest brandies. Less than 20 of these bottles are still available for purchase from the Stellenbosch-based distillery.

A blend of extremely rare potstill brandies, Au.Ra is mostly made up of 30-year-old brandies but includes components aged for up to 40 years. AU.RA comes in a crystal decanter blown by renowned glass artist, David Reade, with a hand-made stopper and silver pendant created by local jewellery designer, Bridget Zietkewicz and housed in an oak case, created by specialist furniture designer James Mudge.

The money will be donated to the Wildlands Conservation Trust in partnership with Qhubeka.