KWV Brandy Reimagined finalists show off their cocktail-making skills

What a treat to attend the night of funky music and brandy cocktails at the KWV House of Fire in Paarl, where the finalists in the #KWVBrandyReimagined competition strutted their stuff to a very eager audience.  The competition has been running for a month, with the search on to find the top innovator in mixology.

Surprisingly the top cocktail for me was the unusual 'Bring the Beet back' by Maynard Booyzen, from Sin + Tax in Johannesburg, which was definitely my favourite.  It felt really hearty and healthy with beet, ginger and honey and then toasted walnuts in coconut oil topping it off - with of course, a touch of brandy - very uplifting!  The runner-up was Melrick Harrison, from Twankey Bar in Cape Town, and he had gone to considerable lengths making chocolate lollies and frosted glasses.  There was no shortage of talent, clearly!
Added to the mixology competition was the search for the top gourmand, seeing top chefs present the most delicious canapes pairing with brandy- and wow!  Prior to the canapes we enjoyed a stunning range of charcuterie & cheese platters, so that we almost did not have space to enjoy the beautiful and incredibly tasty canapes. The winner was Timothy Pick from Foxcroft, but it was very tightly contested!