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Bain’s Single Grain South African Whisky Review

Can a $22 South African single grain whisky made from 100% maize rival your favourite bourbon? Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky might surprise you.

OVERALL RATING

6
$33
  • Genevieve is a South African whisky enthusiast with a PhD in Philosophy and founder of Kenton on Whisky, a coastal tasting venture.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Bain’s Single Grain Whisky is produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, just outside Cape Town in South Africa. This distillery is also responsible for the Three Ships Whisky range, which focuses primarily on single malts and blends.

In 2019 James Sedgwick Distillery was named Green Company of the Year for its commitment towards implementing a significantly more sustainable way of working, and if you noticed the green label on a bottle of Bain’s a few years ago, this was to commemorate that achievement.

Bain’s was first released in 2009, and is made entirely from locally grown yellow maize (corn). Bottled at 43% ABV, this whisky is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels for three years before being revatted into a fresh set of casks for another 18 to 30 months. It does not bear an official age statement. While it’s a relatively young whisky, the warm South African climate helps to accelerate maturation.
Appearance:
Warm gold
Nose:
Gentle and inviting. Notes of vanilla, caramel, and light toffee lead the way. There’s a subtle floral aroma in the background. Red apples. Some cherry tobacco. The faintest hint of coconut.
Palate:
Soft and rounded. Lots of sweet vanilla, caramel, and a touch of honey. Some fruity notes appear, apples and pears. There’s also a slight oaked spiciness present. A hint of cloves.
Finish:
Short to medium in length. Sweet, with lingering vanilla.
Comments:
The use of 100% maize and ex-bourbon cask maturation gives this whisky a flavour profile that I suspect would appeal to bourbon drinkers.

It’s not overly complex, yet as an entry-level whisky, it does exactly what it needs to do: it’s approachable and easy to enjoy. What elevates it is how balanced and well-rounded it feels for its price point – at around $22, it’s excellent value for money.

For those looking to explore whisky beyond the traditional Scotch and bourbon categories, Bain’s offers a glimpse into a growing South African whisky scene, without straying too far from familiar territory.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Genevieve Jacot-Guillarmod

Genevieve is a whisky enthusiast from South Africa with a PhD in Philosophy, so she enjoys both drinking and thinking about whisky. She loves tasting new whiskies whenever she gets the chance - so much so that a few years ago she set up a small whisky tasting business, "Kenton on Whisky", in the tiny coastal town where she lives (this also serves as an excellent excuse to grow her selection of whiskies beyond reasonable limits).

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