Distillery Profile

James Sedgwick/Three Ships

Western Cape · South Africa · Founded 1886 · Distell Group

Africa's only commercially significant whisky distillery, located in Wellington near Cape Town. Produces Three Ships (blended and single malt) and Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky (single grain -- won WWA World's Best Grain Whisky 2013 and 2018). Master distiller Andy Watts transformed quality from the 2000s onward. Distell acquired by Heineken in 2023.

Production

How it's made

Founded: 1886
Owner: Distell Group
Status: Active
Water Source: Hawequa Mountains spring water
Stills: 6
Production Capacity: 5,000,000 LPA

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