South Africa’s spirits industry has plenty to celebrate. The 2026 Investec Trophy Spirits Show has delivered a strong showing for local producers, with South African brands taking several of the competition’s top honours alongside established international names.
Now in its eighth year, the competition brings spirits from around the world together for blind judging, with products in the same category assessed alongside one another regardless of their country or region of origin. This year, 98 entries from 21 producers and distributors, representing 46 brands, competed across eight categories.
The Trophy Winners
The standout honours went to South African and international spirits brands across categories including brandy, whisky, gin, cognac, vodka, tequila, aperitifs and liqueurs.
KWV XO Cellar Reserve Potstill Brandy
Investec Trophy for Best Brandy of Show
Trophy for Best Potstill Brandy
Sinfonia Minor Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Investec Trophy for Best Whisky of ShowInvestec Trophy for Best Malt Whisky
Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Riedel Trophy for Best Gin of ShowInvestec Trophy for Best London Dry Gin
Frapin XO Château Fontpinot Cognac
Trophy for Best Cognac
Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
Trophy for Best Vodka
Redbreast 21 Year Old Single Potstill Irish Whiskey
Investec Trophy for Best Single Potstill Whisk(e)y
O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Matured in Bourbon Cask
Investec Trophy for Best Blended Whisk(e)y
Herradura Selección Suprema Tequila
Trophy for Best Tequila
Dullstroom Lemonlicious Limonchilli
Trophy for Best Aperitif
Wild Africa Chocolate Cream
Trophy for Best Liqueur
The results underline the increasingly diverse character of South Africa’s spirits landscape. Alongside its long-established reputation for brandy, the country has developed a growing craft spirits sector, with local producers competing across categories including gin, whisky, agave spirits, rum and liqueurs.
The judging panel consisted of senior spirits experts Andy Watts, Jason McEvoy, Dave Gunns, Neil Paterson, Dr Mare-Loe Prinsloo, Dr Carla Weightman, Sean Gunns, Kresan Naidu and Dr Winnie Bowman CWM, with Matthew Cox, René Groenewald CWM and Sulette Oelofse serving as associate judges. Michael Fridjhon chaired the panel.
For Peta Dixon, Head of Sponsorships at Investec, the competition provides an important benchmark for South African producers.
“We’re proud to support platforms that recognise excellence and create opportunities for local industries and the talent behind them to be seen alongside the best in the world,” says Dixon.
With South African brands emerging among the major winners, the 2026 Investec Trophy Spirits Show offers a compelling reminder that the country’s spirits industry is producing bottles capable of competing – and winning – on an international stage.
For the complete list of trophy, gold, silver and bronze medal winners, visit the Investec Trophy Spirits Show website.
