Born out of a 2013 collaboration between two distillers and a brewer in Ireland, Caskmates was originally launched in the Emerald Isle.
A whiskey that has been aged in barrels seasoned with Irish stout, it retains the triple-distilled smoothness of Jameson Original while adopting additional notes of coffee, cocoa, butterscotch and a hint of hops.
To capture the spirit of that original collaboration between Jameson master distiller Brian Nation, Master of Whiskey Science Dave Quinn and Franciscan Well founder and head brewer Shane Long, it invited two truly South African breweries to be part of the local Jameson Caskmates journey.
“People questioned why we would want to share our casks with breweries. They found the concept hard to grasp, but we saw it as an opportunity for collaboration,” said Jameson's assistant brand manager, Nicole van Zyl.
“Jameson's motto is Sine Metu, which means 'without fear' in Latin, and that is the ethos of Caskmates. People are always scared of what they don't know, but living without fear is what inspires us, so we're constantly looking to work with collaborators who feel the same way we do.”
Jameson approached the Ubuntu Kraal Brewery in Joburg and the Devil's Peak Brewing Company in Cape Town. They were given Jameson's old whisky casks and asked to create a special brew.
“These breweries were hand-picked for the Jameson Caskmates collaboration. It is important for us to work with collaborators who share the Jameson brand values and who are willing to push the boundaries when it comes to innovation,” said head of marketing for Irish Whiskeys at Pernod Ricard, Seth Pereira.
667 is an Irish Red Ale brewed by Devil's Peak and inspired by the Cape legend of Jan van Hunks, who beat the devil in a smoking competition. “667 is a tribute to Jan and all the other brave souls who have faced their fears by edging out darkness - that was a nice tie in to the Sine Metu motto,” explained Devil Peak’s head brewer, JC Steyn.
Soweto Gold 76 is a tantalising craft beer made in the Ubuntu Kraal Brewery and pays homage to the June 16 protesters, many of whom sacrificed their lives for freedom. “The bravery of those protesters gave me the freedom and courage to open up the first black-owned brewery in Soweto,” said founder Ndumiso Mdlala. “I really wanted to honour them with Soweto Gold 76.”
