Darling Brew, Africa’s first carbon-neutral brewery, is once again making history – but this time not with beer. The award-winning craft brewery has launched Reminisce, a boutique 5-year-old malt whisky distilled entirely from beer, marking a first for South Africa.ost shared by DARLING BREW
The idea was born during lockdown, when pallets of unsold beer risked going to waste. Instead of pouring it away, Darling Brew collaborated with master distiller George Dalla Cia, best known for his expertise in grappa and brandy. Though new to whisky, Dalla Cia was intrigued by the challenge and developed a meticulous process that transformed beer into something extraordinary.
Using a delicate bain-marie distillation technique and double potstill refinement, the whisky was matured for five years in bourbon barrels.
The result is an unfiltered, complex spirit layered with flavours of ginger spice, vanilla, nougat and white chocolate, balanced by subtle fynbos earthiness and a floral hop finish.
On the nose, expect honey, dark chocolate and orange zest, with a smooth, lingering palate that reflects its beer origins.
Only 650 hand-bottled, hand-numbered editions of Reminisce have been released, each recorded in a collector’s register. Its packaging adds to the allure: designed by art director Anja Roos, the whisky comes in a keepsake gift box styled like an old storybook, inviting owners to record their first tasting experience.
“Many would have written off unsold product,” says Darling Brew MD Tewie Roos. “But we saw potential in every bottle. We don’t waste. We rework. That’s the heart of our philosophy.”
Available via Darling Brew’s website, select outlets, and premium whisky clubs, Reminisce is a once-off release — a collector’s item that captures creativity, resilience, and the belief that beauty can emerge from difficult times.
