Proudly family owned
South Australian brandy
In the late nineteenth century, Thomas Hardy – the man often referred to as “the father of the South Australian wine industry” – began a brandy legacy that endures to this day.
As he went about building his winemaking empire, he also began the patient and time-honoured undertaking of distilling and maturing barrel upon barrel of brandy. By the mid 1880s, Mr Hardy certainly had brandy on his mind. Contemplating his copper pot stills and considering his precious stores maturing in their oaken berths, he predicted:
“We shall be able to produce a pure brandy equal to the best brands of French cognac.”
A smooth one hundred years later and his creation – Black Bottle Brandy – won gold at a prestigious judging in Melbourne. Up against French Cognacs and brandies from Italy, Germany and the US, a panel of international experts awarded Black Bottle gold for brandies ‘less than five years of age’. Mr Hardy would have been ecstatic.
Thomas Hardy’s bold confidence in his brandy was not misplaced. There may have been name and ownership changes over 150 years, but the driving inspiration behind Black Bottle Brandy hasn’t wavered. This vision and consistency has been recognised many times over, with innumerable trophies, medals and prizes from all over the world. Black Bottle XO, arguably Australia’s finest aged brandy, has received over 120 awards in its lifetime, including 30 trophies and 54 gold medals.
Black Bottle Brandy is now owned by Vok Beverages, sister company to Bickford's and wholly South Australian. We’re a family company dedicated to Black Bottle Brandy’s legacy; so we immediately placed it in the hands of our head distiller. Then we bought and renovated an historic distillery.
Working from our stunningly renovated distillery in Renmark, our head distiller has brandy barrels decades old under his watchful eye. With world-class sophistication, state-of-the-art technology and sensibility steeped in tradition, he continues to create brandy of excellence and consistency.
We’re as loyally confident about the future of Black Bottle Brandy as its creator was, back in the 19th century. We predict many more accolades to come.
Steeped in tradition
& lavished with awards
Treasured for over one and a half centuries and still going strong.
Esteemed by many, Black Bottle Classic Four Star Brandy is aged in hogshead oak casks for at least two years.
An Australian icon; its delicate complexity has won admirers and awards worldwide.
The distinctive, black Four Star Brandy bottle appeared in circulation around 1950. The bottle – like the double pot distilled brandy it holds within – has altered little since.
This curiously squat, ridged bottle has a certain charm. Since its introduction it has graced many a bar, sideboard and dinner table. The name and ownership may have changed over the years, but Black Bottle’s quality and consistency have remained the same.
Tasting Note
A mellow bouquet gives way to a palate that’s smooth, round, and framed in vanilla and lifted spice. Careful blending from selected batches gives a delicate complexity that has won this Australian icon many awards. To be relished neat or on the rocks.
Very Special
Australian Brandy
A luscious, world-class brandy for all to savour and appreciate.
Rich in colour, smooth in flavour, vivacious in style, this Very Special Australian Brandy is a fine medley of traditional and modern distillation methods.
A fine medley of traditional and modern distillation methods.
Tasting Note
Rich in colour, smooth in flavour, vivacious in style, this VSAB is a fine medley of traditional and modern distillation methods. Traditionally aged, double pot-distilled brandy offers a rich roundness that is then lifted with single pot-distilled brandies. Every glorious drop has been hand-selected and matured over years in French and American oak barrels, capturing a fine brightness of character and an elegance on the palate. Flavours meld and entwine producing heady spice notes and tannins, a rich long mouth feel, and an elemental joie de vivre to be savoured.
Steeped in tradition and lavished with awards.
With aromas of aged vanilla oak and a spiced sherry-like character, Black Bottle XO is the defining legacy of a Head Distiller at the pinnacle of his talents.
Mature, complex and lush, our head distiller’s defining legacy.
Heritage and modern sophistication culminate in Black Bottle XO, a family-owned brandy revered by generations. Steeped in tradition and lavished with awards, Black Bottle XO is the magnificent result of over 150 years of South Australian winemaking.
Tasting Note
With lavish aromas of aged vanilla oak and a spiced sherry-like character, Black Bottle XO is the defining legacy of a master distiller at the pinnacle of his talents. Eighteen-year-old double pot distilled spirit forms the remarkable foundation of this uniquely Australian XO. Meticulously chosen parcels of up to 40-year-old double pot brandy are blended in to add a sumptuous depth and an almost viscous complexity.
The palate is dominated by aged toasty oak and raisin with gentle hints of fig, cinnamon and hazelnut. A rich finish of dark chocolate and toffee that lingers long and slow in the mouth shows all the hallmarks of great refinement.
Savour Black Bottle XO neat. Immerse yourself in its unparalleled complexity and discover the fine line between alchemy and science.
An award-winning legacy that
reaches back over 150 years
Discover how to make the perfect
Black Bottle Brandy® cocktail,
from classic to contemporary
Brandy Alexander
Classic Brandy
In a shaker add all ingredients and ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.
Side Car
Classic Brandy
Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake until icy cold and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.
VSAB Corpse Reviver
VSAB
Stir all ingredients over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.
Club Cocktail
XO Brandy
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel and a strawberry.
Brandy Smash
VSAB
In shaker add mint, simple syrup and brandy. Briefly muddle. Add ice and shake. In a cocktail glass add fresh or muddled mint, fresh ice, and strain in the cocktail mixture. Garnish with fresh slices of orange.
Vieux Carre
XO Brandy
We're proud to be South Australian
family owned distillers of fine brandy
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Behind the Black Bottle name is
brandy of distinction,
revered by generations & savoured by all.
