Ondjaba The Namibian Whiskey - Classic

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Ondjaba Classic develops its smoky character through an unusual treatment of the grain: it is smoked over elephant dung, which serves as fuel instead of peat. Mahangu, the local pearl millet, forms part of the grain recipe for this Namibian triple grain whisky. After multiple distillations, the whisky matures in oak casks under the Namibian sun.

Maturation involves both new oak casks and previously used casks; those used for Classic include red wine barriques from Erongo Mountain Winery. Sweet vanilla and caramel notes meet a pronounced wood influence and spicy smoke. A suede note also forms part of its character. Ondjaba Classic won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022.

Classic is bottled without an age statement at 46% in a bottle containing 0.7 litres. It is neither chill-filtered nor coloured. The elephant motif on the bottle reflects the brand name: Ondjaba means “elephant” in the language of the Ovambo.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, malty and tobacco-like notes sit alongside raspberry. Frankincense and singed sandalwood complement the fruity, spicy aromas.
• Palate: Vanilla and caramel initially dominate the palate. Pronounced oak and tannins then emerge. Gentle fruit notes accompany these intense flavours, while subtle smoke underscores the sweetness.
• Finish: Spicy tobacco smoke and light-toned fruit notes linger through the medium-length finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Erongo Mountain Winery lies beside the Omaruru River in Namibia, around 1,200 metres above sea level, among the mountains of the Erongo region. Alongside wine, it produces whisky and other spirits in its own distillery. Wolfgang and Esther Koll run the winery and developed Ondjaba using regional ingredients and its distinctive grain-smoking process.

Winemaking and whisky production are linked through the winery’s own cask stock. For the different Ondjaba editions, it uses new casks as well as casks that previously held its own wines. The grain recipes also vary between editions: the grains used include maize, barley, wheat, rye and Mahangu. Erongo Mountain Winery produces, matures and bottles Classic.

Facts: