SMWS DISCOVERY
A night out in Johannesburg
In this month’s international night out we’re headed to South Africa, where the Society has just celebrated its third anniversary. Our destination is Johannesburg, home to Society partner bar WhiskyBrother and a host of other exceptional food and drink destinations. Join us as Marc Pendlebury, managing director of the Society’s South African branch, takes us on a night out in Joburg
Johannesburg has never been a primary destination for visitors to South Africa. Historically it has been relegated to business travel or as a stopover, either for visitors making their way to the admittedly much prettier Cape Town or as a break in the journey for those heading east to Kruger National Park for safari.
Nowadays, ‘Joburg’ as it is colloquially known by South Africans, has dramatically closed the gap. The city has become an exciting destination for world-class food and drinks, while offering a cosmopolitan big-city experience with a unique vibe not experienced in the rest of the country.
As South Africa lags behind much of the world in terms of public transport, the best option for travelers arriving at OR Tambo International Airport to get into the city, is the “Gautrain” trains, built for the World Cup in 2010. From there though, and for the rest of the evening, relying on Uber is the best option, which has revolutionised travel for locals and tourists alike by providing reliable, affordable and safe transport.
PICTURED: As well as having a stunning bar, Marble offers one of the best dining experiences in the whole of South Africa
SIN+TAX
Let’s start the night at one of the best, if not the best, cocktail bar in South Africa: Sin+Tax. This speakeasy-style bar crept onto the scene in 2016 under the skilled hands of mixologist Julian Short. Since then, it has gained a reputation as one of the top cocktail bars in the world, even making it to the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Bars. In May, Julian even made it to Tales of the Cocktail Top 10 Nominee list for International Bartender of the Year.
The atmosphere is cosy and relaxed, but the drinks are sophisticated, setting the scene for South Africa at large and making it the perfect place to start your night out. We recommend deep-fried olives with a lemon and vermouth aioli as a snack if you’re hungry. Try them while sipping on a Ragtime cocktail made with whisky, cold brew coffee, white cacao and toasted coconut. If you’re lucky and the timing works out, you can enjoy live music offered by local bands and jazz groups.
MARBLE
Now that you’ve enjoyed some fine cocktails, it’s time to take a five-minute Uber ride to Marble for dinner. You can walk to the restaurant if you keep aware of your surroundings, after all South Africa is generally more dangerous.
Marble is known for its open-fire cooking, extensive wine menu and fine but accessible dining. The restaurant has left an indelible impression on the Joburg food scene – but to be fair it took one of the country’s best chefs, David Higgs, to move up from Cape Town to make it happen.
The gorgeous restaurant has stunning views of the city, so make sure you start your visit with a cocktail on the balcony of the bar. We recommend a starter of kudu carpaccio before moving across to the main restaurant for dinner. Ask for one of the tables bordering the kitchen so you can take in the full experience of the troop of chefs and cooks preparing and plating your dishes. The seafood is some of the best SA has to offer, but if you eat meat, the local, grass-fed steak will be an unforgettable experience.
ABOVE: Sin+Tax prides itself on cocktails
ABOVE: It’s all about a speakeasy style
ABOVE: Sophisticated pours at Sin+Tax
PICTURED: The restaurant at Marble has stunning views across Joburg
WHISKYBROTHER BAR
As the sun sets, your appetite satiated and the night well underway, we wind up our evening at WhiskyBrother Bar, the only SMWS partner bar in Joburg. The bar is strictly dedicated to whisky, with a selection of over 1,500 drams from across the world covering all categories, types and interests, including exclusive releases.
WhiskyBrother bar has been the home of the Society since its launch in South Africa three years ago. It offers an ever-changing selection of more than 50 SMWS releases, including older ones from years gone by and from the latest regular releases in SA.
Here, you are likely to encounter a fellow member at the bar, or find the SMWS South African ambassador, Alex Wolmans – who works at the bar part-time – to pour and share a dram with you.
As you hop into the Uber to head back to your accommodation, gaze out of the window at the blur of big-building lights in Sandton.
An evening out like this is surely familiar, however, the people, city and food make this a unique and eclectic experience only possible in the business heart of South Africa.
ABOVE: WhiskyBrother is the Society’s partner bar and home-from-home in Joburg, with a selection of more than 1,500 whiskies
PICTURED: WhiskyBrother has an ever-changing selection of SMWS releases, including some older bottlings from years gone by
SMWS SOUTH AFRICA
Recently celebrating its third anniversary, SMWS South Africa launched in early 2021 and provides nearly 200 members with regular Outturns and events. On average the branch releases 10 new whiskies every six to eight weeks, supported by both online and in-person partner bar-based events to allow members from across the country to participate. These events often include special guest appearances from the Scotland-based team. Further details, including event listings, are available at www.smws.co.za
MEET MARC
Marc Pendlebury is the managing director of SMWS South Africa. He started his whisky journey with a whisky blog in 2009. Following his passion, he left the corporate life behind him and started South Africa’s first specialist whisky retailer, WhiskyBrother in 2012. Now, more than a decade later, with several international awards, and induction into the Keepers of the Quaich, Marc also oversees the SMWS in South Africa and travels to Scotland regularly. Don’t be surprised to run into him in at one of our own Members’ Rooms!
ABOVE: Marc Pendlebury is the managing director of SMWS South Africa and started the specialist retailer WhiskyBrother in 2012