Kosie Marais
Kosie Marais | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacobus Petrus Marais 22 June 1900 Robertson, Cape Colony |
| Died | 8 April 1963 (aged 62) |
| Nationality | South African |
| Spouse | Joyce le Roux |
| Alma mater | Stellenbosch University |
| Known for | Brandy making, Archeology, Bisley Shooting |
Jacobus Petrus (Kosie) Marais (22 June 1900 – 8 April 1963),[1] was the son of Jacobus Petrus (Kowie) Marais and Catharina Elizabeth (Kitty) Eksteen. He was known for brandy-making.
Background
[edit]Marais grew up on the farm Wonderfontein close to Robertson, Cape Colony. As a child in school his brother Eksteen (Johannes Eksteen) and he had a workshop and laboratory on the farm. In the workshop they generated electricity. In the laboratory they experiment with gunpowder. In 1921 Kosie had to stop his studies at Stellenbosch University and had to farm as his father Kowie was ill. His father died in 1922. Eksteen and Kosie became owners of the farms Klipdrift and Wonderfontein. His sister Judith Maria Magdalena, helped on the farm too. She later married a de Wet. His oldest brother, Ernst Jacobus, died young in 1918. Kosie operated on Klipdrift and Eksteen on Wonderfontein. On Klipdrift Kosie made brandy and liqueurs. In 1957 the two brothers split. Kosie got Klipdrift, and Eksteen Wonderfontein.[2] [3] Kosie was a South African Freemason.
Brandy making
[edit]Marais founded the company Southern Liqueur Company. He started to make Brandy.[4] [5] S.E. Warren, a director of KWV encouraged him in 1935 to produce and market brandy. His brand were called Klipdrift (the name comes from the farm's name)[6] The first bottle was produced on 4 May 1938, at 8.02pm. On the farm Klipdrift two types of brandy were produced:
A five-year-old brandy and
A ten-year-old product.
He marketed it by sending a price-list to military officers' messes. He said it should be for “an officer and a gentleman”.
His company was sold to Castle Wine and Brandy Company after his death in 1963.[7] This Company became part of Distell.
His brands has won awards and it's ranked as a brandy in South Africa and the world. It is still made to Marais's recipe.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Today his brandy is still sold in South Africa and other countries.
Other activities
[edit]Archeology
[edit]Fritz Heese introduced Kosie to archeology. According to Major C.R Wolhuter, he and Kosie were the only two residents of Robertson, South Africa that were members of the Society to Promote Science. Kosie worked through the society as an archaeologist. He made contact with Henri Breuil. His theory was that tools made of stone that he found in the soil were older than the San people. He and Abbé Breuil took a trip to South West Africa and Bechuanaland. Breuil agreed with his theory. Kosie was made a member of the Archaeological Society.[15]
Bisley Shooting (target shooting)
[edit]He won the Governors-general trophy in the national competition in 1934.[16] He was then chosen to represent South Africa.[17]
Political career
[edit]Kosie Marais and his family were members of the South African Party. Under the leadership of Adolph Malan (Sailor), he was part of old soldiers who formed on 30 June 1951, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Torch Commando to pressure the government to stop the racial policy. The United Party ask him to stand for election in George, Western Cape, South Africa in 1948 against P.W. Botha (the later president of South Africa) of the National Party. The National Party won (retained) the ward.[18] [19]
Personal life
[edit]He married Joyce le Roux from Franschhoek, South Africa in 1926. Out of the marriage four children were born: Yvonne (married to Buirski), Valerie (married to Noli) Lynette (married to Lotz) and his only son Jeanniel Pierre Marais.
Burial
[edit]He was buried on a hill from where he used to look out over his lands. Kosie was commemorated in the name Major's Hill Winery now known as Majors Drift Estate.[20] He held the rank of Major in the Union Defence Force. The War Medal and the Africa Service Medal were awarded to Marais. [21]
References
[edit]- ^ "Jacobus Petrus Marais". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Venter, Chris. "Majoor JP Marais: Die Skepper van Klipdrif Brandewyn (Translated- The creator of Klipdrif Brandy)" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Historia- Klippies en Eish". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ A man and his Brandy. Quivertree Publications. 2008. ISBN 9780980265118. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Freeman, Jim. "Down Brandy Lane". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Klipdrift". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Klipdrift Brandy Distillery". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Trapido A, City Press, 9 April 2017. "World's best brandy is made right here". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Scott K (19 April 2016). "Klipdrift Premium wins World's Best Brandy in 2016". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "World Brandy Awards 2016 Winners". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "World Brandy Awards 2017 Winners". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "SA brandy voted best in the world". 2 August 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ Ramsden D. "South African brandy in an international context". Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "Study of the Liquor Industry in South Africa" (PDF). Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ Book: Annals of the University of Stellenbosch XI, B, 2, The evolution of Palaeolithic technique. Date: October 1933, p 6, Author: Heese C.H.T.D
- ^ Magazine: Die Huisgenoot , Date:2 April 1948, p28 and 83. Article: Eerste na-oorlogse Bisley. Merkwaardige prestasies van SA skuts alhier en oorsee (Translated : Remarkable after war performance of South Africans in Bisley)
- ^ Newspaper: Die Landman, 27 April 1934 Article: Prestasies van Robertson se baasskut (Translated: Performances of Robertson top shooter)
- ^ Newspaper :Cape Times, 24 October 1951
- ^ Newspaper : Die Burger, 17 April 1953
- ^ "Major's Hill wine Estate now known as Majors Drift Estate.accessdate=11 April 2018".
- ^ Book: Die Spesiale Diensbataljon, 1933-1973 p87 and 143, Published: Department of defence Author: Otto