Jacobus Petrus Marais, was the son of Jacobus Petrus Marais and Catharina Elizabeth Eksteen. He is known for Brandy making.
Background
Marais grew up on the farm Wonderfontein close to Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa. As a child in school his brother 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. Kosie was a South African Freemason.
Brandy making
Marais founded the company Southern Liqueur Company. He started to make Brandy S.E. Warren, a director of KWV encouraged him in 1935 to produce and market brandy. His brand were called Klipdrift The first bottle was produce 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 pricelist 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. 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. Today his brandy is still sold in South Africa and other countries.
Other activities
Archeology
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.
Bisley Shooting (target shooting)
He won the Governors-general trophy in the national competition in 1934. He was then chosen to represent South Africa.
He married Joyce le Roux from Franschhoek, South Africa in 1926. Out of the marriage four children were born: Yvonne, Valerie Lynette and his only son Jeanniel Pierre Marais
