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Release Notes
Made from 100% malted New Zealand barley in the Willowbank distillery, Dunedin. This whisky has been aging in American Oak, Ex-Bourbon barrels for 21 years. The original release of the South Island Single Malt was in an 18 and 21 year old. The barrels were picked via a multitude of barrel samples sent to Hobart, tasted and matched in CEO Greg Ramsay’s lounge room during the Rugby World Cup by Greg himself, production manager Tom Holder, and, to keep things civilized, good friend and lawyer Brendan. The results spoke for themselves, with the first batch picking up the coveted Double Gold in San Fran.
The New Zealand Whisky Co
3rd Party Tasting Notes
Nose Mature nose with subtle campfire smoke, fruit and drying grass.
Taste Sweet malt, light oak, delicate fruit with light vanilla.
Finish Silky and light with delicate oak and cereal sweetness.
Taste Sweet malt, light oak, delicate fruit with light vanilla.
Finish Silky and light with delicate oak and cereal sweetness.
The NZ Whisky Co
The Bottler: New Zealand Malt Whisky Co.
| Established: 1989 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: 14-16 Harbour St, Oamaru 9400, New Zealand |
| → website |
On the east coast of New Zealand"s South Island located on the 45th parallel lies the historic town of Oamaru. It"s here that the New Zealand Malt Whisky Company has established it"s head office in an outstanding, 125 year old, whitestone, character building in Oamaru"s historic harbourside precinct.
Fosters International Limited first acquired the whisky stocks through its acquisition of the Australasian assets of Seagram"s International. Seagram"s had owned and operated New Zealand"s only whisky distillery. The whisky had been maturing in the distillery"s South Island warehouses for a period of between 12 and 20 years. The Willowbank, Dunedin distillery last produced whisky in 1997 and has since been dismantled.
Having secured this treasure trove of ageing whisky, Warren and his wife Debbie then went on to form The New Zealand Malt Whisky Company and proceeded with a series of carefully planned steps to enhance and further mature the stock.
With the invaluable experiences of his years with Mills Reef, Warren also pioneered a wine delivery business exporting New Zealand wines to the international markets, predominantly to Japan.
Warren always had a passion for whisky and starting in 2000, set about acquiring the last remaining commercial stocks of New Zealand produced single malt and blended whiskies from Fosters International Limited.
The principal behind The New Zealand Malt Whisky Company Limited is Warren Preston. Warren is from the Preston family that founded the renowned Mills Reef Winery in Tauranga. Warren was instrumental in its management from inception in 1989. Mills Reef is a fully integrated wine company encompassing grape growing, wine-making and distribution of its wine products. The company has achieved significant critical acclaim for its many award winning wines.
from Milford Whisky (NZMWCo)
The Distillery: Willowbank (Wilson) Distillery
| Established: 1968 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand |
Remaining stocks were eventually secured by the New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Company who have since been bottling the remaining casks. These bottlings are being distributed under the Milford brand which was especially created to showcase this fine, limited edition single malt.
The distillery was eventually taken over by Seagram who replaced the old steel stills with proper copper stills resulting in an improved quality of the spirit. Seagram launched the new, notably peaty, whisky under the name "Lammerlaw" in 1991. However soon after, in 1994, the distillery was mothballed and sold to Fosters Brewing Company who converted it into a brewery.
It was finally closed in 2000 and by 2002 the distilling equipment had been dismantled.
The Willowbank distillery was founded by the Wilson family and later renamed in their honor. Production began in 1968 but the quality was not very very good due to the use of refined steel stills.
from Various Online Resources