The New Zealand Whisky Collection South Island 30 Year Old "The Otago" Single Malt New Zealand Whisky (350ml)

"Proof that the country in which a whisky is made is totally irrelevant...Great whisky is great whisky".

Distilled at the famous Willowbank Distillery in Dunedin in the south of New Zealand. The Willowbank Distillery was opened by the Baker family in 1974 after approaches to the New Zealand government allowed more favourable regulations. The Bakers commenced distilling whiskies and marketed blends including Wilsons and 45 South. The large Canadian multi-national, Seagrams improved the still and processes after purchasing the distillery in the 1980's, marketing the Single Malts as 'Lammerlaw', named after a nearby mountain range, the source of the pure water from which the whisky was created. Production ceased in 1997 as Seagrams rationalised their world wide business and the operation was sold to Fosters who mothballed the company in 2000, and sent the silent stills to Fiji to make rum. The New Zealand whisky company purchased the last 600 barrels of mainly Lammerlaw malt and the whisky has been maturing in the towering seaside bondstore in Oamaru's famous heritage precinct ever since.

Notes from the owners....
Scotland, Ireland, and Japan have matured single malt to 30 years and beyond in recent years, now New Zealand is only the 4th nation to release a Single Malt Whisky with the benefit of three decades in American Oak.
This precious liquid began in the rich soils and barley fields of North Otago. After massaging at the hands of proud Maltexo maltsters, Dunedin’s distilling team married the snowmelt waters into the ‘uisga beatha’ (Water of Life). They let their copper stills work magic on the vapours, before laying down the recaptured liquids, to rest and quietly mature in American Oak barrels.
Since 1987, The Otago Commemorative Cask has been softly sweetening into the syrupy and silky flavours of rich malt, divine fruit and a buttery mouth-feel that leaves lasting flavours of the South Island. In their 30 years, these barrels have journeyed from Willowbank in North Dunedin, to further maturation in the Taieri Valley, before an enlightened relocation to enjoy the seaside influence of Oamaru’s crashing coastline.