The South Island Single Malt is one of several products that the New Zealand Whisky Collection has put out since it restarted distillation in Dunedin at Speight’s Brewery in Feb. 2021. The whisky was distilled from malted New Zealand barley and matured in the NZWC warehouse in Oamaru. So cheers to new beginnings!

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Whisky: South Island Single Malt

Country/Region: New Zealand

ABV: 40%

Cask: American Oak, Bourbon

Age: N/A

Notes: Fresh and fruity, I imagined frozen lemonades and tangerine slushies on a hot summer day with hints of green grass and soft florals. Grape and green apple candies arrived with a touch of blood orange and orange blossom. Light-bodied, the flavor profile was youthful and simple, with a touch of spirited prickle providing some liveliness to the end. Citrusy fruit punch and melted lemonade slushies kept this firmly in line with sugary summer treats and side walk chalk. Honeysuckle and green grass provided a backyard freshness while mild oak, vanilla, and pepper lingered in the back. The finish was medium length with a touch of bitter pith coasting along orange blossom, citrus zest, and green apple.

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Score: 4-5 (74)

Mental Image: Summer Slushie Run

Conclusion: Mild, pleasant, friendly… this whisky was all of those things. It had a bit of a generic or anonymous Speyside vibe quality to it as a result, but I enjoyed the clarity of the citrusy notes which provided some differentiation. Overall, an unassuming and well-composed whisky. I am very curious to see how this does with a bit more time in the cask as this was maybe 3-4 years old at most.