A leading New Zealand beverage company is partnering with a Kiwi whisky brand to establish production in a legendary brewery.
International whisky range, The New Zealand Whisky Co. has announced it has entered into a new lease with leading alcohol beverage company, Lion NZ, to establish production within Dunedin’s Speight’s Brewery.
Works have begun inside the historic brewery’s millhouse to accommodate the whisky company’s new distillery. As the top-selling beer across New Zealand, Speight’s Brewery is already one of Dunedin’s most visited attractions.
Operating out of Oamaru, one hour north on the Otago Coast, the New Zealand Whisky Co has been successfully building its whisky market internationally, including brands such as Dunedin DoubleWood, South Island Single Malt, and The Oamaruvian.
The New Zealand Whisky Co. was formed to share New Zealand whisky with the world. Built upon Dunedin’s rich distilling tradition and the superb whiskies from the old Willowbank Distillery, it has developed high value, blue-chip international sales channels.
As part of the lease, The New Zealand Whisky Co. will also source several key production inputs direct from Speight’s.
Founder Greg Ramsay said New Zealand Whisky Co is excited to be working with Lion to help take their production to the next level.
“We are already working with Speight’s expert team of brewers to tailor the supply of our own wash, a sweet un-hopped beer which is the building-block for distilling all single malt whiskies. To have Lion on board to support us, with such an iconic downtown location, allows us to unlock new avenues and showcase our precious whisky range to more people,” said Ramsay.
Arron Goodwin, Brewery Manager at Speight’s, said the team at Lion are delighted to be welcoming whisky back into the Speight’s property.
Works at the Speight’s brewery are due to be completed by May, where the Speight’s team aim to start producing the first distillation in June.
