The New Zealand Whisky Collection

Whisky distilling in New Zealand began in the 1830s when Scottish settlers made their home in the Otago region and the industry flourished there until the late 1800s when government regulations effectively shut it down. In 1974, after another boom, the Willowbank Distillery in Dunedin was opened, later to be bought by Seagrams (who produced Lammerlaw single malt), sold to Fosters, and finally mothballed with the stills travelling to Fiji, for rum-making. A whisky that hails from the world's most southern distillery, on New Zealand's south island, in the alpine region of Dunedin. In 2010, The New Zealand Whisky Collection - whose ranges include Dunedin, South Island, and Oamaruvian - purchased the last 80,000 litres of cask strength whisky from the former New Zealand distilleries; the last being mothballed in 1997. This bottling is branded "Blended Whisky", but is described as coming from just one distillery, Dunedin. Initially aged in 4 ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for 10 years in French Oak, New Zealand wine barrels.