Reefton Distilling Co. to supply whisky to Scotland
Reefton Distilling Co. has become the first New Zealand distillery to sell whisky to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in Scotland.
The West Coast distillery has signed a multi-year contract with the SMWS, a membership organisation based in Edinburgh, which bottles and sells single cask, single malt whisky. It purchases individual casks from more than 150 malt whisky distilleries in Scotland and throughout the world, bottles them and retails directly to around 40,000 members globally.
Reefton Distilling Co. is the first New Zealand distillery to be selected for inclusion in this exclusive whisky society’s offering. The agreement will see the SMWS purchase minimum agreed volumes of Reefton Distilling Co.’s New-Make Spirit (NMS) each year, for an initial three-year term.
Reefton Distilling Co. Chief Executive Patsy Bass says that being selected as the first New Zealand distillery to supply New-Make Spirit to the SMWS is a huge honour and achievement. “It highlights the quality of the New-Make Spirit we are crafting and exporting to the world, and we look forward to developing a long-term, successful relationship with the society and its members around the world.”
Patsy Bass of Reefton Distilling Co. with Kai Ivalo of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
The NMS will be matured in SMWS casks at its bonded warehouses in Scotland, with some also matured in Reefton, allowing a comparison of how the spirit develops at each location. Each cask will yield a limited number of bottles, which will be released by the SMWS under its own label. Each of these limited releases will be available exclusively to their members.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Spirits Director, Kai Ivalo said: “We were impressed by the quality of the Reefton spirit which will offer Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society another exciting single cask malt whisky full flavour discovery to look forward to in years to come.”
The first consignment of Reefton Distilling Co.’s New-Make Spirit is being prepared to leave New Zealand later in June.
