Locals Thomson Whisky New Zealand have taken out top honours at the World Whiskies Awards 2023, announced last week. The Thomson distillery’s popular South Island Peat Single Malt Whisky has been named Gold medallist and Category Winner in the New Zealand Single Malt (no age statement) category of the prestigious UK competition.
The dream win represents the fine quality of single malt whisky production continuing to flow from the independently owned distillery, which has won numerous gold medals internationally for their craft whiskies. The winning whisky utilises local peat from Southland and malted barley from Canterbury, New Zealand. It’s matured in American Oak casks and offers ample tasting notes of Iodine, smoke, and sweet vanillins. The peat aspect is uniquely local, but taps into a flavor profile not dissimilar to Scottish peat smoked whiskies, which have a huge cult following globally.
Head Distiller Mat Thomson believes it’s a whisky that sums up the local terroir and landscape, which he says is perfect for single malt whisky production. ‘It’s the flavour of the place, the people and the climate of NZ’.
‘It’s incredibly exciting to be judged by international judges in the World Whiskies Awards, and come out on top. We’re really humbled with the win.’
The World Whiskies Awards takes place every year in London and is one of the largest and most prestigious whisky competitions globally. It pulls entries from leading brands internationally, and is judged by blind tasting.
Thomson Whisky is an independent craft Whisky distillery, based in Riverhead, North West Auckland, and is owned by Mathew Thomson & Rachael Thomson.
www.thomsonwhisky.co.nz
More info: www.worldwhiskiesawards.com
