Distillery
Scapegrace
New Zealand producer of premium spirits with a production base and distillery project in Central Otago. Range focused on gin (including the award-winning Scapegrace Gold), grain-based vodka and a line of single malt whisky aged in French oak casks.
- Cromwell · Central Otago · New Zealand
- Since 2014
- 2 products
The story
Born as an entrepreneurial project led by Mark Neal and Daniel McLaughlin (with other early management team members), Scapegrace established itself internationally by winning major awards in the gin segment and expanding the range to vodka, RTD and single malts. The company grew rapidly from an export business to a global brand present in numerous markets and built a new production site on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Central Otago. Sources indicate commercial/operational activity began around 2014.
Production philosophy
Grain to Glass approach and a strong focus on provenance: use of local grains for distillates, alpine-sourced water and small-batch production. The company emphasizes sustainability, full supply-chain control and a 'New World' vision for its whiskies and spirits, combining traditional techniques with botanical experimentation.
Territory
Central Otago (benches of Lake Dunstan, slopes of Mt Pisa / Bendigo area), New Zealand (45th parallel)
Awards and recognition
Scapegrace Gold: World's Best London Dry Gin (IWSC, 2018). The whisky expressions have won medals and recognitions in international competitions (e.g. World Whisky Masters, World Whiskies Awards) reported for individual releases such as Anthem and Vanguard.
Production method
Grain-to-glass model: single malt whiskies use local malted barley (including Manuka-smoked malt for some expressions) distilled and matured on site; the vodka is produced from a neutral grain spirit based on wheat; gins are made in small batches with infusion/vapour-distillation of botanicals depending on the expression. Some single malt releases report pot still distillation and maturation in virgin French oak casks.
Distillation
Small-batch production: pot still for the single malt expressions; neutral grain spirit from cereals for the vodka; gins produced by infusion and vapour-distillation/steam infusion techniques depending on the recipe.
Ageing
Maturation in casks (for the single malts) predominantly in virgin French oak; some releases indicate a minimum period of about 3 years for single malt expressions.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Cromwell
- Categories
- craft gin
- grain-based vodka
- single malt whisky (New Zealand)
- RTD made with spirits
- premium spirits
- Raw materials
- malted barley (including Manuka-smoked malt)
- wheat (neutral grain spirit for vodka)
- spring water / glacial waters from the Southern Alps
- Casks and ageing vessels
- Virgin French Oak
- Representative products
- Chorus II Single Malt Whisky - Numbered Bottle in Presentation Case 70cl
- Dimension VII Single Malt Whisky - Numbered Bottle in Presentation Case 70cl
- Fortitude V Single Malt Whisky - Numbered Bottle in Presentation Case 70cl
- Fortuna VI Single Malt Whisky - Numbered Bottle in Presentation Case 70cl
- Scapegrace Black Gin - "Confession Box" 70cl (with glass)
- Scapegrace Black Gin - 70cl
- Scapegrace Blood Orange Moon Gin - 70cl
- Scapegrace Classic Gin - 70cl
- Scapegrace Classic Gin - 70cl Special pack with 2 Collins glasses
- Scapegrace Gold Gin - 70cl
- Scapegrace Vodka - 70cl
- Whisky Single Malt Anthem - Scapegrace
What makes it distinctive
- Scapegrace Gold awarded World's Best London Dry Gin (International Wine & Spirit Competition).
- Single malt lines matured in Virgin French Oak; use of Manuka-smoked malt for some expressions.
- Distillery located on the 45th parallel in Central Otago (climatic conditions used to characterise maturation).
- Grain to Glass approach with focus on sustainability and the local territory.
- Extended range: gin, vodka, single malt whisky and RTD, with international distribution.
