New Zealand craft spirits producer Scapegrace Distilling Co has commenced construction of a distillery, claimed to be the largest in the country.
Situated in the Central Otago region on New Zealand’s South Island, the distillery is the subject of a NZD25m (US$8.5m) investment to increase capacity for the eight-year-old company. As well as the namesake gin and vodka expressions, Scapegrace’s new 36-hectare site will also produce single malt whisky, with the start-up readying the release of the extension in the coming months.
Work has already started on the first of two buildings, comprising a barrel room, warehouse and bottling hall, while the second building will house the distillery itself. The production facility is expected to come online in October next year.
“The halfway point between equator and South Pole runs directly through our distillery site, giving us extremes in hot and cold temperatures – an optimum environment for aging whisky,” said MD Daniel McLaughlin. “Over the past five years, we’ve been quietly putting down whisky at our old distillery site and we’ll soon be launching Scapegrace Single Malt Whisky.”
Founded by McLaughlin, his brother-in-law Mark Neal and Richard Bourke in 2014, Scapegrace exports to around 40 markets, including the US, Europe and Asia.
