The New Zealand Whisky Collection, based in Oamaru, has successfully raised more than $780,000 in funds to assist with the next stage of its development. Founder Greg Ramsay was delighted that the PledgeMe campaign raised $780,030, with support from 312 new shareholders.
“We look forward to working with you to share our award-winning New Zealand whisky with the world,” Ramsay said. “We’ve hosted tastings and presentations throughout the country and it was wonderful meeting so many people who appreciate New Zealand-made whisky, its rich history and share our vision for growing New Zealand’s whisky industry.”
Since launching their PledgeMe crowdfund at the start of November, The NZ Whisky Collection has signed the lease to move its Oamaru barrel storage and to bottling to the charming old Northern Hotel. In November the company also took delivery of new distilling equipment and confirmed it will source ‘wash’, the sweet beer and base of all whisky distilling, from Speights Brewery in Dunedin.
The NZ Whisky Collection was established in 2010 but its history and heritage date back to Otago’s Scottish early settlers who brought a love of whisky and distilling to their new home. The Baker family started the Willowbank Distillery in Dunedin in 1969, they sold it in the 1980s to Seagrams who later sold to Fosters, which eventually closed the distillery.
