Reefton Distilling Co. has released more details surrounding its prized Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky.
Hot on the heels of its Gold and Best in Category wins at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, Reefton Distilling Co. has announced the details around the release of the very first bottling of its Moonlight Creek Single Malt New Zealand Whisky.
Choosing to make this announcement on the opening day of DramFest, New Zealand's Premier Whisky Festival, is no coincidence as the Reefton Distilling Co. team will be in attendance at the event over the next three days.
Dramfest Ticket Holders will have the opportunity to meet Distillery Manager, Gareth Morgan and Founder and Chief Executive, Patsy Bass. They will also have the chance to enjoy a tasting of its two-year aged Moonlight Creek Whisky and its Olorosso aged young spirit.
Reefton’s new gold
DramFest attendees will also learn how to stake their claim on Reefton’s new gold, with the first release of Moonlight Creek Whisky planned for late 2025.
Hand distilled, matured and bottled in Reefton, New Zealand, Moonlight Creek Whisky is crafted from high-quality malted barley (grown in nearby Canterbury) and pristine West Coast rainwater which is filtered over Pounamu. Reefton Distilling Co.’s first whisky will be limited to just 1000 bottles.
This first release of Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky will have rested at the foot of the majestic Victoria and Paparoa ranges for three years before emerging into the hands of those fortunate enough to have secured a bottle by ballot.
This is a much-anticipated release from one of New Zealand’s largest independent distilleries, who have already made a name for themselves on the world stage with their international award-winning Little Biddy Gin.
Reefton Distilling Co. has put as much thought into the presentation of its whisky as it has into its making. This release of Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky will be in a stunning clear bespoke bottle, allowing the natural colour of the whisky to shine through.
Non-chill filtered, with all natural colour and flavour, this first release Moonlight Creek Single Malt Whisky will bear the name ‘Pioneer’.
This is a nod to both the pioneering spirit of those early settlers, including George Fairweather Moonlight, who first discovered gold at Moonlight Creek in 1865, and that of the modern day pioneers who, in 2018, backed the idea of a gutsy little West Coast distillery to create jobs and a tourist attraction in a small regional town.
Reefton Distilling Co. shareholders will have an opportunity to make a pre-purchase in March 2025. All remaining bottles will then go into the Moonlight Creek Whisky Ballot, which will open late-2025.
The purchase of this special bottling will be limited to one bottle per household, with ticket holders to DramFest 2025 able to sign up to receive details of the ballot when it goes live later in the year. 100 bottles will be reserved exclusively for DramFest ticket holders.
“We made the decision to use a ballot system for our limited release to ensure that our supporters have an equal opportunity to own a bottle of what we anticipate will become a collector’s item,” said Reefton Distilling Co. Founder and Chief Executive, Patsy Bass.
“Using a ballot is secure and fair, and we envisage using the same system for our future releases.”
It will be late 2025 before Reefton Distilling Co. have its first whisky in bottle, with the decision on the final date being made as soon as its internationally renowned whisky panel deem it meets the desired quality and profile.
Further details on the ballot will go out to all those who have signed up to receive more information throughout the year. All entrants to the ballot will be notified if they are successful or unsuccessful by email once the ballot has closed, with those lucky enough to have secured a bottle then receiving their purchase in time for Christmas.
More news here.
